Kumar Prakhar
Manager Software Quality Engineering
Pune,MH
Summary
Very strong background in leading software quality assurance teams. Proven track record in identifying and resolving critical software issues, enhancing product reliability, and improving testing processes. Demonstrated expertise in team management and process optimization. Results-driven quality assurance professional with extensive experience in software testing and team leadership. Known for fostering collaborative environments and delivering high-quality results through continuous improvement. Adaptable and reliable with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Experienced with software testing methodologies and quality assurance best practices. Utilizes effective team collaboration and communication to ensure high standards. Track record of implementing process improvements that enhance software reliability and performance. Demonstrates strong analytical, communication, and teamwork skills, with proven ability to quickly adapt to new environments. Eager to contribute to team success and further develop professional skills. Brings positive attitude and commitment to continuous learning and growth.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
3
3
Certifications
2
2
Languages
Work History
Software QA Manager
Cohesity
12.2024 - Current
- Mentored junior QA analysts in best practices for software testing, enhancing overall team performance.
- Increased team productivity by implementing agile methodologies and continuously improving the QA process.
- Facilitated post-release reviews to identify areas for improvement and ensure continuous refinement of testing processes.
- Identified areas of improvement in existing systems through comprehensive code reviews and risk analysis.
- Improved software quality by implementing rigorous testing processes and quality assurance procedures.
- Conducted root cause analysis on reported issues, providing actionable insights for effective remediation strategies.
- Streamlined communication between developers and testers, facilitating faster issue resolution.
- Established strong quality control standards for consistent application throughout all projects.
- Championed a culture of continuous learning within the team by encouraging professional development opportunities such as workshops or certifications completion.
- Promoted collaboration between QA teams across different product lines, enabling greater consistency in testing approaches organizationwide.
- Maintained full compliance with industry regulations by staying current on updates and incorporating necessary changes into company processes promptly.
- Reduced bug occurrence rates with thorough test planning and detailed test case development.
- Managed multiple concurrent projects, prioritizing tasks according to business needs and deadlines.
- Enhanced project efficiency by collaborating with cross-functional teams to identify, track, and resolve software defects.
- Coordinated release activities, ensuring smooth deployment of high-quality software products into production environments.
- Implemented continuous integration tools to enable rapid identification of issues in the development pipeline.
Manager, SQA Engineering
Veritas Technologies LLC
04.2023 - 12.2024
- Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by resolving disputes promptly, maintaining open lines of communication, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground.
- Controlled costs to keep business operating within budget and increase profits.
- Improved marketing to attract new customers and promote business.
- Cross-trained existing employees to maximize team agility and performance.
- Maintained professional, organized, and safe environment for employees and patrons.
- Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers through account development.
- Managed budgets effectively, ensuring optimal financial performance while investing in necessary resources for business growth.
- Achieved departmental goals by developing and executing strategic plans and performance metrics.
- Built high-performing teams through effective recruitment, onboarding, and talent development initiatives.
- Mentored junior team members for career advancement, fostering a pipeline of future leaders within the organization.
- Improved safety procedures to create safe working conditions for workers.
- Developed a strong company culture focused on employee engagement, collaboration, and continuous learning opportunities.
- Streamlined workflows by identifying bottlenecks in existing systems and implementing appropriate solutions.
- Reduced operational costs through comprehensive process improvement initiatives and resource management.
- Oversaw inventory management, optimizing stock levels, and reducing waste.
- Developed comprehensive risk management plan, minimizing potential disruptions to business operations.
- Facilitated team brainstorming sessions that led to innovative solutions for long-standing operational challenges.
- Led cross-functional teams to achieve project goals, fostering collaboration and innovation.
- Increased market share with strategic business development efforts, expanding into untapped markets.
- Enhanced team productivity by implementing agile methodologies, leading to more efficient project completion.
- Coordinated with IT department to upgrade technology infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiency and data security.
- Spearheaded transition to remote work during global health crisis, ensuring business continuity and employee safety.
- Improved customer satisfaction scores by overhauling customer service protocols and training staff in customer engagement techniques.
- Implemented customer feedback mechanisms to gather insights, using this information to guide strategic planning and decision-making.
- Managed budget allocations to prioritize spending on high-impact projects, optimizing resource utilization.
- Achieved significant cost savings by renegotiating contracts with key vendors, without compromising service quality.
- Streamlined project delivery processes, significantly reducing time to market for new product launches.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
Principal SQA Engineer
Veritas Technologies LLC
04.2022 - 04.2023
- Contributed to a positive team culture by leading training sessions and mentoring junior SQA engineers on best practices.
- Reduced software defects by collaborating closely with developers in an agile environment.
- Spearheaded the implementation of a centralized bug tracking system, fostering better collaboration between QA and development teams by streamlining issue management processes.
- Optimized test coverage through diligent analysis of requirements documentation and identification of potential gaps or inconsistencies.
- Increased customer satisfaction rates through meticulous attention to detail in identifying and reporting issues.
- Enhanced product reliability with thorough execution of functional, regression, and performance testing.
- Streamlined workflows with the implementation of continuous integration systems, supporting faster build cycles for iterative releases.
- Designed, executed and maintained automated test scripts for in-project deployment.
- Assessed application patches and updates at development, testing and quality assurance stages.
- Monitored resolution of bugs, tested fixes, and helped developers tackle ongoing problems by providing QA perspective.
- Documented testing procedures for developers and future testing use.
- Gathered data on integration issues and vulnerabilities, reported findings and recommended improvements.
Senior SQA Engineer
Veritas Technologies LLC
08.2017 - 04.2022
- Conducted regular training sessions for junior SQA engineers to enhance their technical knowledge and skills for professional growth.
- Enhanced application stability by performing comprehensive stress and load tests on various system components.
- Implemented data-driven testing approaches that facilitated effective validation of complex business logic scenarios.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of industry trends and emerging technologies to stay relevant in the competitive software quality assurance landscape.
- Reviewed requirements specifications for completeness, consistency, and ambiguity before initiating test case creation activities.
- Enhanced software quality by conducting thorough test case design and execution processes.
- Supported agile development methodologies through active participation in daily stand-ups, sprint planning sessions, and retrospectives.
- Collaborated closely with developers to resolve defects quickly and ensure smooth software delivery.
- Developed and executed QA test cases, scripts and procedures for automated software maintenance.
- Monitored resolution of bugs, tested fixes, and helped developers tackle ongoing problems by providing QA perspective.
SQA Engineer
Veritas Technologies LLC
10.2012 - 08.2017
- Achieved significant reductions in overall test cycle durations by proactively identifying opportunities for parallel testing execution across multiple platforms and environments.
- Accelerated issue resolution times by efficiently prioritizing bug reports and maintaining clear communication channels between QA and development teams.
- Facilitated seamless product launches by working closely with cross-functional teams during all stages of the development lifecycle.
- Boosted efficiency of the QA process by introducing automation tools and scripting languages for repetitive tests.
- Optimized test coverage through diligent analysis of requirements documentation and identification of potential gaps or inconsistencies.
- Increased customer satisfaction rates through meticulous attention to detail in identifying and reporting issues.
- Developed and executed QA test cases, scripts and procedures for automated software maintenance.
Associate SQA Engineer
Symantec Corporation
08.2010 - 10.2012
- Championed a culture shift towards data-driven decision making among QA team members through targeted workshops emphasizing effective use of metrics and analytics.
- Provided valuable input in critical product design meetings, leveraging SQA expertise to ensure that quality considerations were incorporated from inception through to final release.
- Maintained high levels of application security by vigilantly testing for vulnerabilities and liaising with development teams to address concerns promptly.
- Minimized risks associated with software updates through rigorous validation of patches before deployment.
- Advanced company-wide understanding of software quality principles by delivering engaging presentations on the latest trends, tools, and methodologies within the SQA community.
- Elevated overall system performance metrics via systematic monitoring efforts focused on identifying areas for improvement across multiple components simultaneously.
- Tested software to assess optimal in-project deployment.
- Collaborated with QA analysts to establish, meet and maintain quality assurance thresholds based on best-practice tools.
- Developed and executed QA test cases, scripts and procedures for automated software maintenance.
Consultant Engineer
SEED Infotech
12.2009 - 08.2010
- Managed risk effectively through careful analysis of project requirements coupled with proactive problem-solving techniques.
- Supported project planning and execution efforts relating to technical documentation and process development.
- Enhanced overall project quality by conducting thorough reviews of designs, plans, and specifications prior to implementation.
Education
Computer Engineering
MIT (University of Pune)
Pune, India 04.2001 -
CBSE 12th Board - Science
D.A.V Public School
Giridih, India 04.2001 -
Skills
Team Management
Release Management
DBPaaS, AWS, Azure, GCP
Data analysis
Quality metrics analysis
Requirements analysis
Certification
074409: Svr Virtualization with Windows Svr Hyper-V & System Center
Honors-Awards
- Symantec Applause Award – Recognized by peers and managers for outstanding contributions
- Veritas WOW Recognition – Awarded by senior leadership across Development and QA teams
- Cohesity High(5) Award – Received appreciation from Vice Presidents for exceptional performance
Publications
Whitepaper on VMware Virtual Machine recovery via NetBackup CLI
Timeline
Software QA Manager
Cohesity
12.2024 - Current
Manager, SQA Engineering
Veritas Technologies LLC
04.2023 - 12.2024
Principal SQA Engineer
Veritas Technologies LLC
04.2022 - 04.2023
Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)
08-2019
Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)
08-2019
Senior SQA Engineer
Veritas Technologies LLC
08.2017 - 04.2022
074409: Svr Virtualization with Windows Svr Hyper-V & System Center
06-2014
SQA Engineer
Veritas Technologies LLC
10.2012 - 08.2017
Associate SQA Engineer
Symantec Corporation
08.2010 - 10.2012
Consultant Engineer
SEED Infotech
12.2009 - 08.2010
Computer Engineering
MIT (University of Pune)
04.2001 -
CBSE 12th Board - Science
D.A.V Public School
04.2001 -