Engineer Software

ALAN GRAVES

**** ******* **** • Naperville, IL 60565

630-***-**** • acoo58@r.postjobfree.com • www.linkedin.com/pub/alangraves

QA SYSTEM SOFTWARE TESTER / AUTOMATION TOOLS

Senior QA Software Test Engineer with 10+ years of experience in global technology and large

nationwide software industries. Core strengths include manual testing, code analysis, creating automation

tools and experienced in software life-cycle planning. A high-level manual tester with Six Sigma Green

Belt Certification and previous Project Management skills. Demonstrated ability to lead small teams

through motivational direction and progress tracking. Capacity to identify process improvements and

create automation tools to test software with optimum efficiency.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Software: AWK, Automation Key, C++, Clear Quest, Database Admin tools, Microsoft Office -

Excel, HTML, Java, JavaScript, Kshell, Oracle, Perl, Unix, Linux, Microsoft SQL,

Server Management, Advanced Visual Basic, QTP 11.0, UFT 12.2, Quality Center (QC).

Network: Networking Protocols, LAN/WAN, TCP/IP, Multicast, UPP/IP

Systems: Microsoft Windows OS, Vista, Windows CE Embedded, Linux, Unix

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF ILLINOIS, Chicago, IL 2013-Current

QA Software Test Engineer

Quality Assurance Lead Test Engineer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield, testing cost and

procedural search web application(s) for public use.

Creating and execution of complex test scripts to thoroughly exercise software code and identify

scenarios for a robust regression testing suite.

Exercising Quality Center (QC) and Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) for identifying

requirements, writing test cases and verifying defects for each product testing-cycle release.

Attend status meetings to inform any roadblocks or issues identified prior to production release to

keep management informed on current concerns.

Meeting personal target goal(s) of zero issues found during production releases so BCBS can

continue to be a strong success in the business world.

Using Automation tool(s) for Unified Functional Testing (UFT) to speed up the process for

executing several hundred test cases for a Montana based BAM release.

CUMMINS ALLISON, Mt. Prospect, IL 2006 - 2013

Senior QA Software Test Engineer / Tools Developer

Accelerated sales of a $300,000 system product to market by quickly uncovering 200+ code

issues within a 2-month period.

Saved the company $40,000 by solving a CTK system rebooting problem in the field using

automation on Unix platform eliminating the need for managers and technical staff to fly on site.

Decreased man hours by 20% by designing & developing automation tools using Java / Auto Hot

key which utilized software and hardware mechanical solenoids which nearly eliminated manual

testing.

Reduced regression test cycle time by 20% by running automation over the weekend on an Oracle

based DB server system that uncovered memory leaks and system crash issues.

Managed and maintained hundreds of client database systems connected to 20+ servers with a

global reach of customer platforms using SQL.

Facilitated weekly QA strategy meetings with project and product managers to address issues and

plan courses of action to hold projects on schedule and maintain objectives.

Performed onsite software and hardware installations in US and Canada while solving real-time

configuration IP issues providing customer support allowing contracts worth thousands to solidify

HYPERFEED TECHNOLOGIES, Naperville, IL 2005 - 2006

Senior QA System Test Engineer

Created and executed high level financial data test case Unix scripts for Hyper server platform on

an AMD / Intel system and reported problems to developers resulting in higher quality products

shipped to customers of NASDAQ, COMSTOCK and CBOE with an estimated 20% reduction in

errors reported from the field. These scripts were designed incrementally over a 6 month period.

Pioneered automation application and ran in-depth quality Unix test cases over the course of

several weeks that uncovered 20+ major software conflicts in 3 months that would have

otherwise created detrimental software production delays.

Saved company thousands of dollars by creating Unix automation tools that uncovered system

stress and system crashes resulting in higher customer quality satisfaction and earned additional

contracts.

Trained co-workers on Micro Hedge tools and created automation applications using AutoHot

Key to simulate real world customer financial scenarios.

WMS GAMING, Chicago, IL 2003-2005

Senior System Test Engineer

Saved company $3,000 per game in fees by not allowing a single issue to be deployed to the field

requiring recertification.

Created and executed in-depth test cases for the next CPU-NXT SDG Operating System and

allowed on time deployment to earn revenue for the company resulting in thousands of dollars in

sales.

Executed self-created automated hardware regression testing that included bill acceptors, printers

and coin mechanisms for the new gaming machines resulting in faster turnaround.

Met 100% target goal of zero bugs during life-cycle testing so the company could continue selling

the product line selling $100,000 of dollars per year.

MOTOROLA, Arlington Heights, IL 1999 – 2003

Lead Test Engineer / Unix Developer

AT&T LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES 1989 – 1999

System Tester / Unix Tools Developer

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science - Computer Science (BSCS), DeVry University, Kansas City, Missouri

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