Stan Taylor
19217 Kennemer Drive, Pflugerville, Texas 78660
voice: (512) 826-4759 - email: stan@aphids.com
Applied Skills
- Software QA leadership: Ten+ years of experience developing and implementing QA processes,
and developing and leading software QA programs and teams
- Software quality assurance: Fifteen years of experience as a software QA
engineer, writing and executing test plans and test cases in highly structured and loosely
structured development environments and performing all types of testing (functional,
installation, acceptance, browser compatibility, load, stress, performance, volume); several
years of experience managing software QA programs. Extensive experience writing and
executing automated testing scripts (primarily with SilkPerformer and WebLoad)
- Test automation software: WATIR, SilkTest, SilkPerformer, WebLoad,
Mercury TestDirector, SilkCentral Test Manager, SilkCentral Issue Manager
- Platforms: UNIX, Linux, Android, Windows (95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista), Macintosh, MS-DOS
- Programming languages: Perl, SQL, JavaScript, Java, PHP, UNIX/Linux shell,
SilkTest 4Test, SilkPerformer Benchmark Description Language, HTML, CSS
- Database systems: Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server
- Other software: JUnit, Subversion, Bugzilla, StarTeam, Requisite Pro, Jira, Rally, CaliberRM, VMWare, RoboHelp, PVCS Tracker,
WebLogic, JBoss and Tomcat application servers, Microsoft Exchange, Windows domain administration, Lotus Notes administration
Professional Experience
Senior Test Automation Lead
Polycom, Austin, Texas
January, 2010-present
- Develop test automation programs for HD video conferencing products using SilkTest and SilkPerformer, Java/JUnit, and Android instrumentation
- Manage the execution of multiple test automation projects with a globally distributed team (US, China, India)
- Develop and implement manual and automated test management processes using SilkCentral Test Manager
- Write custom test management reports using SQL and BIRT (from SilkCentral and Jira data)
Web Site and Application Developer
Aphids Communications, LLC (co-owner) and as a private contractor, Austin, Texas
April, 1997-present (very part-time; we're still officially in business but rarely doing any work now)
- Responsible for all aspects of running a small web site and web application development company
- Developed database-driven dynamic web applications using PHP and MySQL
- Created web sites, including site architecture, graphics design, HTML coding, etc.
- Developed e-commerce sites with online credit card purchasing
- Implemented a rich text HTML email marketing campaign and delivery and management of rich text subscription email newsletters
Lead QA Engineer
Hyperformix (acquired by CA), Austin, Texas
April-December, 2009
- Performed all types of testing on desktop and server software
- Developed and implemented automated testing
- Architected and implemented agile QA processes and practices, including defect and test management
- Coach agile teams
QA Architect
Borland Software Corporation (acquired by Microfocus), Austin, Texas
April, 2008-April, 2009
- Architected and implemented agile testing practices for globally distributed teams
- Coordinated efforts between product development teams and offshore enterprise test team
- Standardizeed QA standards and practices across teams where possible
- Oversaw development of company-wide quality dashboard for senior management
- Architected and implemented internal deployment and integration of Borland's business management products
for the monitoring and management of the company's software development process
- Served a leading role in internal agile transformation and in presenting the company's agile transformation to customers
QA Staff Engineer
Borland Software Corporation (acquired by Microfocus), Austin, Texas
April, 2006-April, 2008
- Architected and implemented QA processes (e.g., defect tracking, test case management, automated testing strategies, etc.)
for Borland's first agile teams
- Scripted and executed automated GUI tests using SilkTest
- Created and executed test plans and test cases using SilkCentral Test Manager
- Created and maintained virtual test lab resources via VMWare virtualization
Director of Quality Assurance
BetweenMarkets, Inc. (acquired by Inovis), Austin, Texas
May, 2004-April, 2006
- Responsible for creating and managing a software QA program, including budgetary control
- Perform all types of testing of a hosted (ASP) enterprise B2B data quality application (Java/J2EE)
- Created RFP for outsourced QA team, took bids from and selected contract company in Costa Rica, resulting in significant savings
- Supervise outsourced testing team previously in India, currently in Costa Rica
- Manage defect reports via Scarab
- Manage test case development and execution
- Write test plans and test cases
- Manage testing lab
- Create test data in various XML and EDI standards
Director of Quality Assurance
MessageOne (acquired by Dell), Austin, Texas
September, 2003-May, 2004
- Responsible for creating and managing a software QA program
- Performed all types of testing in complex Windows/Linux, C#/Java environment
- Maintained test labs of client environments, including Windows domains, Microsoft Exchange servers and Lotus Notes servers
Quality Assurance Technical Lead
The Cobalt Group (acquired by ADP), Austin, Texas
June, 2002-September, 2003
- Planned all resources and schedules for functional and performance QA work for new and ongoing
enterprise Internet-based CRM software applications used by over 4000 auto dealerships in
North America
- Supervised a team of QA functional test engineers in Austin and Bangalore working on
multiple projects
- Coordinated automated testing work using RadView WebLoad and Mercury WinRunner
- Reported QA team status to executives
- Wrote test plans and test cases
- Executed manual and automated testing of J2EE-based applications running on BEA WebLogic servers
- Executed automated tests using Mercury WinRunner
- Managed resource contention between ongoing development projects and urgent defects reported in production
- Managed defects using Bugzilla
- Managed test case development and execution using Mercury TestDirector
- Tested localized French Canadian version of software
Lead Software Quality Assurance Engineer
Salion, Inc., Austin, Texas
November, 2000-April, 2002
- Responsible for creating and managing a software QA program, including budgetary
responsibility, hiring and staff supervision
- Hired and managed one additional QA engineer
- Evaluated, recommended, purchased and implemented automated load testing software
(Radview WebLoad)
- Architected, implemented and managed automated load and performance testing program
- Wrote and executed system test plans and test cases (using Rational Requisite Pro) for
high-capacity J2EE web application
- Coded and executed load and functional tests using Radview WebLoad
- Wrote product documentation, including online help (using RoboHelp), printed user manual,
and training materials
- Conducted on-site user training classes
- Ensured that development team followed USDP-based (Unified Software
Development Process) procedures
- Evaluated, acquired, implemented and administered enterprise-wide defect tracking software
- Installed, configured and administered Rational RequisiteWeb
server software.
Senior Software Quality Assurance Engineer
Excite@Home, Inc., Austin, Texas
July, 1999-October, 2000
- Wrote and executed system test plans for web-based software applications (e.g., Excite's
chat, voice chat, and instant messaging), including functional, usability,
browser compatibility, performance, installation, load and stress tests.
- Coded and executed automated functional tests using SilkTest
- Coded and executed automated load and stress tests using SilkPerformer
- Set up and maintained usability and browser compatibility testing lab with PCs and Macintoshes.
Software Quality Assurance Engineer
SMART Technologies, Inc. (acquired by i2 Technologies, Inc.), Austin, Texas
September, 1997-June, 1999
- Wrote and executed system test plans for high-capacity web server software,
database-driven web-based applications on Windows NT platform and Windows NT GUI applications
- Coded and executed automated test cases in SilkTest, RadView's WebLoad and Perl
- Organized and supervised formal reviews of development documentation (requirements and design documents, system test plans)
- Coded and helped to deploy automated regression test suites (using WebLoad)
- Deployed disk imaging for QA lab machines to facilitate a more standard testing
environment and to allow installations on clean machines with significantly shorter
preparation time
- Evaluated, recommended and implemented enterprise-wide defect tracking software package (Intersolv's PVCS Tracker)
Software Quality Assurance Engineer
AT&T Easy World Wide Web business web hosting service, Lincroft NJ
November, 1996-September, 1997
- Wrote and executed test plans and test cases for testing of applications with web-based interfaces
- Tested features of UNIX-based (Sun Solaris and Silicon Graphics Irix) web hosting
service, using including FTP, web site authoring and publishing, web server file
management, web server software management
- Tested compatibility of Windows 95 and Macintosh web site authoring software (Microsoft
FrontPage, NetObjects Fusion) with AT&T’s web hosting service
- Tested compatibility of Windows 95 and Macintosh web browsers for accessing web-based applications
Software Quality Assurance Coordinator
Logos Corporation, Mt. Arlington, NJ
January, 1994-November, 1996
- Managed quality assurance program for development of human language translation software
applications in HTML/CGI, Microsoft Windows, and Windows 95, and UNIX/Motif
- Performed all aspects of software quality assurance: development of test plans and test cases, unit, integration, acceptance testing.
- Designed and managed beta testing program
- Developed specifications for word processor format parsers, including HTML, SGML, FrameMaker MIF and RTF
- Hired, trained, and supervised software quality assurance staff members
- Researched and recommended hardware and software purchases for software quality assurance program
- Provided technical support for UNIX machines (SUN) and language translation software
products (UNIX and Microsoft Windows)
- Developed and taught in-house training courses for quality assurance and customer support staff members
- Verified conformity of software interfaces to design standards for HTML/CGI, Windows
3.1, Windows 95, and UNIX/Motif
- Assured technical accuracy and appropriate style of end-user software documentation in English and German
Software Quality Assurance Consultant
Houghton Mifflin Company, Software Division, Boston, MA
October, 1993 (three-week contract position)
- Evaluated accuracy and coverage of German-language linguistic grammar- and style-checking software
Software Tester and Lexicographer
Siemens Nixdorf, METAL development site, Austin, TX
May-September, 1993 (half-time contract position while attending graduate school)
- Tested linguistic improvement of language translation software during on-going
development (English to German)
- Developed lexical data for language translation software (English to German)
Education
- Ph.D., Translation Studies/German Cultural Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, 1997
- B.A., German, with honors, The University of Texas at Austin, 1986
Languages
- Native speaker of English
- Near-native fluency in German
- Moderate fluency in French
Permanent location of this document:
http://www.aphids.com/stan/resume.php
Last modified: March 1, 2012