Aaron Ueland
Marysville,WA
Summary
Dynamic Senior Quality Engineering Leader and Software Test Architect with a strong focus on values-based management and customer-centric strategies. Proven expertise in strategic planning, team leadership, and operational management drives efficiency and fosters innovation across diverse projects. Recognized for creating collaborative environments that yield high-impact results while adeptly navigating the challenges of a Senior Quality Leadership role. A commitment to enhancing test automation and improving test processes is complemented by a keen analytical mindset and a collaborative approach to problem-solving in fast-paced settings.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Manager, Developer Experience QA
Epic Games
12.2023 - 09.2025
- Transformed Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) QA into Developer Experience QA, a technical team focused on game creators, validating quality and reliability of the overall Developer Experience
- Defined and implemented quality metrics for the Developer Experience
- Managed test automation team for UEFN, leading to improvements in build health and test coverage, and leveraging Epic’s AI capabilities
Senior Manager, Games Quality Engineering
Niantic Labs
07.2021 - 07.2023
- Reduced release test cycle times by 33%, leading to much agility for release process and a 20% reduction in production defects
- Defined and implemented standardized quality process for games at Niantic
- Implemented standard metrics and reporting for games at Niantic
- Managed test automation for Pokémon Go, leading to increased test coverage and time savings more than 8000 hours annually on API and ~2000 hours for UI-based smoke testing
- Successfully launched Peridot and NBA All-World under tight budget and timelines
- Achieved 99.6% positive score for Management on Niantic’s annual Shipshape Survey
Senior Manager, Test Automation
Accenture
11.2010 - 06.2020
- Improved test capability at multiple enterprise clients through test automation and process improvement initiatives
- Implemented test design and execution under strict GxP guidance. This strong work repaired a prior broken client relationship
- Developed and implemented test automation for embedded retail systems at Whole Foods, then trained a team of engineers and developed E2E retail test automation, saving 30%-40% test effort per release
Vice President of Quality Assurance
Smith & Tinker
11.2009 - 03.2010
- Implemented strong quality processes and reduced the bug backlog from over 3000 to zero
- Streamlined testing for Nanovor, saving 80% on costs while improving test capability
Senior Test Manager
Microsoft Corporation
06.1996 - 11.2009
- Energized and turned around a stalled project team by filling test manager and GPM roles simultaneously (Unlimited Potential Group)
- As Test Manager for FASA Studio and Test Lead for Action, Adventure & Strategy Team, shipped AAA games including MechAssault, Impossible Creatures, Shadowrun.
- Build Engineer for Windows Datacenter
- Lead the Java VM test team, automated testing, wrote build scripts and did release for Java VM
- Developed automation for Internet Explorer, Java, several games and for Windows Live back end
Education
Doctoral Studies - Statistics
University of Washington
Seattle, WAMaster of Science - Mathematics
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UTBachelor of Arts - Mathematics
Humboldt State University
Arcata, CASkills
- Team leadership
- Project coordination
- Coaching individuals
- Experience with agile frameworks
- G-Suite proficiency
- Proficient in MS Office
- Experience with AI applications
- Jira workflow optimization
- Confluence management
- Experience with TestRail
- Tosca test automation
- Data analysis and reporting
- Automated testing
- Budget planning and oversight
- Workflow improvement
- Financial budget management
- Workforce development initiatives
- Project management using Asana
- Experienced with AirTable management
- Long-term strategic planning
- Collaborative teamwork
- Cross-departmental collaboration
- Process optimization expertise
- Data analysis expertise
Accomplishments
- Shipped AAA games for PC, Xbox, and mobile devices (Microsoft, Niantic and Epic)
- Reduced test operating cost by 80% while increasing capability (Smith & Tinker)
- Improved testing and automation for Games at Niantic, reducing test cycle times and saving ~10000 hours of effort annually through test automation
- Successfully managed test and automation teams up to 145 staff (Microsoft, Accenture, Niantic and Epic)
- Implemented test automation on browsers, platforms, games, embedded systems, retail/POS, healthcare, and enterprise systems
Certification
- Epic: Radical Candor | Epic Interviewing | Clifton StrengthsFinder
- Niantic: Values-Based Interviewing | Hiring @ Niantic | Ironclad Training
- Accenture: Senior Manager School | Core Manager School | Clifton StrengthsFinder | Diversity School | Hexawise Guru and Instructor
- Microsoft: Core Manager School | Enhancing Communication | Crucial Conversations | Precision Questioning LifeStyles Index | Situational Leadership (Social Styles Index) | 7 Habits of Highly Effective Managers Meyers-Briggs Assessment | Cross-group Collaboration | Management | Hiring @ Microsoft Behavioral Interviewing | Writing Secure Code
- Certifications: Tosca Automation Specialist | Hexawise Guru | InstallShield Developer | Scaled Agile Framework | GCP
Timeline
Senior Manager, Developer Experience QA
Epic Games
12.2023 - 09.2025
Senior Manager, Games Quality Engineering
Niantic Labs
07.2021 - 07.2023
Senior Manager, Test Automation
Accenture
11.2010 - 06.2020
Vice President of Quality Assurance
Smith & Tinker
11.2009 - 03.2010
Senior Test Manager
Microsoft Corporation
06.1996 - 11.2009
Master of Science - Mathematics
University of Utah
Bachelor of Arts - Mathematics
Humboldt State University
Doctoral Studies - Statistics
University of Washington