Elva Dotson
Senior Software Quality Assurance Engineer
The Colony,TX
Summary
A highly skilled and results-oriented professional with over 16 years of experience in Software Quality Assurance. Expertise in SDLC, QA processes, and Agile methodologies, with a solid background in testing web applications across front-end, back-end, API, and database layers. Well-versed in continuous integration and deployment tools such as Jenkins, TeamCity, Bamboo, and GitLab. Recognized by managers as a key driver of project success, consistently delivering high-quality outcomes. A meticulous and creative problem solver committed to fulfilling client expectations on time. Brings a comprehensive range of QA expertise along with strong communication, organizational, and time management skills.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Quality Assurance Engineer II/Associate SDET
Alkami Technology
05.2016 - 12.2024
- Conducted testing of web applications across multiple environments, including front-end, back-end, database and API
- Developed, revised, and executed SQL queries to manipulate and validate data, ensuring accurate synchronization and integrity across systems
- Analyzed product documentation such as release notes, user stories, acceptance criteria and functional specifications to develop test strategy, test plan, and test cases
- Actively participated in Scrum ceremonies, including backlog refinement, sprint planning, sprint execution, and sprint reviews
- Developed and maintained test case suites using test case management tools such as qTest, TestRail and AIO
- Created, maintained and executed both manual and automation test cases for smoke, sanity, user acceptance, end-to-end and regression testing using a combination of proprietary and third-party tools including Postman, Cypress and Playwright, within a C# based environment
- Identified, reported and tracked defect progress using Jira
- Identified process gaps and worked closely with the Agile team to enhance the sprint process by implementing a more robust quality assurance execution plan, resulting in improve test coverage and quality
- Diagnosed and analyzed defects and test case failure by reviewing log errors in Haystack and utilizing web developer tools
- Tested and analyzed performance change improvements through metrics using tools such as New Relic
- Deployed microservices, Windows services and monolith application changes using Jenkins, Team City, Choco and NuGet package feeds
- Maintained, configured, and troubleshooted shared QA environments hosted in an AWS platform
- Onboarded new team members for both QA and developer roles, including offshore
- Collaborated with product owner, QA, developers and cross-functional teams to complete sprint work using Jira swim lanes while multi-tasking severities, escalations and multiple projects with critical deadlines
- Assisted in analyzing code commits, approving pull requests, and merging legacy code using tools including Bitbucket, Bamboo and GitLab
Senior Quality Assurance Engineer
MedAssets
03.2016 - 05.2016
- Reviewed product documentation, such as release notes, user stories, and functional specifications to develop test strategy, test plan, and test cases
- Utilized MongoDB to modify documents and compare data for testing purposes
Senior Quality Assurance Engineer Lead
Verizon/ Formerly Terremark
03.2011 - 02.2016
- Reviewed product documentation, including release notes, user stories, and functional specifications to develop test strategy, test plan, and test cases
- Led functional and regression testing for both manual and automation test scripts
- Led project to convert manual test scripts to automation
- Created, updated, and executed test cases for UI and API
- Reported and tracked defect progress using Jira
- Experienced in testing virtual machine, including network connectivity
- Trained and onboarded quality assurance team members, including contractors, onshore, and offshore
- Created, maintained and executed manual and automation test cases for smoke, sanity, user acceptance, end-to-end and regression testing utilizing tools such as HP ALM Quality Center, Selenium, Cucumber and Jenkins
- Provided daily metrics reports to upper management showing defects and progress in test case execution
- Created, revised and executed SQL queries to ensure data validity
- Reduced missed defects and test cases by completing the installation and implementation of HP ALM Quality Center
- Reduced defect churn by implementing a process where a neutral QA parity attempted to reproduce defects before reporting
- This improved the relationship between development and QA teams
- Improved bug fix turnaround significantly by working closely with Release
- Management and Development teams to resolve open defects through troubleshooting and providing log files and other pertinent information
- Improved team communication, documentation and document tracking by creating a centralized repository.
Junior Level Programmer
Sandia National Laboratories
03.2009 - 03.2011
- Worked directly under the Senior Software developer to develop, test, and debug new software applications created for Safety Basis, Emergency Ops, and NuclearFacilities
- Participated in end-to-end testing of software for inaccuracy and provided feedback to senior-level programmer to ensure quality before deployment
- Updated stored procedures and wrote SQL queries to assist the DBA with their workload
- Provided software maintenance support and ensured prompt follow-up to customers
- Contributed to the development of software applications for Emergency Ops
- Safety Basis and Nuclear Facilities using VB.NET, improving the efficiency of the paper-based processes
- Wrote technical documentation, including requirements and test plans, to support the Safety Basis process for software quality assurance
- Assisted in developing processes for Safety Basis and Emergency Operations, including flow diagrams
- Participated in and assisted in coordination of large software project, developing a web application for the Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ) process
- Experienced with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and Visio, ASP.NET and JavaScript
- Familiar with project management and multi-tasking through working on multiple projects with tight deadlines
- Created training documentation and user guides for new software programs.
Student Intern
Sandia National Laboratories
10.2007 - 03.2009
- Contributed to a team that developed a web application for required training using
- Access and ASP.NET
- Improving the overall efficiency of the training system
- Tested software for inaccuracies and provided feedback to senior-level programmers to ensure the quality of the product before deployment
- Provided software maintenance support to customers offering excellent phone skills and prompt follow-up
- Maintained user privileges, updated user records, and entered electronic records for Engineering Support training website
- Tracked and monitored training documents increasing customer accessibility to needed resources
- Organized and input training group documents into a records system
- Assisted in tracking personnel qualifications and training
- Proposed and implemented modifications to binder numbering system for training documents, enhancing content identification and system efficiency.
Education
Bachelors of Business Administration - Management Information Systems
University of New Mexico
December 2008
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner -
Dallas, TX
December 2021
Certified Software Tester (CSTE) -
Dallas, TX
March 2014
ITIL V3 Foundations Certified -
Dallas, TX
May 2012
Certificate of Completion - Implementing And Maintaining A 2005 SQL Server Database -
Dallas, TX
08.2009 - 08.2009
Skills
Test Case Design
Manual Testing
Functional Testing
Regression Testing
User Acceptance Testing
Scrum Methodology
Software Development Life Cycle
Data Validation
Automation Testing
Test Planning
Integration Testing
Cross-browser Testing
Bug Reporting
Agile Methodology
Test Script Writing
Software Testing Expertise
Teamwork and collaboration
Problem-solving
Time Management
Detail Oriented
Multitasking Abilities
Excellent communication
Critical Thinking
API Testing
Front-End Testing
Back-End Testing
Database Testing (SQL)
Timeline
Senior Quality Assurance Engineer II/Associate SDET
Alkami Technology
05.2016 - 12.2024
Senior Quality Assurance Engineer
MedAssets
03.2016 - 05.2016
Senior Quality Assurance Engineer Lead
Verizon/ Formerly Terremark
03.2011 - 02.2016
Certificate of Completion - Implementing And Maintaining A 2005 SQL Server Database -
Dallas, TX
08.2009 - 08.2009
Junior Level Programmer
Sandia National Laboratories
03.2009 - 03.2011
Student Intern
Sandia National Laboratories
10.2007 - 03.2009
Bachelors of Business Administration - Management Information Systems
University of New Mexico
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner -
Dallas, TX
Certified Software Tester (CSTE) -
Dallas, TX
ITIL V3 Foundations Certified -
Dallas, TX
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