Tracy Qualls
www.TracyQ.com / Tracy@TracyQ.com

Chicago, IL 60625

 

Summary

Over 17 years experience in Software Testing / Quality Assurance, 6 spent at Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Washington. Eight years experience designing and maintaining web sites. My objective is to find a challenging contract position in Quality Assurance, and I am especially interested in Internet-based technologies.

 

Technical Skills

Ø       Testing: functionality, stress, UI/usability, performance, compatibility, configuration, back-end and front end; database integrity. Phases of Testing: unit, integration, system and user acceptance. Familiarity with testing object oriented applications.

Ø       Platforms: All versions of MS Windows from 2.x - Vista; OS/2; Macintosh

Ø       Databases: Access, SQL

Ø       Networks and Protocols: LAN Manager; Novell NetWare; Banyan Vines; MS-NET derivatives; Networking under all versions of Windows; NetBEUI, NetBIOS, TCP/IP, and DHCP

Ø       Internet Browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Netscape, AOL, Opera, Mozilla

Ø       Hardware: PCs; Macintosh; Alpha; MIPS; assembly of systems from scratch; firmware downloading and chip burning

 

Work Experience

 

Independent Contractor: August 2000 – Present

I have been working on several projects in an independent capacity.

·         Web Site Design and Maintenance: Creation of Web Sites; Web Master Services, on-going maintenance, updates, and configuration adjustments for multiple web sites. Web sites created include:

·         http://www.TomTowles.net

·         http://www.420TrainWreck.com

·         http://www.NaplesBody.com/

·         http://www.Farflung.org/

·         http://www.AnubianLights.com

·         http://www.KirtleySign.com (in progress)

·         http://www.SSSonicSix.com

·         http://www.TheTantrums.com/

·         Quality Assurance / Software Testing: Web-Based Application Testing; Web Site Functionality Testing; Web Site Usability Testing. Internet sites tested include:

·         http://www.fullaudio.com/

·         http://www.dallashomes.com/

·         http://www.hometastic.com/

·         http://wwnorton.com/

·         http://www.littleoctopus.com/

·         http://www.postidea.com/index.php

·         http://www.dcastd.org/

 

QA/Tester: 2004

KATABAT.COM – LEAD MANAGEMENT / BROKERAGE ASSISTANCE SOFTWARE COMPANY (Contract)
I was brought in as the sole,  medium-term contractor, assisting with testing all aspects of, and launching, a major revision to the Baird and Warner Property Search system. The system I worked on can be found here: http://homefinder.bairdwarner.com/PSP/Registration.aspx

 

QA/Tester: May 2003

FULLAUDIO.COM – INTERNET SUBSCRIPTION MUSIC SITE (Contract)
I was brought in as a short-term contractor to partner with the sole tester, assisting with testing and launching a revision to the Full Audio music download service.

 

Technical Lead: September 1999 - August 2000

Gaffa Group, Inc. - QA Consulting Firm

I was involved in creating a start-up, independent QA consulting firm. Gaffa Group, Inc. offered full testing services geared towards software development teams, including, but not limited to, the following:

Ø       Assisting Project Managers and Development staff in writing and revising functional design specifications

Ø       Introducing QA methodologies and procedures

Ø       Recommendation and implementation of source control systems and defect tracking systems

Ø       Creation of Test Plans, Cases and Scripts

Ø       Training of both Development and QA Staff in the intricacies of the QA Process


QA Lead: June 1999 - August 1999

Blackwell Consulting Services - Software Consulting Group (Contract)

Ø       Creating QA Policies and Procedures for two Client/Server applications: Headcount Tracking System and Drug Tracking System (for TAP Pharmaceuticals)

Ø       Designed and implemented QA policies and procedures; defined bug reporting process

Ø       Creation of Test Plans, Cases and Scripts for both applications

Ø       Oversaw a team of two additional testers

 

QA Manager: February 1998 - November 1998

Apartments.com - Internet Apartment Search Site

Ø       Created QA Department from scratch

Ø       Designed and implemented department policies and procedures; defined bug reporting process; implemented bug tracking system

Ø       Creation of Test Plans, Cases and Scripts for all applications: Internet, Intranet; internal applications, database applications

Ø       Wrote Test Lab Proposal; defined setup, installation and maintenance procedures

Ø       Built application source code for developers using Visual Basic and SUN's JavaC command line compiler

Ø       Deployed updates from staging area to live servers

Ø       Researched, assessed and recommended test tools and other beneficial packages

Ø       Wrote documentation for Sales, Marketing, and Client Relations departments on what information was required from users to aid QA in resolving bug reports

Ø       Filtered Web Master reports from off-site visitors

Ø       Formed and oversaw a team of four testers

 

Software Test Engineer / QA Analyst: August 1997 - October 1997

STLabs, Inc. - Software Testing Firm (Contract)

Tester for Intel’s LANDesk LAN Management Suite; a package offering remote LAN administration across platforms and several network protocols.

Ø       Tested remote administration capability and integrity between clients and servers, server to server, and client to client

Ø       Tested interaction on both same platforms as well as cross-platform

Ø       Tested interaction cross-protocol

Ø       Generated bug reports

Ø       Regression tested new builds

 

Software Test Engineer / QA Analyst: May 1997 - August 1997

Device Guys, Inc. - Software / Device Driver Developers (Contract)

Test Engineer on the software and firmware for a multifunctional peripheral.

Ø       My main responsibility was concurrency/contention testing of multiple, simultaneous activities requested from multiple workstations to the MFP

Ø       Performed TWAIN interface compliance/compatibility testing

Ø       Tested cross-platform interaction between Windows 3.x, Windows for Workgroups 3.x, Windows 95 and NT platforms; UI/usability; functionality; and stress testing

Ø       Generated bug reports

Ø       Debugged errors on behalf of Developers, using SoftICE

Ø       Reproduced and resolved reports from OEM Beta sites

Ø       Creation of Test Cases and Scripts

Ø       Performed firmware downloading and firmware chip building on revisions

Ø       Provided technical guidance and supervision to junior members of the test team

Ø       Worked closely with Development and provided feedback on product status and progress

 

Software Test Engineer: January 1992 - March 1997

Microsoft Corporation - Software Manufacturer (Contract)

Test Engineer on multiple projects, emphasis on Operating Systems and Network Protocols/Interoperability. Products: Windows 2.x and 3.x; Windows for Workgroups; Windows '95; Windows NT 3.x and 4; WINS/DHCP protocols; Input Devices (IntelliMouse, IntelliType, and Universal Remote); SPAM (Sound and Picture Animator); and Animation Theater. Responsibilities and positions included:

Ø       Created Test Plans, Cases and Scripts

Ø       Writing and editing of technical documentation for inclusion in shipped product

Ø       Tested cross-platform interaction between Windows 3.x, Windows for Workgroups 3.x, Windows 95 and NT platforms; UI/usability; functionality; and stress testing

Ø       Network protocol testing of communication integrity: cross-platform as well as cross-protocol

Ø       Beta Technician Team Lead

Ø       Generated bug reports; maintained bug database

Ø       Filtered, reproduced and resolved reports from external Beta sites

Ø       Provided technical guidance and supervision to other members of the test team

Ø       Tested both software and firmware on Input Device Team

Ø       Builder for Systems International (compiling source code into installable, functional product; editing disk layouts; creation of disk images for French, German, Spanish and Portuguese WFW beta and released packages; and providing support to translators in using localization tools, RLTools and AppStudio)

Ø       Hardware and Software maintenance and per-build installations of operating systems for hardware and software test lab machines

 

PC Technician / Operator: February 1991 - December 1991

Perkins Coie - Law Firm

Control Room Operator / Support Technician providing supervision to 300+ users in a LAN Manager environment and support to Administrators in 6 remote offices.

Ø       Troubleshooting, oversight, operations and maintenance of LAN and WANG VS8000 servers

Ø       Developed Computer Department Procedures Manual

Ø       Software and hardware installation and maintenance and package evaluation

 

Product Support Technician: November 1989 - October 1990

Microsoft Corporation - Software Manufacturer

Ø       Providing telephone support for users of Microsoft software

Ø       Generating technical articles for inclusion in the on-line product knowledge base

Ø       Beta tested Windows 3

References

Available on request.