Thomas Astley

A proactive and results-driven IT professional with extensive expertise in software testing management and project leadership. I am keen to leverage my deep knowledge in Agile methodologies and Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) environments to drive early and continuous testing initiatives, crucial for shift left strategies in software development.

Strong understanding of manual and automation testing tools & techniques such as Cypress IO, Selenium to create frameworks from scratch or building on existing frameworks to utilise automation using an automation first approach. In my current role 3 years ago the QA engineers were manually testing 80% the end to end journey spending 2.5 days regression and smoke testing the platform.

Since then moving to an automation first approach strategy with a 70% spilt to automation this came down to 0.5 days for regression and smoke testing. To finally a full shift left include SDET roles working directly alongside the development teams with 90% spilt to automation using CI/CD for all automation.

With a proven track record of defining and executing comprehensive product strategies, I ensure alignment with business objectives from the
early stages of development. My background as a software testing has honed my skills in coordinating cross-functional teams effectively, fostering collaboration and communication essential for integrating testing processes early in the product lifecycle.

Experience with leading incident management processes and procedures and focusing on user experience, functionality, and compatibility, with a dedicated commitment to delivering high-quality and user-centric solutions.

My approach consistently incorporates user feedback into the development process, significantly enhancing product performance and customer satisfaction. Dedicated to innovation and quality, I aim to transform testing practices by
promoting the principles of iterative development and rapid deployment within a shift left framework. I am committed to a customer-centric and
proactive approach, aiming to deliver impactful and innovative solutions through effective leadership and strategic foresight in a dynamic software development environment

My present I’m a Software Testing Manager, I bring a comprehensive blend of skills essential for leading high performing testing teams and ensuring the delivery of software products that meet the highest standards of quality. 

My expertise spans strategic planning and vision, which allows me to set long term goals for testing aligned with
organizational objectives. I excel in leading teams through the complexities of test automation, agile scrum methodologies, and test case management, ensuring that projects
are executed efficiently and effectively. My deep understanding of the
Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and Software Test Life (STL), along with proficiency in change management, enables me to adapt testing frameworks to evolving project needs seamlessly. I possess strong knowledge in regulatory and compliance requirements, ensuring that all testing protocols meet industry and legal standards leveraging data analytics to enhance testing strategies and outcomes. I am adept in cloud testing, particularly on platforms like Google Cloud, which allows for scalable and flexible testing environments. Additionally, my experience with CI/CD practices integrates testing into the development pipeline, promoting faster delivery cycles without compromising quality for maintaining continuous service excellence and software reliability. During my roles as a QA lead and QA engineer I championed this quality across multiple teams and projects. Quality Assessed the company’s first brand new product to launch in the past two years, which secured a household name company.

My most relevant education is my open university degree in computing and I.T reviewing the latests trends and technologies within the development industr.