1. JESSE HOWARD
jessehoward@earthlink.net
(Cell) 713 806-2963
SUMMMARY
Dynamic Quality Software Assurance test professional with extensive experience in process analysis, software
testing methodologies, test script documentation, and issue triage/tracking. Supported product development in both
hardware and software environments. Performed analysis of existing processes to drive quality improvements
which supported business objectives and reduced costs.
SKILL SUMMARY
Quality Assurance Test Lead Microsoft Test Manager (MTM)
Process Analysis Agile / SCRUM / Waterfall Web Based .NET
Requirements Traceability Team Foundation Server (TFS) SharePoint
Offshore Management Defect Management / Triage Hardware / Software
WORK EXPERIENCE
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IBM Texas Memory Systems (TMS) (Contractor) - Houston, TX
Senior Test Engineer September 2015 - Present
Software testing on IBM FlashSystem V9000, 900, V840, and 840 (virtual storage technology). Analyze and edit
test plans. Perform process analysis to propose and implement process improvements for existing procedures and
practices. Diagnose and correct test bed issues and work with other Test Engineers and Developers to report
issues and validate fixes. Troubleshoot hardware issues and manage the repair of faulty equipment. Serve as
technical advisors to junior team members. Used Jira, Confluence, TestPlus, and Open Client for Linux
GENERAL ELECRIC HYDRIL (Contractor) - Houston, TX
Lead Test & Validation Engineer January 2015 – September 2015
Lead Test Engineer with the Subsea Controls New Product Development (NPD) group. Performed requirements
analysis to vet for redundancies, errors, and conflicts between requirements. Implemented requirements traceability
to show testing met requirements. Developed test scripts and worked with various Engineers on the project to
advise, test, and validate against the quality of deliverables being developed. Utilized past experience in
electronics repair and fabrication (as well as electro/mechanical devices) to assist in the project. Served as the
main contact point for all QA and test-related issues. Used Jira, Confluence, and IBM Rational Doors.
CONTROLS & DATA SYSTEMS - Houston, TX
Subsidiary of Rolls-Royce
Principal Test & Validation Engineer 2011 - 2014
Principle Test & Validation Engineer tasked with establishing formal quality assurance processes and infrastructure
for an organization with no formal QA testing organization. Tested .NET Web-based Knowledge Management
System (KMS) used predominately in the oil & gas industry. Worked in an Agile SCRUM environment utilizing
Team Foundation Server (TFS – both Waterfall and Agile templates) and Microsoft Test Manager (MTM) to
manage and track all development and testing activities as well as defect tracking.
Experienced with requirements analysis and Agile/SCRUM software development. Analyzed workflows and
existing processes and established new processes and methodologies to address quality issues. Utilized
Microsoft Test Manager as a repository for all test scripts to track test activities during each sprint.
Responsible for test case design and development. Solid knowledge of software testing methods,
processes, and techniques. Experienced with smoke, functional, regression, exploratory, and integration
testing. Strong technical writing abilities, good leadership skills, solid communicator, good with
understanding business processes and technical workflows. Worked with Business Analyst (BA) to
understand requirements and write stories for the test cases that went into each sprint.

2. HEWLETT PACKARD - Houston, TX 1996 - 2011
Software/Hardware Test Engineer (2009 – 2011)
Test Engineer for Software Functional Test (SFT) in the Personal Systems Group (PSG). Responsible for software
and hardware testing against all new commercial laptop models under development. Managed and tracked all
equipment for test and maintained the database. Configured all systems in preparation for test. This involved
ensuring the laptop contained the right BIOS, firmware, WAN/LAN device, storage, graphics, image, and other
needed software. Tested against Windows 7, Vista, XP and SuSe Linux. Extensive experience in laptop
troubleshooting and repair (including BIOS recovery and updates). Worked with Sudden Impact for defect tracking
and Excalibur for system imaging. Also served as Build Engineer responsible for all SUSE releases.
Team Lead (2008 – 2009)
Technical/Test Lead for Software Functional Test (SFT) in the Personal Systems Group (PSG).
Responsible for software test management of a large lab and ODM out-source management. Ensured test
plans aligned with deliverables, provided high level direction on test cases and communicated project
issues to PMs, Developers, and Core Team Leads (CTLs). Analyzed test metrics to determine deliverable
quality and forecasted release readiness. Analyzed results from test execution and deliverable reviews to
evaluate vendor performance. Worked with all stakeholders to develop and provide testing estimates,
methodology, strategy, and schedule for new deliverables. Reviewed test deliverables to ensure compliance to
test strategy in a Waterfall environment.
Successfully coordinated and managed testing efforts of 30 software deliverables utilizing 4 Test Leads, 12
Testers while collaborating with 6 Project Managers (PMs). Half of the test deliverables were outsourced to
four ODMs (Foxconn, Wistron, Quanta, and Inventec) located in China with 4 resources at each site.
Managed workload balancing, estimating, and testing resources to drive business objectives. Developed
strategies for transitioning product development, test plans, and testing to reduce costs by outsourcing the
work to the ODMs. Managed weekly conference calls and daily status reports for testing updates.
Prioritized and assigned all Project Manager requests to test team. Provided lab personnel training on new
tools, technologies, process, policies & procedures. Maintained lab infrastructure including domain
controller, imaging server, DHCP, and DNS to ensure proper test environment. Used various testing and
issue tracking systems including: TestPlus, Test Manager, Remedy Action Request System, Sudden
Impact, BugZilla, and Microsoft SharePoint.
Systems Engineer II (2003 – 2008)
Lead Test Engineer responsible for testing mid-level storage products in Integrated Systems Test (IST)
group. Ensured all new direct-attach storage (DAS) controller, server, storage, and tape-backup products
that were under development met standards of compatibility and quality in a Waterfall environment.
Worked extensively with hardware, software, and firmware deliverables. Configured rack and stand-alone
systems to test against supported configurations (SCSI, SAS, and SATA components with Smart Array
Controllers and ProLiant ML/DL Servers using MSA enclosures).
Tested large and complex server/storage configurations: RAID 0, 1+0, 5 and ADG using SCSI, SAS, and
SATA drives with single and dual path configurations (dual-domain and redundant-path testing). Also
tested Web-based applications including; Systems Insight Manager (SIM), System Management
Homepage (SMH), Remote Insight Manager (RIM), and Integrated Lights Out (iLo). Tested server, storage,
and health agents and Proliant Support Packs (PSPs). Packaged cluster, .Net, Service Pack4, multipath
testing. Configured and maintained Rapid Deployment Pack (RDP) infrastructure, used rQm and TestPlus,
and tested various Microsoft, Novell, United Linux, and RedHat distributions.
System Engineer I (2000 – 2003)
Test Engineer that ran Microsoft WHQL, regression, sustaining, firmware, driver, and software testing for
F100 and F200 clustered systems. Built and maintained the WHQL testing environment and made
submissions for Hardware Certification Test (HCT) team. Also tested clustering on Microsoft and Novell 4-
node clustered systems. Managed defect reporting and tracking, wrote test plans and reviewed white
papers. Also performed Service pack testing and tested SmartStart, Hardware, and Software Update CD
releases.

3. Sr. Software Technician (1996 – 2000)
Lab Manager that built and supported a lab infrastructure with over 30 engineers and contractors within the
High Availability (HA) group. Maintained a million-dollar inventory and provided departmental tech support.
Diagnosed, repaired, and tracked server and desktop equipment. Also responsible for all shipping and
receiving, and show support. Developed a bar-coding system and database to track all Internal Unit
Requests (IURs). Worked with SAP and ManMan systems.
HL&P (01/1993 – 10/1996)
Worked as an Electronics/System Technician in the Control Center for a public utility company. LANs, RFL/Tone-
telemetry equipment, high-speed line printers. Worked on Control data Center Cyber 180, 860, and 960 main frame
computers. This also involved working on the associated peripheral devices which included data-terminal
equipment, RFL/Tone-telemetry equipment, high-speed line printers, terminals, map-board, EMACs consoles, 6850
tape backup devices, mass storage devices, LAN (thick net) for the mainframe environment. Diagnosed equipment
problems and conducted repairs from the assembly to the component level. Also fabricated fixtures for equipment
improvements and built custom cables.
Field support to repair field-graphics terminal equipment (FGTs) which were located in all the power plants within
the grid for HL@P. Shipping and receiving of all equipment needing repair or replacement. Maintained equipment
entries in Maximo database utility. Also responsible for maintaining the building security equipment which included
peripheral detection system, card readers, door closures, security PC with associated software and network, video
recorders, cameras, and monitors as well as multiplexing switching equipment.
Microwave Networks (01/1990 – 12/1992)
Electronics and System Technician working with short-haul microwave radio systems (video and digital) in a
medium sized manufacturing facility. Tested and aligned video and digital RF heads, T-1 modems and complete
systems ranging from 3-25Ghz. Performed system diagnostics and repairs to the component level and ensured all
systems met specifications through detailed alignment procedures. Also performed environmental testing on RF
heads to ensure product environmental specs were met. Used oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, digital-volt
meters, RF attenuators, environmental chambers, bit error-rate detector (BERT), and other test equipment. Also
fabricated test fixtures and made custom cables and connectors.
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EDUCATION
North Harris/Montgomery County Community College - Houston, TX
• AAS Computer Networking Specialization - Microsoft
MILITARY SERVICE
United States Navy: FC3 (Fire Controlman Third Class) – Honorably Discharged
• Served onboard the Battleship Missouri (BB-63) as a Fire Control Technician Third Class
• Received 7 months of training in the field of electronics with some additional emphasis on
electro/mechanical devices. Learned to use various pieces of test equipment as well as solder/desolder
and circuit board repair to the component level. Also trained to operate, maintain and repair shipboard
weapon systems and their support systems including radars, computers, displays, power conversion
systems, cooling systems and more. Also performed preventive and corrective maintenance as well as
operated and aligned various weapons systems including electro/mechanical devices, analog computers,
radars, and synchro/servo systems.
• Performed supervisory duties as a Third Class Petty Officer (E4)
ACCREDITATIONS
• Microsoft MCSA, MCSE (MCP ID: 1407459)
• CompTIA A+ (ID: COMP001006144851)