Customer Service Quality Assurance
Resume:
STEPHEN SOYARS
DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
*********@***.***
SUMMARY
Software Quality Assurance Engineer immediately available for senior or mid-
level position in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, or North San
Diego County. Willing to travel as needed. Over 20 years experience writing
and running test plans, and investigating and repairing software bugs.
Creative and strong team player particularly skilled in learning new
technologies, debugging, white box, black box, and regression testing,
reverse engineering, porting and refactoring code, explaining difficult
technical concepts and mentoring other team members. An extremely active
participant in requirements, design, and code reviews. Experienced with
object-oriented design and concepts including design patterns.
SKILLS
TESTING
Writing Test Procedures
Developing Automated Regression Test Suites
Writing test scripts and tools in a wide variety of languages
Using bug-tracking systems such as RT and Clearquest
Writing test and discrepancy reports
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
UNIX shell scripting and tools Includes KSH, sockets, Grep, AWK,
regular expressions, make
PERL Includes DBI, CGI, LWP, Template Toolkit
PHP Includes Smarty
C Includes UNIX System calls such as open, read, write,
poll, select, etc.
C++ Includes Standard Template Library
Java Includes threads
TCL/TK
HTML
XML
Javascript
SQL "Flavors" used include Oracle, PostGres, and MYSQL
ANY LANGUAGE I can learn any programming language quickly and on
my own time.
NETWORK DEVELOPMENT
Familiar with HTTP, TCP, and UDP. Have done lots and lots of "socket"
programming on UNIX based systems.
CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT
Have used ClearCase extensively and done too many merges of baselines
to count. Have also used CVS, Subversion, and RCS.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT LIFECYCLE
Familiar and experienced with all phases of SDLC including object-
oriented analysis, object-oriented design, object-oriented programming, OO-
you name it. If old-fashioned (and often superior performance) "structured
programming" is better, very experienced in that as well.
EXPERIENCE
SELF STUDY, Downey, CA 2007-Present
Self Study (2007-Present): Learning J2EE, advanced Perl, advanced C++ and
other skills by reading technical books and internet documentation and
writing programs.
ADVENT RESOURCES (Software for Auto Dealerships), San Pedro CA
2006-2007
Development (2006-2007): Wrote services in C that parsed XML to send
customer letters and create customer Email. Developed web-based application
using PHP, HTML, JavaScript and SQL to charge customer deposits.
( Wrote parser to process sales prospects from internet.
HYPERMEDIA SYSTEMS (Video Streaming), Los Angeles, CA
2005-2006
Enterprise Programming (2005-2006): Developed test suite for web security
applications using LWP (PERL CPAN module). Upgraded web security
application written in C and PERL that implemented "FastCGI" protocol, HTTP
headers and accessed several user tables using POSTGRES and ORACLE
databases to require browser cookie support, add users in real time(using
UDP) and allow for different access rights for users. Created a generic
front end CGI program using PERL/CGI/DBI for database queries and
retrievals such that table and database could be changed without requiring
change to source code. Configured web sites using ZEUS web server.
( Improved customer service by creating a reporting tool to show
all failed login attempts by IP address, user or cause.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN (Image Processing), Redondo Beach, CA 2001-
2005
(Formerly TRW)
NIMA Library (2001-2005): Performed maintenance on pixel processing code
for data conversion, compression, and reduced resolution of images.
Modified a multithreaded application in Java and C/C++ that took individual
images split into smaller sections and joined all the sections into a
master thread as new requirements were added. Wrote C++ code to perform
data masking. Implemented GUI tool to automate building of software
baselines by interfacing with CLEARCASE product. Coded C++ methods for
server side of CORBA application responsible for interfacing with database
access module to process image order requests. Wrote a web site to track
customer discrepancy reports using PERL, MySQL and HTML. Rewrote code to
implement several versions with different requirements by using compile-
time constants. Supported installation and testing of code at customer
site.
( Corrected flaws in code for reading of compression database
parameters, thereby resulting in
passing an independent image quality analysis.
BOEING SATELLITE SYSTEMS (Aerospace), El Segundo, CA 1986-
2001
(Formerly Raytheon and Hughes Aircraft)
Orbital Operations (1998 - 2001): Wrote and ran test procedures to validate
spacecraft telemetry and command software. Wrote scripts in PERL to
facilitate translation of report generation files between different
software products. Performed maintenance on spacecraft telemetry and
command report generation and replay tool. Ported Automated Document
Production System and Mission Data Analysis Tool applications to new HP-UX
operating systems for Y2K compliance including development of test
procedures.
( Received spot award as part of team responsible for flawless Y2K
transition.
Spacecraft Telemetry, Command and Ranging (1997-1998): Ran test procedures
to validate ground system software. Performed warranty work including
correction of telemetry retrieval from file system. Wrote a library to
decode files containing spacecraft telemetry.
( Ported ION Propulsion System simulator from VAX/VMS to VAX/ALPHA
platform
DIRECT TV International (1995-1997): Tested decoder boxes and financial
institution protocols by designing and implementing user-friendly
interpreter which created TCP/IP data packets and files.
( Discovered flaw in decoder box design thereby preventing recall
of decoder boxes.
Advanced Digital Communications (1986-1995): Performed operations at
customer sites, investigating a wide variety of issues with narrowband
network. Designed, implemented, maintained and tested programs written in
C. Used ISO protocols to exchange user-defined data, queue and journal
jobs, and transfer and compress files. Ported source code to UNIX, VAX/VMS
and IBM/MVS environments. Devised message format so that processes could
communicate using UNIX IPC messages. Supported operations on customer site.
Developed code in C to interface with different NIU's (Hardware Network
Interface Units) Taught classes on network software maintenance and C
programming. Ported programs to several new platforms to allow customer
increased flexibility. Wrote C programming standards document. Improved
product by enhancing error logging, defining network parameters at run-time
rather than compile time, and logging inter-process communication upon
demand.
( Led team in simplifying product resulting in improved reporting of
discrepancies and shorter maintenance
cycle.
EDUCATION/ PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BS, Computer Science: California State University Northridge, graduated Cum
Laude
Graduate Courses: Compiler Design, Operating Systems (University of
Southern California)
Company Provided Classes: several including Advanced C++, Advanced PERL,
Advanced JAVA.
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