Solutions Architect Test Analyst

DARRELL J. DILLON

Plano, TX 972-***-**** ******.*.******@*****.*** www.linkedin.com/in/darrell-dillon-401816a9 SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT / SR. QA TEST ANALYST

Results-driven Solutions Architect and Senior QA Test Analyst with over 20 years of professional experience in spearheading the design and execution of software tests, troubleshooting, and delivering innovative IT solutions. Proficient in all aspects of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), with expertise in requirements gathering, test case design, and automation testing. Skilled in client-server application testing, large database testing, and e-commerce testing, combined with a robust technical toolkit encompassing tools like Quality Center, Jira, Agile methodologies, and various scripting languages. Adept at providing level 3 technical support and advocating for high-priority customer accounts, ensuring swift issue resolution, and fostering strong client relationships. EDUCATION

Jackson State University, BS Industrial Engineering & Minor in Computer Science LinkedIn Learning, AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification Courses Scrum Inc., Registered Product Owner

Scrum Inc., Registered Scrum Master

VCE™ Certified Converged Infrastructure Associate

WORK EXPERIENCE

Dell Technologies Dallas, TX

Senior Systems Development Engineer & Solutions Architect Aug. 2015 – Feb. 2024

• Led the design and development of innovative IT solutions, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to meet complex business requirements and drive digital transformation for our clients.

• Spearheaded in-depth research on cutting-edge storage and networking technologies, leading to the design and implementation of cloud solutions and converged infrastructure products, empowering businesses to streamline data center virtualization and enhance diversification strategies.

• Devised and instituted comprehensive rules and protocols for new product designs, meticulously entering data into the XACT application backend via the Design & Modeling admin tool, ensuring strict adherence to standardized configuration practices for seamless user experience.

• Collaborated closely with the Project Management Office (PMO) and engineering teams to translate user requests into meticulously crafted Requirements and Architectural documents, facilitating the seamless generation of new products tailored to client needs.

• Played a pivotal role in the development lifecycle by actively engaging with the Development Team during the coding phase, ensuring meticulous adherence to specifications and seamless alignment with design objectives, resulting in high-quality, functionally robust solutions.

• Led thorough investigations into reported issues and diligently implemented updates and resolutions within the XACT Application across all models of 340/540 Vblocks and VXblocks systems, ensuring optimal performance and user satisfaction.

Senior QA Engineer & Lead Level 3 Support June 2011 – Aug. 2015

• Supervised the design, development, and execution of software tests and automated test cases.

• Led the troubleshooting of newly developed software products and systems.

• Authored test plans, test cases, conducting tests, and documenting results of tests.

• Led decision making to influence product quality, product availability, and organizational objectives.

• Developed and implemented proposed solutions to resolve reported problems leveraging automated software test cases.

• Built and validated Vblock Configurations built using ACT and verifying all data correct in “BoM” Build Of materials.

• Verified Configuration management; Quote management and Pricing of all Configurations are accurately generated by the application.

• Led regression testing efforts during product releases and updates in DEV and UAT environments before pushing to PROD.

• Led Level 3 SME for VCE “ACT” Advance Configuration Tool, a new Web-Based Application.

• Trained India team in correct Level 3 support duties and how to utilize ticketing system ServiceNow for all user requests and open issues reported.

• Provided Level 3 technical support expertise to facilitate incident and problem resolution for ALL internal and external customers globally.

• Identified and delivered effective resolutions to a diverse array of technical challenges, showcasing expertise in problem-solving across multiple domains.

• Functioned as a dedicated remote customer advocate for high-priority accounts, ensuring the swift and satisfactory resolution of customer cases through proactive engagement and meticulous follow-up, thereby fostering strong client relationships and bolstering customer satisfaction. Thomson Reuters Carrollton, TX

Senior QA Lead Engineer Oct. 2008 – Feb. 2011

• Served as key stakeholder in the company’s success during the development stage and UI testing of the New Web-Based Tax Application ONESOURCE SALES & USE TAX.

• Led generation of test scripts using Test Partners Scripting Tool to automate testing, resulting in higher team efficiency, greater project effectiveness and on-time delivery of all test scripts to the Programming Quality and Offshore teams.

• Led all regression testing during product releases and updates in DEV, PD and SAT environments before pushing to PROD.

• Served as the liaison between the Product Development Team and the Programming Quality Team demonstrating excellent communication skills.

• Provided technical support to internal and external customers by debugging and resolving application issues on time.

• Selected by senior leadership to work on special projects in collaboration with cross-functional teams at external locations affiliated with Thomson Reuters on ONESOURCE SALES & USE TAX issues. ACS (Intellinex) Irving, TX

Lead Business Process QA Analyst Mar. 2006 – Oct. 2008

• Served as key stakeholder in the company’s success as a provider of E-learning Software Solutions by collaborating with Development and Project Managers in identifying software requirements for new features.

• Provided quality metrics and assurance of clients Learning Management System (LMS), Learning Administrative System (LAS), Learning Content Management System (LCMS) and E-Commerce Portals (ECOM).

• Provided quality assurance to ensure all the required test documents, test cases and test plans were created for Projects and led reviews for features in each release/customer release via testing in .NET environment.

• Led the solution development to challenges discovered in the test process, identified and communicated issues in a timely, concise manner effectively with onsite and offsite resources.

• Assisted team members in investigating and resolving product issues. Participates in design sessions: gathering and documenting test requirements and providing feedback on potential design and user issues as required.

• Designed test scenarios, cases and scripts for customizations and core enhancements, that thoroughly test the business solution provided by Client’s functionality.

• Led functional and regression testing in local, staging and production environments.

• Developed and maintained project plans regarding testing and log test results, and close issues/change requests defects (bugs).

JDN Solutions, Inc. Dallas, TX

Senior Lead QA Analyst Dec. 2004 – Mar. 2006

• Managed a team of 8 testers on various projects.

• Provided software solutions to drive the start-up company’s success.

• Collaborated with Development and Business Analysts in identifying software requirements for new features.

• Led the implementation of the software development process.

• Led the SDLC from inception to production to increase the QA team’s involvement and reduce production bottlenecks.

• Assisted the business analysts with documenting the requirements and participated in requirements review meetings.

• Supervised the QA team in creating the required test documents, test cases, test plans and led reviews for features in the release.

• Owned the setup and maintenance of the test environments including .NET, JAVA, and WINDOWS environments.

• Wrote the Master Test Plan for each project handled by the start-up company.

• Trained QA team on Test Director in Quality Center to enter test sets and to associate every test set to a requirement to ensure traceability.

• Authored automated test scripts using Quick Test Pro (QTP).

• Managed defects entered by QA in Rational ClearQuest and uploaded defects daily to Quality Center.

• Led the testing and verification of all forms of payment including credit card, cash, checks, UPC validation, reconciliation, the register GUI for company screen standards and system failure testing.

• Tested EDI by creating internal and external entities to verify successful transmission send/receive of documents, medical records between simulated partners. Ciena Corp. / ONI Systems San Jose, CA

Senior Lead System Verification Test Engineer (SVT) Sept. 1999 – Aug. 2004

• Served as the Business Analyst (BA) collaborating with Product Line Management (PLM) and System requirement group to ensure customer requirements were identified and documented.

• Evaluated WINRUNNER for (6) six months.

• Provided optical telecommunications systems solutions to ensure and support the start-up company’s success.

• Led a team of six (6) team members.

• Led Online Metro 7000, 9000, 11000 DWDM Optical Switch and Online Edge 2500 Enterprise System.

• Created all system related documentation and configurations for the start-up company.

• Authored systems test plans and test cases for debugging purposes during the integration phase of systems Hardware and Software.

• Developed, documented and executed tests such as Software Security, Hardware Security, Configuration, Performance, Compatibility (Cisco and Juniper), Fault and Service Interface Management (protection switching) on a variety of optical and electrical circuit packs: 2R-WCI (OC- 3/12), 3R-WCI(OC-3/12/48), OC-192, GbE, 10GLAN, ESCON, GRDM, STMX, EMUX, CWDMs, EDFAs, OADMs, Allrate WCIs and others at system level testing for BLSR, UPSR, Linear and Point- to-Point network topologies SONET/SDH. Design site-specific documentation, technical drawing and Q.A. processes for customer beta systems.

• Successfully organized and led product certification phase for EMI and NEBS testing. Alcatel Telecom Richardson, TX

Systems Engineer TSM II Aug. 1996 – Aug. 1999

• Led 1640 DWDM Optical Switch.

• Created systems test plans and test cases for debugging purposes during the integration phase of systems Hardware and Software.

• Setup systems for customer demos and special test configuration to debug issues seen out in the field at customer site resulting in the product being cleared for Release to General Availability (GA).

• Prepared written material in support of all aspects of engineering, examples are site-specific documentation, technical reports, QA and processes.

• Devised and recommended solutions to customer requirements based upon knowledge of their network applications.

Test & Turn-up Engineer

• Initiated new product testing and assisted with software upgrades, hardware retrofits, reconfigurations and Network maintenance support.

• Compiled and produced the appropriate documentation to enable the installation and commissioning of equipment within the project timescales and performed customer database Hot Swaps for the Test and turn-up 1631 (LMC) and (SMC) Digital Cross Connect Switch's. EDS Plano, TX

Computer & Network Engineer Oct. 1993 – May 1996

• Monitored company network to reduce and eliminate outages.

• Assisted customers worldwide by troubleshooting and resolving network and hardware issues.

• Monitored nightly batch jobs for the General Motors account to ensure there were no program failures or (JCL) job control language errors.

• Debugged and recorded errors to re-submit and present to account leadership team.

• Monitored executive accounts payroll batch runs.

• Served as EDS ISO 9000 auditor responsible for ensuring all groups were compliant with ISO rules before being audited by an outside firm.

SKILLS & EXPERTISE

SDLC, Client-Server Application Testing, Large Database Testing, Requirements Management, Defect Management, Testing Methodologies, System Level Testing, E-Commerce Testing, IT Technical Support, Point of Sales (POS), TELECOM, Healthcare, QUALITY CENTER, TESTDIRECTOR 8.0, Test Complete, MICRO FOCUS TESTPARTNERS 6.3, Remedy, DDTS, CTF, Clear-Quest, Jira, Rally, Kanban, Agile CERT, SCRUM, SEI, CMM, RDBMS, QTP, WINRUNNER, EDI, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Word, Visio, Microsoft Project, Windows 98, 2000, & XP, JAVA, .NET, Web Testing, ServiceNow, SFDC,SOAP, PEARL and SILK testing, VCE™ certified converged infrastructure associate and ISO 9000 auditor, Registered scrum master, registered product owner.

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