Bureaucrat, staff, administrator
477
edits
Changes
m
==== my cv is a wiki ====and I think that's pretty cool. {{ContactDetails}}
Welcome== Intro Vincent Dirks - Software Quality Engineer ==As a versatile Software Quality Engineer, feel free I aim to explore understand the nuances of the product, team dynamics, technological landscapes, and organizational structures so that I can adapt and contribute effectively. I specialize in adapting to diverse contexts, and look beyond traditional testing methodologies to your heart's contentconsider the design of the whole quality ecosystem necessary for delivering quality software solutions efficiently.
Hopefully I've arranged it so that you get a nice overview, and if you see something interesting you can dig deeper.== Skills ===== Testing ==={| class="wikitable"|- style="vertical-align:top;"|* Context Driven Testing* API Testing* Testing Native Mobile Apps* Testing Web Apps * Testing Firmware/Embedded systems* Testability Concepts| * Observability Concepts* Exploratory Testing (Session & Thread Based)* Visual Modelling* Metrics Driven Development (A/B Testing)* Accessibility Testing|}
Its still early days, === Programming and there's plenty more things I will add given a bit more timeAutomation ==={| class="wikitable"|- style="vertical-align:top;"! style="text-align:left"| Javascript! style="text-align:left"| Java! style="text-align:left"| Other|-|* Node.js* Express.js* React.js* Jest* Cypress.io* Webdriver.io|* Cucumber (BDD)* Tidal Wave UI automation library* Selenium* REST Assured* JUnit, TestNG* LeJOS (Lego mindstorm) Robotics|* Appium* XCUITest* C#: Specflow (BDD)* SQL* GraphQL* C++: Arduino, ESP32|-!colspan="3" style="text-align:left"| Tools|-|colspan="3"|* Splunk (log aggregation & analysis)* Postman, Newman* Github/Bitbucket* Jenkins, Azure Devops, TFS, Google Cloud Platform* Bash & Powershell scripting* SoapUI & ReadyAPI|}
→Intro Vincent Dirks - Software Quality Engineer
== Contact Details =General ==={| class="wikitable"Name: Vincent Dirks e|- style="vertical-mailalign: nospam1@dirksonline.nettop;"Address: |Kelvin Rd* Platform EngineeringRemuera* Staff Mentoring & InductionAuckland 1050* Agile Squad MasterMob: 021-0269* Manufacturing Resource Planning -6216Logistics ManagerLinkedin: https://nz.linkedin.com/in/vincent* Physics -dirksWeather Radar Systems, Lasers, Fibre-937aa557 optics* Electrical & Electronic Engineering|}
== Work Experience ==
I am currently on a [[Mental Health and Wellbeing Break]] (Jan-2024 - Present) to give myself time for self-care and recovery following significant life events in recent years.
=== [[TTC - Dept. of Internal Affairs - Senior Test Automation Engineer]] (Nov-2023 - Jan-2023) ===
: Contracting. Part of the Test Automation team for the Three Waters Project, developing a UI Automation suite in Java using the [https://wave.tidalcode.dev/ Tidal. wave] Selenium automation library
=== [[Westpac NZ - Senior Automation Quality Engineer]] (Apr-2021 - Nov-2023) ===
: Served as a Roving Automation Quality Engineer, bridging testing and automation gaps across multiple teams. Tested and automated mobile apps (Appium & XCUITest), a D365 web UI (Java, Selenium, POM's), and various APIs (Java, REST Assured). Also undertook a secondment as a platform engineer supporting Splunk, and later developed a ReactJS web app for viewing the test environment landscape.
=== [[FirstAML - Test Analyst]] (Oct-2020 - Mar-2021) ===
: 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.
=== [[Weather Radar NZ limited - Weather Radar Systems Engineer]] (Jun-2020 - Oct-2020) ===
: Contracting 4 days/week. Helping modify legacy weather radars with some embedded Arduino micro controllers. Designing new electronics, PCB's, maintaining power waveguide systems, and performing signal analysis.
=== [[Grappler- Agile Quality Analyst]] (Jun-2020 - Oct-2020) ===
: Contracting 1 day/week. Developed a Postman collection to test the API and implemented a node in Google Cloud Platform to execute the collection using Newman, and a simple Web UI (Node.js, Express.js) to trigger test runs and display HTML test reports. The Web UI implemented access restrictions for whitelisted IPs and authenticated users.
=== [[Fiserv Auckland - Intermediate Software Test Engineer]] (Jan-2017 - Apr-2020) ===
: 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 a [[Postman Testrunner Framework]] for automated API integration checks and environment health monitoring.
=== [[Engel Consulting - Contracting]] (Sep 2016 - Dec 2016) ===
=== [[Trade Me - Senior Software Test Analyst]] (Dec-2014 - Aug-2016) ===
: Part of a small squad at Trade Me, I conducted context-driven exploratory testing for software changes to the iconic website. My responsibilities included testing DBs, UIs, APIs, and mobile apps, leading deployments, conducting test planning and peer reviews, utilizing 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.
=== [[Pre-2014 Roles]] ===
: [[Pre-2014 Roles#Monitor Business Machines NZ Ltd - Logistics Manager (Aug-2005 - Aug-2009)|Logistics Manager]], [[Pre-2014 Roles#Primary Caregiver (Sep-2003 - Jul-2005)|Caregiver]], [[Pre-2014 Roles#Bioengineering Institute - Software Engineer (Sep 2002 - Aug 2003)|Software Engineer]], [[Pre-2014 Roles#Monitor Business Machines NZ Ltd - Development & Support Engineer (Aug 1997 - Nov 2001)|Development & Support Engineer]], [[Pre-2014 Roles#Carter Holt Harvey(Tissue Group) - Production Scheduler (1994 - 1996)|Production Scheduler]], [[Pre-2014 Roles#University of Auckland - Lab Coordinator & Physics Tutor (Sep-2003 - Jul-2005 part time)|Physics Tutor]]
== Related wiki pages ==
=== [[References_-_Full_List|References]] ===
:[[References_-_Full_List#Dept. of Internal Affairs (TTC)| TTC]], [[References_-_Full_List#Westpac| Westpac ]], [[References_-_Full_List#Fiserv| Fiserv ]], [[References_-_Full_List#| Trade Me Motors]]
=== [[Volunteering]] ===
: [[Ministry of Testing - Auckland Branch|Ministry of Testing]], Eastern Suburbs AFC, Glendowie Boating Club, MOTAT, Eastern Suburbs Montessori Primary School
=== [[Professional Development]] ===
: Conferences, workshops, meetups etc.
=== [[Education]] ===
: University of Auckland: ME(Elec)
=== [[Presentations, Posts, and blogs]] ===
----
----
== Introduction What I'm reading, watching, listening, learning, and trying out in 2024=====Interesting Reads===I* '''m an agile software test analyst[https://www.satisfice. I love adjusting the test process com/download/a-context-driven-approach-to match it to the context at hand. I like manual (exploratory) -automation-in-testing, but I also have fun coding some automated checks. I gravitate towards A Context Driven Approach to Automation in Testing (CDT), and tend to agree with the thoughts and expressions from the leaders of the CDT community, such as ]''' By James Bach and Michael Bolton. I:Quote: ''m also really enjoying learning about Agile methods "dynamically evaluating context and philosophies; for meselecting, designing, Agile is best summed up as or adjusting our actions to solve the problems that we encounter."Autonomy with Responsibility through Trust". ''When you distil software development to its true essence, it is still about people; it is driven by people, made by people, and most importantly, it is made for people* '''[https://www. People have emotions, passions, motivators and moresatisfice. Wecom/blog/archives/4947 Round Earth Test Strategy]'''re all different, and we all have something unique by James Bach:Interesting alternative to givethe ''"Test Automation Pyramid"''. I:Quote: ''m looking There are testing problems to work with people that have a passion for what they doconsider at every level, and have fun doing it! For me, testing is my professional passion, and I"Quality above requires quality below".''m looking for a new role where I can work with people who share their passions and challenge me to be the best.
== Education =My '''[[Observability Project]]'''===1993 Graduated ME (Elec) University of Auckland* [https://expressjs.com/en/starter/hello-world.html Express.js basic hello world] and my [https://github.com/VincentDirks/node.js-in-the-cloud node.js-in-the-cloud] repo1991 Graduated BE (Elec) Hons* [https://www. University of Aucklandatlassian.com/microservices/microservices-architecture/kubernetes-vs-docker Kubernetes vs. Docker] by Josh Campbell at Atlassian <br>:I want to learn the difference between these technologies to see how it might apply to my [[Observability Project]]
* Setting up Docker Desktop at home to run the [https://github.com/Splunk/docker-Splunk Docker Splunk Image] == Work Experience == Senior Software Test Analyst – Trade Me– Testing changes to the iconic NZ Trade Me website (Motors Group) covering DB, UI[[Archive What I'm Reading, APIWatching, deploymentListing, agile methodsLearning, squad mastering,new staf induction and junior staff support, API & UI automation checks Dec 2014 Trying Out|Archive]]=== Aug 2016Software Tester – LeasePlan NZ– Testing various bespoke developed applications (for internal use)– Developing a test automation framework for LeasePlan Apr 2013Dec 2014:Old pre-2024 entriesVolunteering whilst Primary Caregiver– Eastern Suburbs AFC –Junior Girls Co-ordinator (2011-2014) – Glendowie Boating Club - Arrow Class Convenor (2011-2014)– MOTAT Tramways Volunteer Conductor (2012-2014)– Eastern Suburbs Montessori Primary School - PTA (2011-2012) Aug 2009Apr 2013Research Assistant – University of AucklandSet up database for research into a cyclist's exposure to air pollution when commuting to and from work in Auckland. Aug 2011 May 2012Logistics Manager - Monitor Business Machines NZ LtdTotal management of all aspects of production and delivery of all electronic hardware sold by the company. Aug-2005Aug 2009BTech Lab Coordinator & Physics Tutor – University of Auckland Feb[[#Intro Vincent Dirks -2004 – Dec 2005Bluetooth Software Quality Engineer – UoA Bioengineering Institute Sep-2002 – Aug 2003Physics Tutor – University of Auckland Jul-2002 – Sep2002Senior Development & Support Engineer|Back to Top]], Project Manager - Monitor Business Machines NZ Ltd Aug 1997 – Nov 2001Short Term Contracts - Cerebos Greggs – Production Planner & documentation Send [http://dirksonline.net/cvwiki/index.php?title=Talk:Curriculum_Vitae_- Auckland City Council – Ph PABX maintenance & support 1996 – 1997Production Scheduler – Charter Holt Harvey – Tissue Groupsales forecasting, product specifications, Continuous improvement projects 1994 – 1996_Vincent_Dirks <u>feedback</u>]