Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Languages
Interests
Personal Information
Timeline
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Denisha Surjoodeen

Denisha Surjoodeen

Vancouver,BC

Summary

Innovative QA Engineering Manager with 15+ years of experience in software quality assurance, passionate about building and scaling high-performing teams. Proven track record of nurturing talent, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and bridging the gap between development and QA. Excels in implementing robust automation frameworks, shift-left testing practices, and DevOps methodologies to elevate product quality and team efficiency. Committed to transforming organizational culture by promoting collaboration, innovation, and a quality-first mindset. Expertise spans mobile, web, and API testing, with a focus on delivering seamless user experiences. Actively contributes to open-source projects and leverages cutting-edge technologies to drive quality and efficiency in fast-paced, agile environments.

Overview

17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

QA Automation Manager

JobGet
04.2022 - Current
  • Established and led a high-performing QA team, implementing best practices that significantly improved product quality
  • Developed and executed comprehensive quality strategies aligned with business goals, substantially reducing post-release defects
  • Implemented test automation solutions for mobile apps, web platforms, and backend services, greatly increasing test coverage
  • Streamlined release processes across teams, notably reducing time-to-market while maintaining rigorous quality standards
  • Collaborated closely with development and product teams to ensure seamless integration of quality assurance throughout the SDLC
  • Led automation initiatives to enhance operational efficiency across multiple teams.
  • Implemented process improvements resulting in streamlined workflows and reduced downtime.
  • Developed comprehensive automation strategies to reduce manual tasks and increase efficiency in recruitment operations.
  • Mentored team members on best practices for automation tools, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align automation initiatives with organizational goals and objectives.
  • Developed and maintained automated systems, resulting in enhanced productivity and reduced costs.

Head of Software Quality

Global Kinetic
04.2018 - 04.2022
  • Led QA strategy for a portfolio of digital banking products, markedly improving overall product stability
  • Designed and implemented custom automation frameworks for mobile, web, API, and desktop platforms, substantially reducing manual testing effort
  • Integrated DevOps culture into testing teams, resulting in a significant decrease in deployment-related issues
  • Optimized CI workflows using Jenkins Scripted Pipelines and Azure DevOps, considerably accelerating build and test cycles
  • Transformed the QA discipline from primarily manual testing to a technical SDET team, coached multiple team members
  • Managed and mentored a team of 20 QA engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation
  • Spearheaded the adoption of shift-left testing practices, resulting in earlier defect detection and improved software quality
  • Pioneered and implemented the company's first QA internship program, successfully training and placing 6 junior QA engineers, contributing to team growth and diversity

QA Team Lead (E-Commerce)

takealot.com
08.2014 - 04.2022
  • Developed and maintained automation frameworks for web, mobile apps, and APIs, dramatically reducing regression testing time
  • Conducted load and performance testing, identifying and resolving critical bottlenecks that improved site performance
  • Mentored and trained team members in QA processes and automation, leading to a substantial increase in automated test scripts and improved quality levels
  • Led QA team to enhance product quality and reduce defect rates across multiple platforms.
  • Analyzed test results and provided actionable insights to stakeholders for informed decision-making.

Senior QA Engineer

Yola.com
02.2010 - 07.2014
  • Drove QA strategy across multiple projects, ensuring consistent quality standards in both Cape Town and San Francisco offices
  • Maintained and enhanced existing automation framework using Selenium WebDriver and SauceLabs, notably improving cross-browser test efficiency
  • Designed and executed test plans for various services including CMS, site builder (Java), and payment systems (Python)
  • Implemented risk-based testing approaches, focusing efforts on critical areas and significantly reducing overall testing time

QA Engineer

VERISIGN
10.2009 - 01.2010
  • Performed manual testing of VeriSign Inc. websites, ensuring high-quality user experiences
  • Implemented robust bug logging and tracking processes, improving defect resolution time
  • Developed comprehensive test plans and progress reports, enhancing project visibility for stakeholders
  • Developed and executed comprehensive test plans to ensure software quality and functionality.
  • Reduced product defect rates by creating robust test cases and meticulously executing them.
  • Coordinated with customer support teams to understand user complaints and prioritize testing efforts accordingly.

Test Analyst Consultant

SQS Group
06.2008 - 09.2009
  • Progressed through multiple roles, demonstrating expertise across various testing disciplines and projects
  • Consistently delivered high-quality results across diverse projects, from enterprise systems to online gaming
  • Developed versatile testing skills, including manual, automated, performance, and exploratory testing methodologies
  • Conducted detailed analysis of test results, providing insights for product improvements.
  • Led initiatives to streamline testing workflows, resulting in improved project delivery timelines.
  • Maintained accurate documentation of all testing activities, enabling efficient review of results by project stakeholders.

Education

Bachelor of Commerce - Information Systems

University of South Africa (UNISA)
Durban, South Africa
01.2005

Skills

  • Test Automation
  • Test Automation Architecture
  • Effective team leadership
  • Coaching and guidance
  • Development of testing strategies
  • Agile/Scrum Methodologies
  • Release Management & Co-ordination
  • Proficient in Selenium, Appium, Playwright and WebdriverIO
  • AI assisted test automation
  • DevOps
  • Performance Testing
  • API Testing
  • Data analytics

Certification

  • Dale Carnegie - Effective Communication Human Relations
  • ISEB Foundation Certificate

Languages

English
Afrikaans

Interests

  • Generative AI
  • AI in Testing
  • Developing software, websites, and apps

Personal Information

  • Date of Birth: 11/06/83
  • Nationality: South African
  • Permanent Resident: Canada
  • Driving License: Yes

Timeline

QA Automation Manager

JobGet
04.2022 - Current

Head of Software Quality

Global Kinetic
04.2018 - 04.2022

QA Team Lead (E-Commerce)

takealot.com
08.2014 - 04.2022

Senior QA Engineer

Yola.com
02.2010 - 07.2014

QA Engineer

VERISIGN
10.2009 - 01.2010

Test Analyst Consultant

SQS Group
06.2008 - 09.2009

Bachelor of Commerce - Information Systems

University of South Africa (UNISA)

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Denisha Surjoodeen