Sheena Wichlacz
Franklin
Summary
Professional software engineering leader with proven ability to drive impactful results through strategic team management and technical expertise. Strong background in software development, test engineering methodologies and practices, web design and development, project management, and cross-functional collaboration. Utilizes strong leadership and technical expertise to guide projects from conception to completion. Known for adaptability, reliable execution, fostering innovation in dynamic environments and enhancing operational efficiency. Skilled in agile methodologies, code review, and performance optimization.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Software Engineering Manager
Northwestern Mutual
12.2021 - Current
- Led, coached, and empowered diverse team of 7 Software Engineers and 2 Test Engineers to align efforts with company’s long-term vision.
- Spearhead multiple high-visibility development projects, guiding process from requirements refinement to release and beyond.
- Collaborate with management teams to strategize, develop, and implement technical strategies aligned with client vision.
- Formulated Jira dashboards to supervise ongoing development activities and measure completion progress against set deadlines.
- Assess ongoing development efforts, delivering feedback on strategies for expediting completion and enhancing final results.
- Facilitate weekly and bi-weekly 1:1 meetings to strengthen working relationships within a hybrid work model.
- Deliver consistent feedback to engineers and senior leadership regarding individual performance metrics and insights.
- Ally with engineering leaders to strategize, oversee, and align teams toward achieving specified development milestones.
- Integrate prescribed processes and conventions during project planning to align products with internal guidelines.
- Evaluated and refined division objectives and KPIs to enhance team alignment and performance.
- Leverage Checkmarx, DORA/Grafana, and Dynatrace to monitor application performance SLAs.
- Support employees in defining and reaching quarterly goals aligned with individual interests, future aspirations, and overall strengths and weaknesses.
- Consistently exhibit strategic thinking while mentoring others and embracing innovative approaches tailored to team and organizational needs.
- Empower direct reports with necessary flexibility to mitigate burnout, foster transparency regarding needs, desires, and challenges, and enhance overall daily work experience.
- Cultivate partnerships among engineering, product, and UX teams to deliver cohesively designed final products.
- Navigated and excelled in ambiguous situations to drive clarity and direction for the team.
- Conduct training sessions on Test Automation frameworks and standards, emphasizing Page Objects architecture, Step Definitions, feature files, CI/CD Pipeline, project configuration, etc.
- Assisted in automation development and maintained automation test suites.
- Resolved broken API automation, achieving consistent pass rate of 100% from initial state of 0%
- Revamped, restructured, and enhanced several hundred lines of malfunctioning code for UI Automation testing to elevate effectiveness and efficiency while minimizing failure rate and test run time.
- Representative for the division (10 teams) on the Testing Automation Standards and Practices effort.
- Contribute to PoV review and analysis while delivering testing expertise to establish baseline evaluation standards.
- Helped improve the overall CI/CD pipeline certifications in our division by 24% in 2022.
Test Engineering Manager
Northwestern Mutual
11.2020 - 12.2021
- Supervised and directed group of 7 Automation Test Engineers across 6 cross-functional scrum teams
- Spearheaded the testing process and project development for two new teams, establishing automation projects from the ground up with the Kevlar Framework (JavaScript, Node.js, Selenium, Webdriver.io, Cucumber).
- Provided technical expertise and leadership to Test Engineers on Kevlar Framework, JavaScript, Cucumber, Selenium Webdriver, Webdriver.io, Playwright, Gherkin, and automation practices.
- Champion growth, provide mentorship, conduct performance evaluations, and enhance job satisfaction among Test Engineers.
- Mentored Test Engineers in career goal planning, encompassing execution strategies, progress tracking, and comprehensive guidance.
- Coached Test Engineers on Test Automation, JavaScript, Cucumber, Node.js, Kevlar Framework, and CI/CD Pipelines, leveraging headless browsers for optimized testing methodologies and process improvement
- Partnered with Test Engineering Managers, Engineering Managers, Project Stakeholders, Engineers, and Test Engineers to ensure delivery of high-quality products to clients.
- Ensured project and resource prioritization to support both local and global test projects.
- Enhanced product quality and productivity by identifying process gaps and implementing new processes and technical solutions.
- Facilitated collaboration and coordination with teams to establish highly functional testing environments for the engineering team, encompassing test data set-up, environmental issue troubleshooting, and resolution.
- Executed code and merge request reviews in GitLab, delivering constructive feedback and recommendations as necessary.
- Optimized budgetary strategies, generating $35,021 in savings for 2021 and $51,063 in annual savings starting 2022 while retaining highly skilled talent.
- Contributed to organizational changes that enabled teams to deliver higher quality at an accelerated pace, including achieving TMMI Level 2 certification and implementing shift-left practices and TDD.
- Defined specific, measurable goals and objectives for direct reports.
- Demonstrated comprehensive understanding of testing and software development concepts, encompassing overall solutioning, architecture, tool evaluation, and data/environment planning & set-up.
Automation Test Engineer
Northwestern Mutual
12.2019 - 11.2020
- Developed advanced test automation leveraging Gherkin, Cucumber, JavaScript, Selenium, Webdriver.io.
- Executed functional, regression, and integration testing to guarantee deployment of only quality products in production environments.
- Enhanced automated regression test suite by identifying and resolving failing tests to achieve approximately 31% higher pass rate
- Detected gaps in test case coverage within automated regression suite and enhanced automated testing repository to broaden meaningful testing coverage.
- Configured CI/CD pipelines for optimization, with automated testing jobs in GitLab.
- Ensured comprehensive testing coverage and requirements traceability through the creation and enhancement of existing and new test plans, test scripts, and use cases to support testing objectives.
- Pinpointed gaps in testing/development processes and recommended adjustments to enhance overall efficiency
- Led Test Engineers to align with team's strategic testing goals.
- Instructed Test Engineers on implementing tailored testing processes and seamlessly incorporating them across each SDLC phase to meet team objectives
- Supervised bug resolution, tested bug fixes, and collaborated with developers to resolve ongoing problems by delivering QA feedback.
- Leveraged JIRA for managing agile scrum team tasks, integrating with Xray testing tool and overseeing defect management.
- Leveraged Postman to create and execute API tests.
- Participated in scrum ceremonies for current and future projects relating to code enhancements, modifications, and new implementations.
- Conducted monthly training sessions for Test Engineers on effective use of testing tools and integration within testing cycle.
- Assisted in reviewing resumes and conducting interviews to cultivate a robust team of Test Engineers with diverse and synergistic abilities.
- Established "Three Amigos" meetings to clarify business requirements, minimizing missed requirements during testing.
- Approached testing activities with a process-driven mindset, integrating continuous improvements to meet evolving business and team needs.
- Regularly met one-on-one with my direct reports to discuss career objectives, testing management, process improvement ideas, concerns, challenges, etc.
- Established a platform for my direct team to connect, strengthen our working relationships, and stay connected in a remote work environment.
Software QA Engineer
Refinitiv (Formerly Thompson Reuters)
05.2018 - 12.2019
- Performed software quality assurance for one of the world’s largest providers of financial markets data and infrastructure, which serves more than 40,000 institutions in over 190 countries.
- Formulated and implemented cohesive test plans for projects utilizing advanced testing technologies.
- Collaborated with automation engineers to automate new tests and enhance existing test coverage.
- Transformed requirements into impactful, comprehensive, and actionable test cases.
- Developed and conducted API testing leveraging WSDLs and Swagger/JSON files for thorough Web Services analysis.
- Executed Swagger Validation and generated Groovy assertions to verify Web Services test outcomes.
- Facilitated generation and configuration of test data for scheduled test execution activities, including requirements gathering and defining expected inputs, outputs, and error scenarios.
- Recorded testing outcomes, managed bug reporting efforts, and reported key metrics to track and communicate testing progress.
- Delivered updated progress reports throughout testing project, accompanied by summary report at conclusion of each project/release, including proactive identification of improvement areas.
- Developed SQL scripts in IBM Data Studio for querying DB2 and Datacom databases.
- Manipulated and created SQL scripts to map the absolute folder path of test cases located inside Quality Center.
- Trained colleagues in Swagger Validation, TestRail, migrating test cases from Quality Center to TestRail, SQL Scripting for optimized test data acquisition and development, and participation in testing methodologies within Quality Engineering Organization.
- Championed QA team on testing processes, best practices, and tools to ensure adherence to established standards among testers across teams.
- Ensured regulatory compliance and FINRA requirements during the testing process for regulatory efforts.
- Developed more than 270 single, and 180 end-to-end, data-driven automated regression tests.
- Optimized functions within automated test script data, reducing run times while enhancing accuracy of test data and validation points.
IT Security Analyst - SAP
TEKsystems
10.2017 - 05.2018
- Served on a team of 12 SAP Security Administrators, processing security requests for various access privileges for all of John Deere’s global user base of approximately 77,000 users.
- Analyzed, provisioned, and removed SAP security permissions in all SAP production and non-production landscapes based on user role and security requirements.
- Improved accuracy of BP accounts by over 37% through identifying audit gaps, developing and validating a new audit report, and rectifying incorrectly provisioned user accounts.
- Conducted audit and compliance assessments to identify inconsistencies in user security access provisioning.
- Created assessment guidelines for monthly SAP BP audit report to improve accuracy in user account management.
- Identified areas of improvement within processes, documentation, testing, and reporting.
- Collaborated with automation engineer to drive testing process of new audit report by manipulating test account, ensuring comprehensive scenario testing and validating report functionality as expected.
- Enforced SAP security policies and procedures in alignment with SAP security strategy while supporting end-users in utilizing SAP and HANA systems.
IT Specialist
U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command (D.O.D)
09.2016 - 07.2017
- Engineered and deployed applications for integration onto SharePoint site to enhance data management accuracy, facilitate data sharing, and elevate team productivity.
- Designed, developed, tested, debugged, and troubleshot four webpages on the SharePoint site utilizing HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Ensured on-time delivery of web pages with full functionality, maximizing technological value for users.
- Designed a user-friendly interface with tool implementation to improve user experience and team effectiveness.
- Developed and maintained more than seven cascading style sheets to ensure continued compatibility with SharePoint master code.
- Enhanced organizational productivity by providing user access to frequently asked questions, helpful tips, and critical process information.
- Collaborated with team members to gather requirements and suggestions for new applications and web design.
- Developed an engaging animated PowerPoint slideshow for Janus System command-wide, facilitating user readiness for operating system migration.
President / Manager / CSR
Virtual Lyfe Enterprises, Inc.
12.2011 - 11.2016
- Oversaw 5 managers and customer service representatives, ensuring delivery of exceptional customer service for technology and service inquiries.
- Facilitated and led webinars on excellence training, customer service skills, internet safety and security compliance, contractual requirements, QA goals, and career skills matching, enhancing team knowledge and capabilities.
- Coordinated with independent contractors, technical representatives, managers, performance compliance leads, and contracting organizations to ensure understanding of SOWs and compliance with business and contractor obligations and standards.
- Formed a team of independent contractors to satisfy client service needs, prioritizing detailed attention to contracting and job selection procedures.
- Coached new independent businesses in becoming their own entities within a virtual community.
- Designed, developed, and maintained the company website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Information Technology
University of Phoenix
Tempe, AZ, United States06.2017
Associate of Arts - Information Technology
University of Phoenix
Tempe, AZ, United States02.2017
Skills
- People Leadership & Resource Management
- Building Highly-Skilled Teams
- SDLC, Agile, Scrum
- Software Engineering and Testing Processes
- DevOps, CI/CD, SonarQube
- Git, GitLab
- DORA, Grafana, Checkmarx, Twistlock
- Test Automation & Frameworks
- Technical Leadership
- Cucumber, Gherkin, Selenium, Webdriverio
- HTML5, CSS, JSON
- JavaScript, Nodejs, npm
- Jira, Xray, TestRail, Confluence
- Strategic Planning
Timeline
Software Engineering Manager
Northwestern Mutual
12.2021 - Current
Test Engineering Manager
Northwestern Mutual
11.2020 - 12.2021
Automation Test Engineer
Northwestern Mutual
12.2019 - 11.2020
Software QA Engineer
Refinitiv (Formerly Thompson Reuters)
05.2018 - 12.2019
IT Security Analyst - SAP
TEKsystems
10.2017 - 05.2018
IT Specialist
U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command (D.O.D)
09.2016 - 07.2017
President / Manager / CSR
Virtual Lyfe Enterprises, Inc.
12.2011 - 11.2016
Associate of Arts - Information Technology
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science - Information Technology
University of Phoenix