Dave Higgins Email & Phone Number

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Islington, England, United Kingdom

Planning, scheduling and control of software releases through our Continuous Delivery pipeline to production, using Testing, Technical and Communication skills.I owned the entire release process for our application, ensuring the quality of our software releases, while carrying the technical knowledge and authority to fully own the process through planning, development, submission to stores and release to users.Testing - Ensuring software was fit for purpose and did no harm… Show more Planning, scheduling and control of software releases through our Continuous Delivery pipeline to production, using Testing, Technical and Communication skills.I owned the entire release process for our application, ensuring the quality of our software releases, while carrying the technical knowledge and authority to fully own the process through planning, development, submission to stores and release to users.Testing - Ensuring software was fit for purpose and did no harm through the application of testing skills:Providing an assurance of quality through the creation and monitoring of quality gates and automated checks as the release progresses.Planning > Development > Testing > UAT > ReleaseEmployment of system architecture & domain knowledge to mitigate risk.Early involvement in SDLC, ensuring stories are clear, fully formed and ready to be moved forward. Management of testing requirements, including testing of features in isolation, use and maintenance of automated test packs, and management of manual regression checks, performed either in house or externally. The manual aspect was particularly important in the mobile space, as testing with a simulator is not a 1:1 replacement for testing on device.Technical - Management of the technical aspects of deployment:Branch CutCreating Builds using BitriseUsing GitIndependent usage of Automated test suitesUploading builds to App Store ConnectCarrying out phased rollout and adoption rampup in productionMaintenance of change management and versioning history, and other housekeeping & admin dutiesCommunication: Use of communication skills to manage expectations, maintain relationships across the business, and keep stakeholders informed.UAT Sessions - Invites, communication of expectations, recording of results.Go / No Go agreements from relevant stakeholders. Show less

London, United Kingdom

Made a transitional move to familiarize myself with iOS Native App development. Used my knowledge of QA and the company, as well as my existing skills to mentor and assist the iOS QA team in becoming more proactive and involved in the end-to-end processes of delivery, while taking the opportunity to refresh my skills in front-line software testing.Acquired knowledge of development and release processes for iOS, tvOS, and watchOS native applications.Performed standard Agile Test… Show more Made a transitional move to familiarize myself with iOS Native App development. Used my knowledge of QA and the company, as well as my existing skills to mentor and assist the iOS QA team in becoming more proactive and involved in the end-to-end processes of delivery, while taking the opportunity to refresh my skills in front-line software testing.Acquired knowledge of development and release processes for iOS, tvOS, and watchOS native applications.Performed standard Agile Test duties – Prioritized stories, executed manual tests, provided timely, detailed feedback on issues, and provided as much relevant information as possible to the Technologyand Product teams about the system under test.Maintained regular contact with Product, Technical, and Development Operations, Performance, Architecture, and Release Management teams to ensure the smooth transition of the iterative updates to our codebase from development to production.Managed day-to-day operations of our offshore team based in Shenzhen, including assignment of tasks, communication, and knowledge sharing of current and upcoming stories and projects.Provided mentorship and support, while sharing my experience and knowledge with the interim QA Manager as they grew in the role.Ensured the earliest possible QA involvement in the delivery cycle and the shortest possible feedback loop to the smooth running of our Continuous Delivery processes as the authoritative voice of QA.Assisted other areas of the business with recruitment, candidate selection, interview panels, etc.Collaborated with development and business teams to plan and execute functional tests for our native iOS Apps. Gave first line support for day-to-day and architectural aspects of QA, and acted as central point of knowledge and escalation.Provided leadership, support, training, mentorship, and career advice in the traditional way. Show less

London, United Kingdom

Provided leadership and first-line support for all aspects of software development across a diverse groupof 11 software delivery teams.Encouraged communication and collaboration across teams and departments, shared accumulated knowledge and experience, and provided insights on industry news and trends.Internally evangelised achievements of the technology team, while externally advocating the processes, practices, and achievements of our functions across multiple… Show more Provided leadership and first-line support for all aspects of software development across a diverse groupof 11 software delivery teams.Encouraged communication and collaboration across teams and departments, shared accumulated knowledge and experience, and provided insights on industry news and trends.Internally evangelised achievements of the technology team, while externally advocating the processes, practices, and achievements of our functions across multiple communication platforms.Recruitment, selection, and orientation of new hires.Used accumulated systems and architecture knowledge to provide high-tier troubleshooting and supportto my teams. Central point of escalation for my teams, and used connections across the business to consult on issues requiring specialized knowledge.Drove improvements to efficiency and processes in team planning and retrospective sessions.Provided guidance and analysis for coaching, training, and support needs, including details of internal training courses, tutor-led sessions and webinars, helping 6 candidates across my teams obtain promotions and new roles.Presented classroom sessions to groups of ~50 cross-discipline delegates on software delivery practices and the testing mindset, enabling them to improve the quality of the stories and requirements they presented to the technology team.Implemented change from scheduled release vehicle to a Continuous Delivery model, allowing teams to release independently and at greater velocity.Recruitment, selection, and orientation of new hires across the technology organisation.Communicated daily with offshore teams, reinforced by quarterly site visits to ensure required standardswere being maintained, while providing guidance on achievement of those standards.Represented the company at external technology conferences and meetups, including regularly speakingat internal and external events, notably speaking to audiences of ~150 at the Expedia QA meetup. Show less

Islington, London

Management of QA function, employing Agile testing methodologies (Scrum / KanBan) across 20+ development teams, all developing and supporting multiple services within our web application and mobile app / browser technologies in a Continuous Delivery environment.As QA Manager, I was the central point of technical knowledge and experience within QA, and the first point of escalation for issues that arise.Involved in recruitment, orientation and mentoring of new hires, and… Show more Management of QA function, employing Agile testing methodologies (Scrum / KanBan) across 20+ development teams, all developing and supporting multiple services within our web application and mobile app / browser technologies in a Continuous Delivery environment.As QA Manager, I was the central point of technical knowledge and experience within QA, and the first point of escalation for issues that arise.Involved in recruitment, orientation and mentoring of new hires, and providing direction and guidance to the whole QA team.Monitored performance and provided feedback, determined training needs and career development opportunities, give performance reviews and regular 1-2-1s, and scheduled regular conference calls for both my onshore and offshore direct reports.Participated in the ongoing development of the company's QA Architecture by analysing processes and practices, and implementing and leading initiatives for improvement.Regular communication with the Product, Technical & Development Operations, Performance, Architecture and Release Management teams to ensure the smooth transition of the iterative updates to our codebase from development to production. Show less

Islington, London

Crawley

London, United Kingdom