Nico Smith
Constantia Kloof
Summary
I started my career in testing in 2012 as a tester and moved into a test analyst role in 2013, working on multiple projects in the banking industry. I then became interested in automation testing and educated myself in the basics and tools required by this profession and, with the assistance of subject matter experts in this field, I applied the knowledge that I learned on projects that I worked on. From there I became more interested in coding and development and have upskilled myself in programming languages and tools such as Java and Python. I have experience in working with cross-border (African) and offshore teams, liaising with vendors as a customer, and working as a vendor in collaboration with the customer. This has assisted me in building good relationships with a variety of stakeholders and instilled in me the importance of relationship building and networking. Although my experience thus far extends to the banking industry and the testing profession in particular, I am confident that the knowledge and skills I have gained can add value to different industries and IT-related fields. I am currently becoming more involved in the programming field and getting exposure in development. I have recently developed an interest in the Cyber Security field and as such participated in a programme offered by the bank’s Cyber Security Academy. This has opened my eyes to the world of Cyber Security, and I am determined to gain more knowledge and, if presented with the opportunity, become and expert in this field.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Automation Engineer/Lead
BMW ZA Hub
5 2022 - Current
- Obtain list of features for automation
- Log, track and manage features on JIRA
- Conduct feasibility studies to determine which features can be automated
- Automate identified features using Selenium with Java
- Troubleshoot and correct any issues detected in the code
- Upload automated tests into the Jenkins tools
- Provide automated test pack to the quality engineers for execution
- Execute test cases and evaluate results
- Analyze User stories from business for gaps
- Assign tasks to junior Test analysts
- Teach Selenium to Junior Test analysts
- Create Test plans
- PROJECTS: Proflex Prop
Automation Engineer
Standard Bank Fraud
04.2021 - Current
- Obtain list of features for automation
- Log, track and manage features on JIRA
- Conduct feasibility studies to determine which features can be automated
- Automate identified features using Selenium with Java
- Troubleshoot and correct any issues detected in the code
- Upload automated tests into the Jenkins tools
- Provide automated test pack to the quality engineers for execution
- Specify test data requirements
- Conduct test internal and external test case reviews
- Execute test cases and evaluate results
- PROJECTS: Fraud Lead System, Falcon Upgrade, IECM, Wealth Context Strategy
Automation Engineer
Standardbank (Fraud)
04.2021 - 04.2022
- Obtain list of features for automation
- Log, track and manage features on JIRA
- Conduct feasibility studies to determine which features can be automated
- Automate identified features using Selenium with Java
- Troubleshoot and correct any issues detected in the code
- Upload automated tests into the Jenkins tools
- Provide automated test pack to the quality engineers for execution
- Specify test data requirements
- Conduct test internal and external test case reviews
- Execute test cases and evaluate results
- PROJECTS: Fraud Lead System, Falcon Upgrade, IECM, Wealth Context Strategy
Automation Engineer
Standardbank (Africa Regions)
06.2019 - 03.2021
- Obtain list of features for automation
- Log, track and manage features on JIRA
- Conduct feasibility studies to determine which features can be automated
- Automate identified features using Selenium with Java
- Troubleshoot and correct any issues detected in the code
- Upload automated tests into the Jenkins tools
- Provide automated test pack to the quality engineers for execution
- Specify test data requirements
- Conduct test internal and external test case reviews
- Execute test cases and evaluate results
- PROJECTS: Internet Banking automation, Mobi Banker automation, Finacle automation
Quality Engineer
Standardbank (Africa Regions)
07.2017 - 05.2019
- Review and analyze project documentation
- Create and update test plans
- Create and update test cases
- Extract testable requirements and develop test cases linked to requirements
- Specify test data requirements
- Conduct test internal and external test case reviews
- Execute test cases and evaluate results
- Automate regression test packs using Selenium
- Generate Readable status reports with ExtendReports
- Log, track and manage defects
- Re-test fixed defects and close defects that have been successfully re-tested
- Perform testing close-out activities
- Assist other team members with Automation of test packs
- Coach other team members in the use of Selenium Automation Framework
- Run daily team Stand-up meetings
- PROJECTS: Blueflow Customer Onboarding, Blueflow instant Loans, GoldTier
Software Test Engineer
Wipro @ Standard Bank
11.2014 - 07.2017
- Review and analyze project documentation
- Review and update test plans compiled by offshore team / resources
- Review and update test cases developed by offshore team / resources
- Extract testable requirements and develop test cases linked to requirements
- Specify test data requirements
- Conduct test internal and external test case reviews
- Execute test cases and evaluate results
- Log track and manage defects
- Re-test fixed defects and close defects that have been successfully re-tested
- Perform testing close-out activities
- PROJECTS: ATM Agilis project, Powi Uganda Phase 1, Powi Uganda Phase 2, Powi Ghana, BizAssist Business and Commercial Banking, Cash Centre Phase 2, CCO ACD and IVR Optimisation, Blueflow
Software Test Analyst
First National Bank
01.2013 - 10.2014
- Review and analyze project documentation
- Log defects against the documentation
- Conduct workshops, one-on-one’s or meetings to solicit information that is not present in the requirements specification
- Extract the testable requirements from the documents / create test scenarios
- Design test cases based on test requirements extracted / scenarios created, using applicable test specification techniques
- Develop step-by-step test cases
- Specify test data requirements
- Link test cases to test requirements / scenarios
- Conduct internal (peer) as well as external (project/business) reviews of the test cases
- Rank test cases according to their priority
- Sequence the test cases in the order in which they will be executed
- Prepare / confirm test data (availability)
- Do an environment readiness test
- Execute test cases, evaluate results and pass or fail the test case depending on whether the expected result was achieved
- Log track and manage defects, re-test fixed defects and close defects that have been successfully re-tested
- Perform testing close-out activities
- Testing with company external vendors
- PROJECTS: Base24 authorization validation, POS software version 11.10.04, Botswana flexi lane replacement, Verifone VX 680 software 4.5.31
Software Tester
First National Bank
02.2012 - 12.2012
- Manage the merchant services test bed
- Maintain test cards and ensure that the cards are valid for testing purposes
- Order new cards to replaces cards that are no longer valid
- Maintenance of POS devices and ensuring that all devices have the correct software versions
- Order POS devices
- Inject keys into POS devices
- Assist other banks with testing
- Schedule and supervise Standard Bank resources’ test slots
- Ensure that the test bed is available for project testing
- Test production issues
- Assist internal projects by creating transactions on the POS devices
- Report testing progress to project and line managers
- Build and manage relationships with internal as well as external stakeholders
- Manage access control to the test bed
- Create merchant numbers and terminal ID’s
- Create test cases in Quality center
- Chair internal and external test case meetings
- Execute test cases in Quality Centre
- Raise incidents/ requests on Service Desk
- PROJECTS: Base24 upgrade, Host to host merchant number validation, Base24 Fleet bin cleanup, Base24 Dev system upgrade
Education
BCom in Information Management (Incomplete) -
Damelin
Matric (Senior Certificate) - undefined
Hoerskool Florida
Practical Software Testing - undefined
iLAB
Cyber Security Acadamy - undefined
Standardbank
Internationalexposure
- 2018, Blueflow, Zambia, 4 days
- 2018, Blueflow, Botswana (New features), 5 days
- 2018, Blueflow Uganda, 3 days
- 2017, ZamSwitch, Zambia, 10 days
- 2017, Blueflow, Botswana, 5 days
- 2017, Blueflow Malawi, 9 days
- 2017, Blueflow Swaziland, 5 days
- 2017, Blueflow Lesotho, 3 days
Technologyandindustryexposure
- Quality Centre (Test Lab)
- ATM’s
- EMV (basic)
- Finacle
- Selenium (TestNG, Cucumber)
- Base24 Mainframe (Hogan)
- POS devices /modems
- IBM BPM
- Unified Functional Testing
- Jira
- Banking
- Postilion (basic)
- Data Store
- Python Robot Framework
- Confluence
- HTML5
- CSS3
- Jenkins (CI)
- Postman
- Java
- Python
- C#
- NMap
- SQL
- Jmeter
- Xray(JIRA)
Careerchronology
- BMW, Senior Automation Engineer/Lead, 05/2022 - Present
- Standardbank (Fraud), Automation Engineer, 04/2021 - 04/2022
- Standardbank (Africa Regions), Automation Engineer, 06/2019 - 03/2021
- Standardbank (Africa Regions), Quality Engineer, 07/2017 - 05/2019
- Wipro, Software Test Engineer, 11/2014 - 07/2017
- First National Bank, Software Test Analyst, 01/2013 - 10/2014
- First National Bank, Software Tester, 02/2012 - 12/2012
Skills
Analysis and good problem-solving, Attention to detail, Self-driven, Good communication and interpersonal skills, Customer service orientated, Work under pressure and meeting deadlines, Ability to work against tight deadlines, High determination level, Passion about technology, Proficient in development environments as well as competence in the MS Office Suite, Experience and relevant knowledge in testing environments as well as Automation testing in order to deliver quality testing outputs, Understanding of testing challenges presented when applications are tested in isolation and in conjunction with interfacing applications, Knowledge of software development methodologies, Able to work reliably and responsibly with internal and external stakeholders, Understanding and application of Java fundamentals and programming, Basic web development skills, Test automation skills, Able to work in a Selenium Automation framework (TestNG, Cucumber), Basic Python Development skills, Pushing code to Bitbucket repository using Git
Timeline
Automation Engineer
Standard Bank Fraud
04.2021 - Current
Automation Engineer
Standardbank (Fraud)
04.2021 - 04.2022
Automation Engineer
Standardbank (Africa Regions)
06.2019 - 03.2021
Quality Engineer
Standardbank (Africa Regions)
07.2017 - 05.2019
Software Test Engineer
Wipro @ Standard Bank
11.2014 - 07.2017
Software Test Analyst
First National Bank
01.2013 - 10.2014
Software Tester
First National Bank
02.2012 - 12.2012
Senior Automation Engineer/Lead
BMW ZA Hub
5 2022 - Current
BCom in Information Management (Incomplete) -
Damelin
Matric (Senior Certificate) - undefined
Hoerskool Florida
Practical Software Testing - undefined
iLAB
Cyber Security Acadamy - undefined
Standardbank
Similar Profiles
Denis Njossa JuniorDenis Njossa Junior
Java Developer at BMW ZA IT HubJava Developer at BMW ZA IT Hub
Nathanael ZondoNathanael Zondo
Front-End Developer at BMW IT HubFront-End Developer at BMW IT Hub
Krishan RamdevKrishan Ramdev
Store Supervisor at Mezze Za Za, T4 Tullamarine AirportStore Supervisor at Mezze Za Za, T4 Tullamarine Airport
Nicola Jordan HendersonNicola Jordan Henderson
Export Coordinator at Southern Fruit GrowersExport Coordinator at Southern Fruit Growers
Portia HadebePortia Hadebe
Specialist Commercial Credit / Collections at MTN South AfricaSpecialist Commercial Credit / Collections at MTN South Africa