John Banasiak
Metuchen,NJ
Summary
Dynamic Lead Software QA Engineer with a proven track record at UKG, Inc., specializing in advanced testing methodologies and team leadership. Expert in Agile methodologies, SDLC, and test automation using BDD (Gherkin), I excel in my problem-solving abilities, as well as both strong organizational and written & verbal communication skills. I'm known for my proactive approach in mentoring and driving cross-functional collaboration, ensuring seamless product launches and elevating user experiences.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Lead Software QA Engineer
UKG, Inc.
Branchburg Township, NJ
12.2018 - 07.2024
- Advanced departmental knowledge-sharing by training new QA Engineers on company-specific testing methodologies and tools
- Enhanced software quality by developing and implementing comprehensive testing strategies
- Reduced product defect rates by creating robust test cases and meticulously executing them
- Contributed to successful product launches through meticulous end-to-end testing of applications
- Increased team productivity by providing guidance and mentoring junior QA engineers
- Increased customer satisfaction by diligently identifying and reporting bugs for prompt resolution
- Accelerated issue resolution times by effectively prioritizing defects based on severity and impact on the end-user experience by leading cross-collaboration triage meetings in multiple VS including streamlining the guidelines for reporting
- Elevated code quality through active participation in code reviews, offering constructive feedback for improvements where necessary
- Delivered reliable automation solutions using industry-standard frameworks, reducing manual effort required in repetitive tasks
- Mitigated potential production issues by proactively identifying areas of risk during the development process and recommending appropriate mitigations or corrective actions as needed
- Contributed to root cause analysis to determine core reason for failures and errors
- Operated under Agile and Scrum frameworks to complete releases and well-organized sprints
- Documented testing procedures for developers and future testing use
- Recommended changes and corrections to developers for optimal software performance and usability
- Evaluated function, performance and design compliance of every product against design standards and customer needs
- Incorporated delivery requirements into planning of testing schedules
- Collaborated with multiple teams to integrate time clock devices with UKG Ready software, managing communication from initial setup to monthly firmware updates
- Led large-scale projects to completion, facilitating knowledge transfer sessions, and ensuring adherence to bi-monthly release cycle deadlines
- Orchestrated weekly QA meetings with satellite offices to enhance consistency and collaboration, mitigating silos within the team
- Collaborated with DevOps to enhance development environments and implement rigorous testing protocols for both new Production environments and Production Database splits
- Created and edited comprehensive documentation guides for the Product, focusing on hardware specs relevant to our company
- Developed comprehensive Test Plans, Test Cases, and Test Strategies to document new enhancements, integration processes, as well as conduct Smoke and Regression testing
- Mentored a team of 4-5 QA team members, providing guidance on testing requirements, product knowledge, and onboarding procedures for new members
- Implemented test automation for REST APIs and Gherkin (BDD) to ensure robust and efficient testing processes
- Participated in test automation code review sessions and analyzed automation test run results using Jenkins
- Reported test results and conducted demo sessions for customers, project managers, and support teams
- Actively participated in the interview process for all new QA team members, contributing to candidate evaluation and selection, and occasionally participated in interviews for management positions
- Collaborated with various time clock vendors to identify and resolve hardware inefficiencies, ensuring optimal performance and functionality
Sr. Software QA Engineer
Kronos, Inc.
Branchburg Township, NJ
07.2013 - 12.2018
- Collaborated closely with development teams to identify, report, and resolve software defects promptly
- Maintained detailed documentation of test results, ensuring accurate tracking of issues and resolutions
- Established a culture of continuous improvement within the QA team, fostering increased efficiency and effectiveness over time
- Served as an advocate for a user-centric approach to software development, working closely with UX designers and developers to ensure seamless user experiences for all products
- Played a key role in resolving critical defects during high-pressure situations, ultimately preserving client trust in company products and services
- Identified opportunities for process improvements within the QA function, leading to increased overall product quality
- Contributed to successful product launches through rigorous testing and validation efforts
- Created custom test cases based on specific client requirements to ensure maximum compatibility between software solutions and end-user environments
- Minimized risks associated with software releases by performing thorough regression testing before each deployment
- Improved project efficiency with effective collaboration across cross-functional teams
- Supported trouble sites to mitigate obstacles and foster successful client delivery
- Collaborated with QA analysts to establish, meet and maintain quality assurance thresholds based on best-practices
- Operated under Agile and Scrum frameworks to complete releases and well-organized sprints
- Authored and maintained well-organized, efficient and successful manual test cases for entire team
- Completed in-depth usability testing on Android and iOS mobile devices
- Recommended changes and corrections to developers for optimal software performance and usability
- Tested functional and compatibility of new programs or updates in comparison to existing applications
- Tested UI and mobile experiences to meet WCAG 2.0 AA accessibility standards, contributing to our accessibility initiative
Sr. Data Collection & IT Specialist
Kronos, Inc.
Branchburg Township, NJ
03.2012 - 07.2013
- Configured hardware, devices, and software to set up work stations for employees
- Managed hardware and software inventory, ensuring timely updates and replacements as needed
- Provided exceptional customer service by promptly addressing problems reported by end-users
- Walked individuals through basic troubleshooting tasks
- Explained technical information in clear terms to promote better understanding for non-technical users
- Trained employees on new technologies, increasing competency levels across the organization
- Used ticketing systems to manage and process support actions and requests
- Researched product and issue resolution tactics to address customer concerns
- Configured and tested new software and hardware
- Diagnosed and troubleshot hardware and software issues for clients with regard to time clocks and software pertaining to WFM and PR Products
- Setup, diagnosed, or troubleshot time clock issues at client sites
IT Manager
SaaShr
Branchburg Township, NJ
02.2010 - 03.2012
- Developed custom IT solutions to address specific business needs, driving operational improvements and cost savings
- Collaborated with other departments to help meet IT needs and properly integrate and secure systems
- Reduced downtime by promptly addressing hardware and software issues, ensuring minimal impact on business operations
- Managed vendor relationships for hardware, software, and services procurement, ensuring quality products at competitive prices
- Oversaw technology budget planning and allocation to optimize resource utilization while meeting organizational objectives
- Coordinated IT operations activities to deliver smooth flow of daily business needs
- Managed network and system performance, conducting troubleshooting, security patching, and maintenance
- Championed employee training initiatives focused on enhancing technical skills and promoting best practices across the organization
- Conferred with CEO, CFO, and CTO to advise and plan for short-term and long-term IT system upgrade needs
- Built, repaired and installed computer-related hardware based on deployment procedures
- Created and terminated user's accounts from start to finish in business applications
- Implemented robust backup strategies to safeguard critical data against loss or corruption, minimizing potential risks
- Managed life cycle replacement of hardware and software
Sr. Application & Implementation Specialist
SaaShr
Branchburg Township, NJ
02.2008 - 02.2010
- Managed multiple implementation projects concurrently, maintaining strict deadlines without compromising quality or scope
- Developed strong relationships with clients, fostering trust and confidence in the implementation process
- Delivered exceptionally high level of professionalism and support to each client, upholding company's commitment to service
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of industry trends and best practices in order to provide the most relevant solutions for clients'' businesses
- Enhanced customer satisfaction with timely resolution of issues during project implementations
- Provided ongoing support to clients post-implementation, addressing any concerns or issues promptly and professionally
- Developed clear documentation for all implementation processes and procedures, enabling easy knowledge transfer among team members
- Served as a subject matter expert for both internal teams and clients during the implementation process, providing guidance and clarification when needed
- Collaborated closely with sales teams to ensure smooth hand-off of new projects from pre-sales to implementation stages
- Explained complex, technology-related issues in basic, understandable terms to clients
- Handled over 20 incoming calls daily while providing excellent customer service
- Responded to customer inquiries and provided technical assistance over phone and in person
- Configured and tested new software and hardware
- Ran client training sessions at company sponsored workshop events
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communications, Information, And Library Studies
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ05.2008
Skills
- Manual / Exploratory / Localization Testing
- Regression / Integration / UAT Testing
- Mobile / Web / GUI / Domain Testing
- Team Leadership
- Customer Service
- Requirements Gathering / Analysis
- Mentoring / On-boarding
- BDD (Gherkin) / Postman / Rest API
- Jira / Confluence / Bitbucket
- IntelliJ IDEA / Git / Gradle
- TestRail / Kibana / Jenkins
- Agile / SDLC
Accomplishments
- Led a team of 5 QA members and achieved a 30% increase in team productivity within the first year
- Reduced error rates by 25% across various projects and achieved a 30% reduction within the first year in the role
- Successfully integrated new vendor hardware by collaborating with development teams and project managers, including navigating the implementation of biometric capturing and reporting functionalities
- Collaborated with another manager to achieve cross-team adoption of TestRail software for storing Test Strategies, Plans, and Cases, then served as an administrator for the suite
Certification
- SQL I & II, UKG Training Program - 2017
- Intermediate Java, PluralSite - 2024
References
Tracy Hofmann Roth - (570) 236-4315
Daniel Ryazansky - (973) 294-8021
Thierry Vo - (732) 890-1509
Michael Contaldi - (732) 330-1139
Timeline
Lead Software QA Engineer
UKG, Inc.
12.2018 - 07.2024
Sr. Software QA Engineer
Kronos, Inc.
07.2013 - 12.2018
Sr. Data Collection & IT Specialist
Kronos, Inc.
03.2012 - 07.2013
IT Manager
SaaShr
02.2010 - 03.2012
Sr. Application & Implementation Specialist
SaaShr
02.2008 - 02.2010
Bachelor of Arts - Communications, Information, And Library Studies
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey