Bureaucrat, staff, administrator
492
edits
Changes
m
{{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.
==What I'm reading|* Node.js, watchingnpm* Express.js* React* Jest* Cypress.io* Webdriver.io* mermaid.js|* Cucumber (BDD)* Maven* Tidal. Wave UI automation library* Selenium* REST-assured* JUnit, listening, learning, and trying out==TestNG* LeJOS (Lego mindstorm) Robotics|* Appium* XCUITest''2024''* C#: Specflow (BDD)*SQL & [https://wwwen.atlassianwikipedia.com/microservicesorg/microservices-architecturewiki/kubernetes-vs-docker Kubernetes vs. DockerSQL_Server_Management_Studio SSMS] by Josh Campbell at Atlassian*Setting up Docker Desktop at home to run the [httpsGraphQL* C++://github.com/Splunk/docker-Splunk Docker Splunk Image]Arduino, ESP32...|}
→Intro Vincent Dirks - Software Quality Engineer
{{ContactDetails}}
== Skills ===== Testing ==={{SummarySkillsMatrix}}| 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{{Work Experience}|}
==Related wiki pages=Programming and Automation ==={| class="wikitable"|- style="vertical-align:top;"*[[References_! style="text-_Full_Listalign:left"|References]]Javascript*[[Volunteering]]! style="text-align:left"| Java*[[Professional Development]]! style="text-align:left"| Other*[[Education]]*[[Presentations and Posts]]|- style="vertical-align:top;"
=== Tools ==={| class="wikitable"|- style="vertical-align:top;"|* [https://www.splunk.com/ Splunk] (log aggregation & analysis)* Postman, Newman* VS Code, IntelliJ, Visual Studio* Github, Bitbucket* Docker, Linux* Chrome Ext''s [https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/custom-javascript-for-web/ddbjnfjiigjmcpcpkmhogomapikjbjdk?pli=1 CJS], [https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/bug-magnet/efhedldbjahpgjcneebmbolkalbhckfi Bug Magnet], [https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/clear-session/maejjihldgmkjlfmgpgoebepjchengka Clear Session] * [Archive What I'm Readinghttps://icecreamapps.com/Screen-Recorder/ Icecream Screen Recorder]|* Browser Dev Tools* [https://www.telerik.com/fiddler Fiddler], Watching[https://www.charlesproxy.com/ Charles Proxy], Listing[https://www.wireshark.org/ Wireshark]* Jenkins, LearningAzure Devops (TFS), and Trying Out|Archive of preGoogle Cloud Platform* Bash & [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-2024 entriesus/powershell/ PowerShell] scripting* [https://www.atlassian.com Atlassian], [https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira Jira], [https://www.atlassian.com/software/confluence Confluence]''* [https://www.soapui.org/ SoapUI], [https://smartbear.com/product/ready-api/ ReadyAPI]|}
=== General ===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|
* Banking and finance sector
* AML/CFT Solutions
* Online Auction Platforms
* Vehicle Leasing systems
* Platform Engineering
* Staff Mentoring & Induction
|
* Agile Squad Master
* Micro-services architecture
* Manufacturing Resource Planning - Logistics Manager
* Physics - Weather Radar Systems, Lasers, Fibre-optics
* Electrical & Electronic Engineering
* Dinghy Sailing
|}
== Work Experience ==
At the moment I am taking a break from work to give myself some time for self-care after some difficult periods over the last couple of years.
=== [[Water Services Reform, Dept of Internal Affairs (NZ Govt) - Senior Test Automation Engineer]] (Nov-2023 - Jan-2024) ===
: Contracting through [https://ttcglobal.com TTC Global]. 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, 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 visualizing test environments (Node.js, React, mermaid.js).
=== [[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 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.
=== [[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 the Postman Testrunner Framework (PTF) 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) ===
: Conducted context-driven exploratory testing for software changes to the iconic [https://www.trademe.co.nz/ Trade Me] website, focussing on the [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 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]] ===
: 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]] ===
----
----
==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>]