Vincent Dirks - Software Quality Engineer
As a versatile Software Quality Engineer, I aim to understand the nuances of the product, team dynamics, technological landscapes, and organisational structures so that I can adapt and contribute effectively. I specialise in adapting to diverse contexts, and look beyond traditional testing methodologies to consider the design of the whole quality ecosystem necessary for delivering quality software solutions efficiently.
Skills
Testing
- Context Driven Testing
- API Testing
- Testing Native Mobile Apps
- Testing Web Apps
- Testing Firmware/Embedded systems
- Testability Concepts
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- Observability Concepts
- Exploratory Testing (Session & Thread Based)
- Visual Modelling
- Metrics Driven Development (A/B Testing)
- Accessibility Testing
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Programming and Automation
| Javascript
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Java
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Other
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- Node.js, npm
- Express.js
- React
- Jest
- Cypress.io
- Webdriver.io
- mermaid.js
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- Cucumber (BDD)
- Maven
- Tidal. Wave UI automation library
- Selenium
- REST-assured
- JUnit, TestNG
- LeJOS (Lego mindstorm) Robotics
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- C#: Specflow (BDD)
- SQL & SSMS
- Appium
- XCUITest
- GraphQL
- C++: Arduino, ESP32
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Tools
General
- Banking and Finance Sector
- AML/CFT Solutions
- Online Auction Platforms
- Vehicle Leasing systems
- Platform Engineering
- Staff Mentoring & Induction
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- Agile Squad Master
- Microservices Architecture
- Manufacturing Resource Planning - Logistics Manager
- Physics - Weather Radar Systems, Lasers, Fibre-optics
- Electrical & Electronic Engineering
- Dinghy Sailing
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Work Experience
Currently on a health and wellbeing break after some significant life changes.
- Contracting through TTC Global. Test Automation team, Three Waters Project, developing a UI Automation suite in Java using the Tidal. wave Selenium automation library
- Served as a roving Automation Quality Engineer, addressing testing and automation needs across multiple teams. Conducted testing and automation for mobile apps (Appium & XCUITest), a D365 web UI (Java, Selenium, POM's), and various APIs (Java, REST Assured). Also contributed as a platform engineer supporting Splunk, and developed a React web app for visualising test environments (Node.js, React, mermaid.js).
- Served as a quality coach for a startup company developing a ReactJS Web App for the AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering/Countering Financing of Terrorism) industry.
- Contracting 4 days/week. Retrofitting legacy weather radars with embedded Arduino micro controllers. Designing new electronics, PCB's, maintaining power waveguide systems, and performing signal analysis.
- Contracting 1 day/week. Developed a small solution to run a Postman collection in Google Cloud Platform and a simple Web UI (Node.js, Express.js) to trigger test runs and display HTML test reports.
- Native Mobile App functional and accessibility testing. API testing and automation, using Postman/Newman, Specflow with C#, Javascript (Postman, Node.js, Express.js), Splunk for dashboards, TFS & Powershell for System deployment automation. Created the Postman Testrunner Framework (PTF) for automated API integration checks and environment health monitoring.
- Context-driven exploratory testing for software changes to the iconic Trade Me website, focussing on the Motors page & features. My responsibilities included testing DBs, UIs, APIs, and mobile apps, leading deployments, conducting test planning and peer reviews, utilising BDD and visual test tools. I gained experience with implementing agile methods, Splunk, ReadyAPI, XMind, Jira, and Confluence. I also enjoyed onboarding new staff and contributing to the test and agile guilds.
- Software Tester, Logistics Manager, Caregiver, Software Engineer, Development & Support Engineer, Production Scheduler, Physics Tutor
Related wiki pages
- TTC, Westpac , Fiserv , Trade Me Motors
- Laingholm & Districts Community Association, Ministry of Testing, Eastern Suburbs AFC, Glendowie Boating Club, MOTAT, Eastern Suburbs Montessori Primary School
- Conferences, workshops, meetups etc.
- University of Auckland: ME(Elec)
What I'm reading, watching, listening, learning, and trying out in 2024
- I want to learn the difference between these technologies to see how it might apply to my Observability Project
- Registered to go to the NZTestingConf 2024 in Wellington to listen to
- Shay Naiki, QA Manager @ Alphero: Creating a collaborative culture in the testing world: lessons from life in a digital agency
- Nevetha Mani, Product Human @ Hectre: Off the beaten path: rethinking quality in the startup world
- Emma Procter & Jonathan Shirley, @ PikPok: Finding the fun: researching and playtesting games at PikPok
- Patricio Miner, Content Creator @ Free Range Testers: ETL: the testing niche you've never thought of
- Toby Martin, QA Practice Lead @ Pushpay: Stop automating, start investigating: a guide to slowing down to speed up
- Ryan Bevens, QA Community Manager @ Potentia: Diary of a reluctant recruiter: your value as a tester
- == Watch this space for conference notes ==
Interesting Reads
- Quote: "dynamically evaluating context and selecting, designing, or adjusting our actions to solve the problems that we encounter."
- Interesting alternative to the "Test Automation Pyramid".
- Quote: There are testing problems to consider at every level, "Quality above requires quality below".
- Old pre-2024 entries
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