Quality Assurance Technical Writer
Resume:
Heidi Schmidt
*******.*****@*****.***
Education
Ph.D., current, 2026
University of Kentucky
MSLS, current, 2026 University of Kentucky
MFA, 2020
Queens University of Charlotte
MALS, 2015
Hollins University
BA, 1994
Hollins University
QA IV
As a Quality Analyst IV, I have been responsible for test planning, test monitoring and control, test analysis and design, test implementation and test execution, evaluating exit criteria and reporting, and test closure.
I have been directly involved in hands-on, technical work including test data provisioning and test data management. I bring a deep knowledge of software development cycle and quality assurance methodologies. Proficient with Agile methodologies, Kanban, Azure, Jira, and Cloud systems. Deep understanding of telecom technology and tools for supporting telecom business development. My work is typically highly independent and at times I have assumed a team lead role for the work group. I am a specialist in complex technical and business matters, and I have excellent team-building skills. My top three skills that I bring to a team are problem solving, communication across multiple business units, and analytical decision making.
Employment History
Lead QA and Scrum Master, Segra (Apex) 2022 - December 2024 Manage the relationship with project/program stakeholders (IT and business). Conduct Quality Review assessments of SDLC deliverables for Agile and project teams. Play a leadership role in the design, development, and implementation of quality assessment components and identify quality improvements.
Define appropriate assessment testing methods to employ to assure the developed product conforms to requirements and design.
Review/Approve all project-related test assets for completeness and quality. Collect assessment metrics and reports status as defined in assessment plans with supporting data. Lead and coordinate testing for small to medium initiatives. Identify, create, and execute the appropriate Test Assets (plans, cases, scripts, metrics) to assure the developed application conforms to requirements and design.
Coordinate/execute testing across multiple testing phases, including SIT, UAT, and Regression. Lead Peer Reviews to ensure the completeness of all Test Assets created. Ensure all applicable SDLC and testing processes are followed. Execute linkage from test plan to test scenarios and test cases. Assist in the creation of or creates and communicates all testing deliverable(s) (MTP, TES, etc.) Identify when test automation is appropriate.
Coordinate, identify, and execute test cases.
Identify, report, and review defects in assessing application quality. Lead defect triage for smaller or medium initiatives. Provide consultation/mentoring to staff members and application support groups regarding quality and testing. Participate in the transition of software and systems into production. Identify and collect Test Data for test execution. Test Data Management, collection of requirements, evaluation of available data in repositories, ID gaps, and owns test data provisioning tasks.
Technical Quality Assurance Specialist, CMR Institute, 2016 - 2017 Accomplish quality assurance human resource objectives by planning, monitoring, appraising, and reviewing job contributions; enforcing policies and procedures.
Achieve quality assurance operational objectives by contributing information and analysis to strategic plans and reviews; preparing and completing action plans; implementing production, productivity, quality, and customer-service standards; identifying and resolving problems; completing audits; determining system improvements; implementing change.
Meet quality assurance financial objectives by estimating requirements; preparing an annual budget; scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions. Develop quality assurance plans by conducting hazard analyses; identifying critical control points and preventive measures; establishing critical limits, monitoring procedures, corrective actions, and verification procedures; monitoring inventories.
Validate quality processes by establishing product specifications and quality attributes; measuring production; documenting evidence; determining operational and performance qualification; writing and updating quality assurance procedures.
Maintain and improve product quality by completing product, company, system, compliance, and surveillance audits; investigating customer complaints; collaborating with other members of management to develop new product and engineering designs, and manufacturing and training methods. Prepare quality documentation and reports by collecting, analyzing and summarizing information and trends including failed processes, stability studies, recalls, corrective actions, and re-validations. Business Systems Analyst III, Advance Auto Parts (Apex), 2015 Create current and future business or system processes, both written and via process flow diagram, that are clear, orderly and easy to read and understand throughout all levels of the organization Write and gather requirements that are complete, concise, accurate and traceable in a waterfall project management structure.
Create concise, accurate, traceable mile markers and tracks for use in Agile project methodology. Schedule and run requirements and story building sessions with the stakeholders both in person and via Webex. Present requirements, user stories and processes to the stakeholders in a meeting format. Manage story creation and deployment for Agile sprints. Produce the expected deliverables according to the target dates agreed to with the project manager, and alerts the project manager to any impediments that may affect target deliverable dates. Manage clarity between the business and IT, ensuring that IT understands what needs to be built and the business agrees on the solution being provided.
Alert stakeholders to any issues or limitations to both the product owner, project team, and project manager in an expedient and clear manner, remaining transparent at all times. Answer development and QA questions in an expedient and positive manner. Partner with the enterprise architect or lead developers to lend their knowledge to design solutions as needed. Facilitate user acceptance testing with the product owner/stakeholders to ensure that what was developed meets its purpose.
Anticipate and expects change to occur, and facilitates re-prioritization of the expected deliverables when change introduces chaos.
Assist development or system transfer to support as needed by ensuring that the support team understands the system, the business knows to contact support for issues, and that support has access to documentation that will assist in support.
Provide support and subject matter expertise across the business and IT as needed. IT Project Analyst, Corvesta, Inc., 2012 - 2013
Create project management-related strategies and action plans Support development and maintenance of integrated master schedules Use of project management information systems to support ongoing project management efforts Supporting client meetings and exercises
Create project status briefings and reports
Develop project artifacts including charters, agendas, minutes, and correspondence Participate in program management working sessions and supporting program managers in executing day-to-day project management activities
Quality Assurance Analyst, Business Intelligence, Delta Dental of Virginia, 2010 - 2012 Perform quality assurance activities using in-depth analysis, testing, and overall evaluation of a software product or system to ensure full compliance with established objectives and to ensure that inadequacies in the product or process are brought to Management’s attention. Other related duties as required by supervision. Design, develop and use test scripts, automated test tools, and manual testing to determine software quality of web-based applications
Review and edit system documentation for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to design specifications Develop test plan and conduct testing to verify the accuracy and completeness of design specifications Determine the consistency and efficiency of the product performance objectives and conducting load testing Develop test plan and conduct testing to verify the installation process on each supported platform, including testing of databases and documentation consistency across platforms Track and report defects discovered during software testing Review design documents and prepare quality plans that identify the key parameters or features to be tested in the software, including recording test results
Maintain updated status reports of the products in testing Quality Analyst, VTLS, Inc., Blacksburg, Va., 2007 - 2009 Perform quality assurance activities using in-depth analysis, testing, and overall evaluation of a software product or system to ensure full compliance with established objectives and to ensure that inadequacies in the product or process are brought to Management’s attention. Other related duties as required by supervision. Linux, Oracle, MySql and Postgresql required on a daily basis. Excellent written and oral ability, with excellent attention to detail and organizational abilities.
Design, develop and use test scripts, automated test tools, and manual testing to determine software quality of web-based applications
Review and edit system documentation for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to design specifications Develop test plan and conduct testing to verify the accuracy and completeness of design specifications Determine the consistency and efficiency of the product performance objectives and conducting load testing Develop test plan and conducts testing to verify the installation process on each supported platform, including testing of databases and documentation consistency across platformsTrack and report defects discovered during software testing
Review design documents
Prepare and execute test plans of key parameters or features in the software Maintain updated status reports of the products in testing Participate in SGR-CRM set up and Users' Group with Customer Services Group and Sales Team members. Process Analyst, Novozymes Biologicals, 2006-2007
Analyze the current process for managing information. Determine optimized process with greater efficiency, increased tracking, increased reporting and increased accuracy. Meet with Team leaders to discuss business operations goals and optimization of area functions. Communication Specialist, Human Resources, Carilion Inc., 2005-2006 Edit, update and publish online and paper communication to employees throughout the Carilion organization. Draft letters from the President.
Design advertisements for internal programs.
Web Developer, Usability Specialist, Atlantic Mutual Companies, 2001 – 2002 Develop online help and technical documentation in a fast-paced environment to receive, process, and quote insurance applications.
Develop, test and verify the final web-based product. Design and administer usability testing program.
Technical Writer and Tester, Software, General Electric, Inc., 2000 –2001 Meet regularly with Documentation Design Staff.
Meet with Software Developers to document developments for users. Apply corporate format to inherited documentation. Create new documentation as needed, and maintain existing documentation. Meet deadlines for software documentation release. Maintain documentation version control with Microsoft Source Safe. Publish documents in .pdf format to global Documentation website. Microsoft Word
WexTech Doc-to-help
Adobe Acrobat Distiller, Reader, Photoshop, and Illustrator Visio
SourceSafe
Compliance Analyst, Dynax, Inc., 2000
Design and implement QS9000-compliant system for organization, storage and receipt of technical drawings and documents.
Certifications
Conflict Resolution, Courts of Virginia
Paralegal Certification, American National University Lean Six Sigma Certified, Villanova University
Six Sigma Green Belt, Information Technology
Technical Proficiency
Netcracker
API
SGR-CRM
Jira
Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat HTML, XHTML, CSS, WC3, PHP
Macromedia Dreamweaver, ColdFusion, Fireworks, Flash All MS Office Applications and Utilities Word, Excel, Access, SourceSafe Visio Imaging Software
Lotus communication utilities Notes, Sametime
Corel Applications and Utilities WordPerfect, Quattro Pro, CorelDraw, Corel Paint Adobe Applications and Utilities: FrameMaker 6.0, PhotoShop, Acrobat Writer (.pdf ), Illustrator C, C++ Programming Language and Logic
Linux / Unix
MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle
ORACLE Forms
Excellent Professional and Personal References
PROFESSIONAL
REFERENCES
Ken Weinstock, Lead BA,
Netcracker
***.*********@**********.***
Chris Bertolino, Developer **************@*****.*** Steve Ince
Corvesta, Inc.
Suresh Vadapalli
Delta Dental of VA
*********@*****.***
******.*********@*************.***
Jamie Banks Anderson,
Library Supervisor
Santa Rosa Public Library
********@*****.***
letter of recommendation
David Cheslow,
Ecommerce
Atlantic Mutual Companies
letter of recommendation
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