QA Engineer

ABHISHEK SAHU

Technology-Driven Quality Engineering Leader 20+ Years in Automation, Cybersecurity & Scalable QA Strategy

Guilderland, NY (Albany Area) H-1B Visa Holder Open to Opportunities

Mail I’d: **************@*****.*** / PH: 469-***-****

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Quality Engineering Leader with over two decades of hands-on experience building and leading QA functions across cybersecurity, financial systems, government platforms, and enterprise applications.

Skilled in shaping test strategy for complex, multi-year programs, driving automation initiatives that cut regression cycles, and partnering with engineering and product teams to ship reliable software under tight deadlines.

ISTQB Advanced certified with a track record of presenting to senior leadership, mentoring teams, and embedding quality practices that reduce production issues.

Comfortable working in fast-paced Agile environments and regulated domains where compliance and data integrity matter.

KEY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Built QA processes and teams from the ground up at multiple engagements, including hiring, training, and establishing STLC practices that teams continued using after I moved on.

Led testing for large-scale public sector financial system modernization, navigating strict compliance requirements and formal change control while still delivering on schedule.

Developed and maintained automation frameworks in Playwright/TypeScript and Selenium that became the backbone of regression for multi-year product teams.

Served as Scrum Master for several years, helping teams improve sprint predictability, reduce blockers, and deliver more consistently without sacrificing quality.

Regularly presented QA strategy, risk assessments, and metrics to senior leadership (Directors and VPs), translating technical details into clear business impact and trade-offs.

Strengthened API and database testing practices across roles, moving coverage earlier in the SDLC and reducing the number of issues found late in UAT or production.

Mentored and coached testers and developers on test design, automation maintainability, and practical ways to build quality in rather than testing it in at the end.

Core Strengths

ISTQB Advanced Certified (CTAL-TM) with practical expertise leading end-to-end test programs, setting governance standards, and mentoring QA teams on enterprise-scale projects.

Managed large, multi-year testing programs spanning web, API, and backend layers across distributed teams and multiple releases.

Strong at translating business requirements into clear test strategies, detailed plans, and traceable test cases that keep everyone aligned on scope and risk.

Regularly presented QA dashboards, risk summaries, and progress updates to Directors and VPs, translating technical details into business impact.

Hands-on with Jira, XRay, and AWS environments; comfortable pulling metrics, tracking milestones, and keeping testing on schedule.

Led defect triage sessions, worked with devs on root cause, and pushed for fixes that improved release quality without slipping dates.

TESTING & QUALITY ASSURANCE EXPERTISE

Built and maintained scalable automation frameworks from the ground up using Playwright (TypeScript) and Selenium, focusing on maintainable page objects, custom fixtures, and easy debugging.

Created test data strategies, designed positive/negative/edge test cases, and executed testing across the full SDLC from unit/integration through UAT and regression.

Ran functional, integration, system, UAT, regression, and performance testing; documented results and worked with teams to close gaps before release.

Tracked production and UAT defects end-to-end, reproduced issues, wrote clear steps to reproduce, and verified fixes in subsequent builds.

Reviewed requirements and wireframes early, flagged ambiguities, and worked with business analysts to tighten acceptance criteria before development started.

Produced test reports, burn-down charts, and quality metrics that gave stakeholders real visibility into progress and risk areas.

API Testing

Designed and executed REST API tests using Postman collections, environment configs, and pre-request scripts to validate responses, status codes, headers, and JSON schemas.

Integrated API testing into Playwright suites so end-to-end scenarios could hit backend services directly, reducing reliance on fragile UI steps for data setup.

Covered authentication flows, error handling, pagination, rate limits, and contract testing between microservices to catch integration issues early.

Created reusable request templates and data-driven tests in Postman, then documented them so other team members could extend coverage quickly.

Database Testing & Data Validation

Wrote SQL queries (joins, subqueries, window functions) to verify data integrity, check business rule enforcement, and confirm correct state after transactions or batch jobs.

Validated backend data changes during feature testing by comparing expected vs actual records, especially useful for financial and compliance workflows.

Built and refreshed test data sets in lower environments, anonymized production samples when needed, and maintained scripts to reset data between test runs.

Used SQL to investigate production defects, trace data lineage, and support root cause analysis when issues crossed UI and database layers.

Performed basic data migration and ETL validation checks during system upgrades, ensuring no critical records were lost or corrupted.

DOMAIN EXPERIENCE

Government / Public Sector – New York State Financial System (SFS): compliance workflows, large-scale modernization, and strict change control processes.

Financial Systems – Transaction processing, reconciliation, and reporting modules with heavy emphasis on data accuracy and audit trails.

Cybersecurity – Threat detection platforms, alert management, and security product testing where reliability and low false positives are critical.

Enterprise Platforms – ERP and EAM implementations, often involving complex business rules, integrations, and phased rollouts.

SKILL SET

Test Management & Strategy

End-to-End Test Management for enterprise programs, including multi-release roadmaps and cross-team coordination.

Test Strategy, Execution Planning, Test Data Management, and defining entry/exit criteria that actually work in practice.

Functional, Integration, Regression, UAT, Performance, and API testing with clear traceability to requirements.

Defect Triage, Root Cause Analysis support, and driving release readiness discussions with engineering and product.

Test Reporting, QA Metrics, Executive Dashboards, and RAID tracking to keep leadership informed without overwhelming detail.

Automation & Technical

Automation: Playwright (TypeScript), Selenium WebDriver, Pytest, Robot Framework.

API Testing: Postman (collections, environments, automation), basic REST validation in test frameworks.

Data Validation: SQL (Oracle, SQL Server), writing queries for verification and test data prep.

Tools: Jira, XRay, Rally (familiar), Jenkins, GitHub Actions, AWS basics, Oracle PeopleSoft, TestRail.

Languages & Tech: JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, HTML/CSS, basic Java for older Selenium work.

Methodologies: Agile/Scrum (including Scrum Master role), Waterfall, and hybrid approaches depending on client.

CREDENTIALS & CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Management (CTAL-TM) – ASTQB/ISTQB (U.S.)

Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Automation Engineering (CTAL-TAE)

Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL)

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

Certified Scrum Master (CSM)

Six Sigma Certified (Green Belt level exposure)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Quality Engineer - II

Arctic Wolf June 2024 – Present (Cybersecurity)

Reviewed business and functional requirements early, performed solution exploration, and built test coverage that caught gaps before code reached QA.

Supported UAT by walking stakeholders through workflows, capturing feedback, and making sure business scenarios were properly validated.

Improved regression efficiency by expanding Playwright and Selenium automation, focusing on high-value paths and reducing manual repetitive work.

Owned end-to-end QA for major releases: defined strategy, built plans, coordinated execution across teams, and reported status clearly to leadership.

Developed automated scripts in Playwright (TypeScript) and Selenium for functional, regression, and some API-driven flows; kept scripts readable and easy to maintain.

Ran system, integration, UAT, regression, and targeted performance checks throughout the SDLC, documenting results and risks.

Investigated production and UAT defects, reproduced them reliably, worked with devs on fixes, and retested promptly to keep releases on track.

Ran defect triage in Jira, prioritized with the team, and made sure critical issues were addressed before sign-off.

Used SQL for backend validation and test data checks, especially when UI alone couldn't confirm data state after complex transactions.

Built dashboards and simple reports in Jira/XRay that showed test progress, open defects, and release readiness at a glance.

Worked closely with developers, product owners, and security engineers to understand context and align testing with real usage patterns.

Added API-level checks inside the Playwright framework so critical backend services were validated as part of regular regression runs.

Helped onboard new team members by sharing framework structure, test data practices, and how we approach exploratory testing.

Spent time learning the cybersecurity domain – how alerts are generated, what patterns indicate real threats vs noise, and how to design tests that exercise detection logic safely.

Prioritized test cases using risk and real usage data instead of trying to automate every possible path equally; focused effort where it reduced production incidents most.

Kept the automation suite healthy by regularly cleaning up flaky tests, improving selector strategies, and adding better logging so failures were quick to diagnose.

Tested security-sensitive areas like role-based access controls, session handling, and audit logging to make sure nothing obvious was missed before release.

Worked with security engineers to understand detection rules and validate that new features didn't unintentionally weaken existing protections.

Used exploratory testing alongside scripted automation to catch issues that pure automation would have missed, especially in new UI flows.

Documented common failure patterns and workarounds in a shared wiki so the team spent less time debugging the same issues repeatedly.

Participated actively in sprint retros and brought data-backed suggestions on where testing was slowing things down or missing important risks.

Sr QA Automation Lead Engineer

Adaptech Inc January 2024 – May 2024

Client: New York State Financial System (SFS), Albany NY March 2024 – May 2024

Worked inside a state government environment on the New York State Financial System, learning the compliance mindset and formal change processes required for public sector work.

Helped shape a practical test automation strategy tailored to the team's current maturity and the project's tight timelines.

Designed and started building a scalable automation framework that could handle functional, regression, and some performance scenarios without becoming a maintenance burden.

Collaborated with project stakeholders to clarify test objectives, write solid test plans, and define what "done" looked like for each release.

Created and maintained automated scripts that were robust enough to survive UI changes yet specific enough to catch real defects.

Set up test data management practices so teams had reliable, repeatable data for automated runs and manual exploratory work.

Worked side-by-side with QA, dev, and PMs to build a culture where quality was everyone's responsibility, not just a phase at the end.

Provided guidance and informal mentoring on automation best practices, framework structure, and how to write tests that actually help.

Produced clear test reports that showed progress, highlighted risks early, and gave leadership confidence in the release.

QA Manager

Vectrus April 2022 – August 2023 (Remote, India)

Created detailed test plans that laid out approach, resources, timelines, and deliverables so everyone knew what was expected and when.

Designed and rolled out automation frameworks using Selenium, Pytest, and Jenkins CI that the team could actually use and extend.

Wrote automated scripts in Java, Python, and JavaScript that increased coverage on critical ERP and EAM modules without constant rework.

Worked with stakeholders across locations to define what needed testing and what could be deprioritized given time constraints.

Built the QA team from scratch for the engagement: hired, trained, and put simple STLC processes in place that stuck.

Established quality standards and drove small process improvements that made testing more predictable and less chaotic.

Tracked defects from discovery through closure, made sure nothing critical slipped, and kept release readiness visible.

Maintained the documentation and controls auditors expected while still moving fast enough for project deadlines.

Monitored test execution, analyzed results for patterns, and turned raw data into insights the team could act on.

Coordinated with cross-functional teams (dev, infra, support) so testing wasn't a bottleneck and releases happened smoothly.

Pushed a continuous improvement mindset – small retros, quick experiments, and honest conversations about what wasn't working.

Set up basic CI jobs in Jenkins so automation ran on every significant commit, giving fast feedback to devs before they moved on to the next task.

Created simple checklists and runbooks for common testing scenarios so even new team members could contribute without constant hand-holding.

Balanced formal test documentation with practical exploratory notes so knowledge wasn't lost when people moved on.

Senior Quality Engineer, QA Lead & Scrum Master

OutworX November 2007 – April 2022 (15+ years)

Project: Zillow QA Lead January 2016 – April 2022

Led test planning and day-to-day execution for a major real estate platform: defined schedules, tracked defects, and gave stakeholders honest status updates.

Managed task allocation and team progress across multiple testing cycles while keeping quality and timelines in balance.

Built and maintained a scalable Selenium + Python automation framework that the team relied on for regression; focused on stability and easy debugging.

Added new automated tests as features shipped, steadily improving coverage without letting the suite become flaky or slow.

Watched automation runs, analyzed failure patterns, and reported real quality trends rather than just pass/fail counts.

Wrote and reviewed test plans, cases, and data sets based on actual business workflows and technical constraints.

Used Postman extensively for API testing – built collections, validated responses, and caught contract breaks between services early.

Improved defect management and QA processes using industry tools, making triage faster and status more transparent.

Facilitated continuous improvement as Scrum Master: removed blockers, ran useful retros, and helped the team deliver more predictably.

Tracked progress against plans and gave regular, no-surprises updates to product and engineering leads.

Supported the Product Owner with clear user stories, acceptance criteria, and definition of done that made testing smoother.

Mentored newer testers on framework usage, exploratory testing techniques, and how to communicate issues constructively.

Coordinated with offshore and onshore devs to clarify requirements and reduce back-and-forth during test cycles, saving time for everyone.

Introduced lightweight test data factories and fixture patterns that made it easier for the whole team to write reliable automated tests.

Ran regular automation health checks and shared simple dashboards so the team could see which areas were stable and which needed attention.

Helped shift some testing earlier by pairing with devs on unit test reviews and API contract discussions during sprint planning.

Project: GreyOrange QA Lead March 2014 – December 2015

Prepared Test Strategy, Test Plan, and schedule estimates; kept test cases current as the robotics/warehouse application evolved.

Analyzed business, functional, technical, and UI requirements thoroughly so testing focused on what actually mattered to operations.

Executed UAT scripts, prepared realistic test data, and set up monitoring so the client could sign off with confidence.

Established lightweight QA processes that fit a smaller, fast-moving team without adding unnecessary ceremony.

Project: Trulia Inc. Senior Quality Engineer November 2007 – February 2014

Created and maintained test cases in TestRail, logged defects with clear reproduction steps, and kept requirements linked to tests for traceability.

Defined practical entry and exit criteria for testing phases and guided deployment activities with a focus on risk.

Analyzed business, functional, technical, and UI requirements so test effort was spent where it would catch real issues.

Executed test scripts, captured results honestly, and worked with devs to close the loop on fixes quickly.

Worked through frequent requirement changes common in real estate platforms by keeping test cases modular and easy to update.

Built good relationships with the dev team so defect discussions stayed constructive and focused on solutions rather than blame.

Test Engineer

Wisitech July 2004 – October 2007

Project: Concept Creations Group Role: Test Engineer

Prepared Test Strategy, Test Plan, and schedule estimates; updated test cases to match changing application functionality.

Analyzed business, functional, technical, and UI requirements to build relevant test coverage.

Executed UAT scripts, created supporting test data, and helped establish basic monitoring and QA processes for the client.

Logged, assigned, and tracked defects; maintained the link between requirements and test cases using TestRail.

Learned the basics of the client's business domain quickly so test cases reflected real user workflows rather than just technical specs.

Contributed ideas in team meetings on how to improve test coverage without increasing effort, often by reusing existing scripts or data setups.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Comfortable working across time zones and with distributed teams; prior remote experience with U.S. clients while based in India.

Strong believer in clear communication, realistic estimates, and quality as a team sport rather than a gate at the end.

Always learning – recently deepened TypeScript/Playwright skills and explored ways to shift more testing left through better API and data validation.

Comfortable presenting to both technical and non-technical audiences; have explained complex test strategies and risk trade-offs to directors and VPs in clear, business-friendly language.

Value pragmatic quality over perfection – focus on the tests and checks that actually protect users and the business rather than chasing 100% coverage for its own sake.

Open to contract, contract-to-hire, or full-time QA/SDET leadership roles; particularly interested in organizations that value strong test automation, clear communication, and collaborative problem-solving.

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