{{PersonalIntroduction}} == 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 organizational structures so that I can adapt and contribute effectively. I specialize 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.
:2016== Work Experience == :*[https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/exploratory-testing-automated-auckland-presentation-vincent-dirks Exploratory Automation - Using dynamic data in automation] :*[https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-agile-helps-you-spend-less-At the moment I am taking a break from work to give myself some timefor self-regression-testing-vincent-dirks How agile helps you spend less time regression testing]:*[https://www.linkedincare after some difficult periods over the last couple of years.com/pulse/processes-my-passion-vincent-dirks Processes are my Passion]:*[https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/agile-developers-need-speed-when-fast-too-vincent-dirks Agile developers' need for speed - When is fast too fast?]
:2014=== [[Water Services Reform, Dept of Internal Affairs (NZ Govt) - Senior Test Automation Engineer]] (Nov-2023 - Jan-2024) ===:*Contracting through [https://wwwttcglobal.linkedincom TTC Global].com/pulse/20140923105352-202766587-oh-what-fun-it-is-to-do-Part of the Test Automation team for the Three Waters Project, developing a-little-coding Oh what fun it is to do a little coding...]:*UI Automation suite in Java using the [https://wwwwave.linkedintidalcode.comdev/pulse/20140914032250-202766587-testers-mind-the-developers-ego Testers: mind the developer's ego!Tidal. wave]Selenium automation library
==What I= [[Westpac NZ - Senior Automation Quality Engineer]] (Apr-2021 - Nov-2023) ===: 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'm readings), watchingand various APIs (Java, listeningREST Assured). Also contributed as a platform engineer supporting Splunk, learning==''2024''*[https://wwwand developed a React web app for visualizing test environments (Node.atlassianjs, React, mermaid.com/microservices/microservices-architecture/kubernetes-vs-docker Kubernetes vsjs). Docker] by Josh Campbell at Atlassian''[[Archive of pre-2024 entries]]''
==New things I'm learning and trying out= [[FirstAML - Test Analyst]] (Oct-2020 - Mar-2021) ===:''2018'' :* <u>Postman</u> - Served as a quality coach for a startup company developing a framework that allows orchestration of calls in any API endpoint collection to mimic a number of typical user sessions with Fiserv's mobile apps. Also designing it to be reReactJS Web App for the AML/CFT (Anti-usable across many testing, certification, and production environments, and for any Financial Institution configured in those environments. Previous API automation suites were all close tied to a specific data configuration Money Laundering/Countering Financing of a mocked environment, and could not be used in fully integrated environmentsTerrorism) industry.
:''2017'' :* Primarily focusing on learning the product and testing domain as they apply to my new Test Engineering role at === [[Curriculum_Vitae_-_Vincent_Dirks#Intermediate_Test_Engineer_-_Fiserv_.28Jan_2017_Weather Radar NZ limited -_Current.29|FiservWeather Radar Systems Engineer]] :** Extended internal SpecFlow (C#Jun-2020 - Oct-2020) suite of API automation checks for our interface with Card Services ===:** Powershell scripts to help make manual deployments more efficientContracting 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.
:''Dec 2016'' :*I am starting on === [[Katrina Clokie's Mobile Testing PathwayGrappler- Agile Quality Analyst]] (Jun-2020 - Oct-2020) ===: 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.
:''Nov 2016'' :*I did a === [[W3C tutorial on XPATHFiserv Auckland - Intermediate Software Test Engineer]](Jan-2017 - Apr-2020) ===: Native Mobile App functional and accessibility testing. I'll give it a go next time I write some web API testing and automation scripts, using Postman/Newman, Specflow with C#, Javascript (Postman, Node. :*Made a [[Protractor and nodejs, Express.js automation suite ), Splunk for dashboards, TFS & Powershell for Crimson Login Page]]:*Made a [[Selenium System deployment automation suite . Created the Postman Testrunner Framework (PTF) for www.provokesolutionsautomated API integration checks and environment health monitoring.com]]
:''Oct === [[Engel Consulting - Contracting]] (Sep 2016'' :*bootcamp@elementalselenium.com:*''Selenium'' - setting it up on my mac with Maven. Exploring it with ole.saintkentigern.com. :*''Bootstrap'' - writing a static page showing 10 iFrames to show on a mobile - no joy so far:*''HTML'' - showing 10 iFrames side by side horizontally, one for each subject my son has at school.Dec 2016) ===
:''Sep === [[Trade Me - Senior Software Test Analyst]] (Dec-2014 - Aug-2016'' ) ===:*''WikiMedia'' Conducted context- using driven exploratory testing for software changes to the iconic [https://www.trademe.co.nz/ Trade Me] website, focussing on the wikipedia engine [https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors Motors] page & features. 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 set up this cvwiki the test and other wiki'sagile 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]] ===
: Laingholm & Districts Community Association, [[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]] ===
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==What I'm reading, watching, listening, learning, and trying out in 2024== ===My Personal [[Observability Project]]===* [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] repo* [https://www.atlassian.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] === Test Community Events ===* Registered to go to the [https://nztestingconf.nz/ 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===* '''[https://www.satisfice.com/download/a-context-driven-approach-to-automation-in-testing A Context Driven Approach to Automation in Testing]''' By James Bach and Michael Bolton:Quote: ''"dynamically evaluating context and selecting, designing, or adjusting our actions to solve the problems that we encounter."''* '''[https://www.satisfice.com/blog/archives/4947 Round Earth Test Strategy]''' by James Bach:Interesting alternative to the ''"Test Automation Pyramid"''. :Quote: ''There are testing problems to consider at every level, "Quality above requires quality below".'' ===[[Archive What I'm Reading, Watching, Listing, Learning, and Trying Out|Archive]]===:Old pre-2024 entries -------- [[#Intro Vincent Dirks - Software Quality Engineer|Back to Top]], Send [http://dirksonline.net/cvwiki/index.php?title=Talk:Curriculum_Vitae_-_Vincent_Dirks <u>feedback</u>]