Technical Writer / QA Engineer

ALAN SOUZA

**** ***** *** *****; BRADENTON, FL **203

(M) 774-***-****

SOFTWARE PROFESSIONAL

Highly analytical, detail-oriented, and versatile computer professional, offering comprehensive experience in Software Development Life Cycle, including project management, software and hardware testing, build/release and technical writing. Adept at thorough product testing, to include test planning, defect triage, release process and creating/editing product documentation.

Professional experience includes Technical Writer, QA Engineer/Manager, Software Engineer/Manager, Build /Release Engineer, Project Manager, and Acting Director of Engineering of 50-person department.

Military experience: U.S. Army Captain, receiving Army Commendation Medal for performance as Data Processing Plans and Operations officer while attached to the Pentagon. Duties included programmer/analyst, providing validated budgetary data to US ARMY highest levels, including DCSLOG, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Product Requirements Review and Critique

Functional Specifications Review and Critique

Project Plan Review and Critique

Creating Installation Manuals

Creating Product User Guides

Creating Data Sheets

Test Planning & Management

Hiring, Mentoring and Managing Test Engineers

Test Execution

Defect Triage and Tracking

Defect Management: JIRA, TestTrack, HP QualityCenter

Creating Product Release Notes

Madcap FLARE Authoring/Publishing Software

Photo Impact X3 Graphics Software

Programming: Fortran IV, C language, Scripting

Operating Systems: Windows, Unix, Linux

Source Control Systems: SVN, Perforce, others

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Citizens Bank, Mortgage Center, Riverside RI (Contract)

Technical Writer Feb 2018-Dec 2018_

Create and/or update Loan Servicing procedures to accommodate major software systems updates to loan origination and loan processing departments. ALS mainframe systems, Microsoft Office.

Key Accomplishments:

Created or modified procedures for loan servicing department to support new ALS application system. Conducted new procedure training for operations personnel. Created control system for tracking approval signoffs by business line managers of new or modified procedures.

Johnson Controls, Westford MA (formerly TYCO; Contract)

Technical Writer March 2017-Feb 2018_

Utilizing MadCap Flare publishing software, wrote hardcopy and online installation manuals and user guides for Innometriks building access software and hardware products. Products included Innometriks Rhino Reader, Cheetah Reader, Cheetah SE Reader and various FICAM software products which enroll and validate user credentials (e.g. PIN, fingerprints, user IDs, certificates).

Key Accomplishments:

Gained expertise in using MadCap Flare publishing software, HTML, CSS and Photo Impact X3 graphics.

Install and configure TYCO iSTAR ULTRA and iSTAR ULTRA-SE physical control access systems.

Configured iSTAR ULTRA and ULTRA-SE systems to interface with Innometriks card readers, using TYCO’s Windows-based C●CURE software.

Created Linux virtual machine to serve as Innometriks ID Server which authenticates card certificates.

Met project schedule deadlines to release updated versions of installation guides, data sheets, release notes and user guides for Innometriks Rhino Reader and Cheetah Reader using MadCap Flare publishing software.

Participated as member of Triage Team to adjudicate reported reader and FICAM defects.

Assisted QA Engineer in performing test cases to add robustness to testing activities.

Dispatch TECHNOLOGIES, Boston, MA (Contract)

QA Engineer Feb. 2016–April 2016

Short term contract to test Dispatch’s Work Scheduling Management System which manages service provider activities including scheduling appointments, managing work activities, processing invoices and payments and other service related functions.

Key Accomplishments:

Tested portions of the Dispatch system on Windows and mobile platforms

Logged defects into JIRA

Attended Agile standup meetings to report status and triage defects

Completed assigned work meeting all deadlines

Instrumental in organizing and participating in patient to patient meetings and programs.

Carbon BLACK (formerly BIT9), Waltham, MA

QA Engineer / QA Manager Oct. 2012-Jan. 2016

Hired in 2012 as QA Engineer to test Bit9 computer security applications. From 2014-2016, promoted to QA Manager with responsibilities for testing two product patch release per quarter. Managed a QA team of three local engineers, plus ultimately six remote engineers. Testing platforms included Windows 7, XP, 8.1 and 10, using SQL Server 8 and 12, plus MAC OS X and Red Hat Linux. Responsible for managing nine QA Engineers to committed schedule and documenting product release notes sections “Known Limitations” (defects deferred) and “Corrective Content” (defects fixed).

Key Accomplishments:

As QA Engineer, was given top rating of “Outstanding” performance.

As QA Manager, successfully guided team to meet all scheduled releases except those few rescheduled to fix critical bugs.

-Trained new remote employees in product functionality.

-Interviewed and hired three local QA Engineers.

UNITED AUTOMATION, PORTSMOUTH, NH

Project Engineer May 2012–Aug. 2012

Unix to Windows conversion of GE Proficy/Cimplicity SCADA package.

COGNEX VISION SYSTEMS, Natick MA (contract)

QA Engineer Jan 2012 – Feb 2012

Short-term project to test new release of Checker vision system

Key Accomplishments:

Verified and validated new firmware version of Checker vision hardware and firmware.

Installation and upgrades on Windows 7, XP

Testing of GUI, firmware upload/download, fail/safe recovery, and version compatibility

TCP/IP Ethernet, FTP, VMware Workstation. Liquid Planner for defect tracking

Schneider ElectriC, Buildings Management Group, N. Andover, MA

Test Lead, Systems Integration Team Oct 2010 – Dec. 2011

This is my fourth time back at Modicon/Schneider, twice before as software manager.

- Led QA Test Team for international system integration project of intelligent buildings energy management system:

Plans QA strategies and coordinates with test lead counterparts from Rockford Ill., London and Malmo Sweden in producing project’s Software Test Plan

Provides test case design coverage for product requirements

Reviews, prioritizes, classifies and closes defects from team

Interfaces with Technical Leads from development to arrive at problem solutions

Maintains QA lab hardware and software

Borland Caliber (Requirements management); HP Quality Center (Test plans, test sets, defects)

UNITED AUTOMATION, PORTSMOUTH, NH

Project Engineer / QA Manager May 2007- Oct. 2010

Performed various project duties for UA, including testing and technical writing at General Electic, Lynn, MA where UA contracted to implement an aircraft engine testing application using GE Proficy software.

Key Accomplishments:

Developed and implemented procedures for controlled software releases.

Researched, purchased, installed and managed a Requirements Management System and a defect tracking system.

Performed project testing and documentation, including writing test plans and test cases.

Wrote project documentation to include user manual.

NMS Communications, Framingham MA

Quality Engineer II 2005-2007

Manual test engineer for Media Access Gateways.

Key Accomplishments:

- Windows based command line testing and manual testing of AccessGate 500/1000 product line. This product compresses wireless cellular traffic.

Windows 2000/XP, Lotus Notes database for bug tracking.

QNX (Unix) O/S to debug firmware.

Perforce source control. Lotus Notes database for bug tracking and test results.

oWrites and executes test cases and plans. Tests communications, alarm handling, configurations, user interface. Spirent; Cisco Router; Windows scripting

Expert reviewer of user documentation; Responsible for ECO release of product.

Cendant Mortgage; Fieldstone Mortgage

Mortgage Broker 2002-2005

Natural MICROSYSTEMS, Framingham MA

Release Engineer 1999-2002

Performed as the Fusion department’s Build/ Release Engineer, responsible for all Fusion product’s software builds and releases under Windows NT/2000, Intel & SPARC Solaris, Red Hat Linux 6.2. Utilized Visual Studio, DemoShield, InstallShield, PKGMK, RPM, NMAKE, makefiles and Lotus Notes. Used Perforce for source control.

Key Accomplishments:

Solved a difficult persistent bug caused by erroneous build procedures performed by an offsite team. I compared their build files line by line with ours and found they had used a default setting instead of a parameter that should have been modified. Trained and managed an intern to perform product release procedures.

Worked 30 hours straight to correct a build problem, created by a satellite office, that prevented release of the product.

MoDICON / SCHNEIDER AUTOMATION, NORTH ANDOVER, MA

QA Engineer to SW Development Manager to Acting Director of Engineering 1980-1999

Initially hired as a QA Engineer testing the company’s PLC (programmable controller) the Modicon 484, I performed in several positions in nineteen years with the company. The majority of my time was spent as the expert in Modbus Host Software and the Modbus protocol, which became a worldwide standard in factory automation.

The job progression was QA Engineer, SQA Manager, Software Manager, Acting Director of Engineering for six months in 1984, Software Manager, Manager of Continuing Engineering, Project Manager and finally Principal Quality Engineer for New Product Introduction Process.

Key Accomplishments:

Travelled twice in ten years to successfully solve technical problems at Volkswagon in Germany.

Became the company expert on MODBUS communications from host computers to factory floor PLCs.

Managed a team of ten QA Engineers and later a similar team of Software Engineers.

As Software Manger, I led a project team of local and remote engineering groups to win a successful bid from a General Motors pilot project for a MAP controller, beating out competitors from HP, Allen-Bradley, Motorola, DEC and others.

In my last position, Principal Quality Engineer (a company-wide process position, outside of engineering), I was chosen by the CEO to provide a report on the reason a large project failed. After interviewing local and international workers, managers and company staff, the ultimate reason for failure was an old one: changing the requirements in project midstream to satisfy specific customers while trying to maintain the original schedule.

Other project accomplishments, too numerous, and not current enough, to mention.

Digital EquiPMENT CORP, Nashua NH

Software Developer, FORTRAN IV, C 1978-1980

Wrote software on DEC PDP-11 computers for coin-counting/sorting machines used by BELL phone systems. Wrote user/installation manual. Performed on-site customer formal training classes.

Bird & Son Roofing, Walpole MA

Systems Manager 1976-1978

Wrote high level software application for DEC RSTS OS in Basic language. Application was booted menu program to initiate COBOL business applications. Installed DEC mini-computers at company sites around the country. Taught system operations to company managers and operations staff.

AVCO Missiles Systems DIv, Wilmington, MA

Software Developer, FORTRAN IV 1969-1975

Wrote and debugged software on company-developed OS for PDP-11 DEC computers. Application was converted from AVCO test software from military to commercial software application for automobile inspection stations.

US Army, Pentagon, Washington DC

1LT US Army, Software Developer, FORTRAN IV 1967-1969

Wrote software to correlate budgetary data for US ARMY Deputy Chief of Staff Logistics. Applications produced detailed and summary reporting of funds spent on logistics for Vietnam war.

EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS

Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics

NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, BOSTON, MA

Certificate for Course Completion, Project Manager Professional

BOSTON UNIVERSITY, BOSTON, MA

Six Sigma Black Belt

BHAVYAM INFOTECH SERVICES PTE LTD

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