Sheetal Contractor
Bengaluru
Summary
Seasoned Principal Engineer and Quality Engineering Leader with over 20 years in quality, automation, and innovation within enterprise storage, cloud, and distributed systems. Led end-to-end validation of Kubernetes-based microservices platforms and developed scalable test strategies to ensure product reliability. Leveraged Generative AI and intelligent workflow automation to enhance engineering productivity. Expertise in quality transformation, test automation, and mentoring engineering teams.
Overview
1
1
Certification
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Software Principal Engineer
Dell Technologies
Bengaluru
09.2017 - Current
- Led end-to-end validation and quality assurance for PowerFlex (Kubernetes-based microservices platform) and PowerMax Sizer, ensuring high-quality, on-time product releases.
- Led validation efforts for complex distributed systems and microservices-based architectures, ensuring reliability, scalability, and production readiness.
- Designed and executed comprehensive API, UI, integration, and scale testing strategies, significantly strengthening product quality and improving defect detection rates.
- Instituted a regression ownership model, increasing test accountability and improving test coverage.
- Initiated and established the Bug Bash testing process, enabling early defect discovery and improving overall product quality.
- Conducted root-cause analysis and quality improvement initiatives, enabling faster issue resolution and enhancing release stability.
- Influenced product quality strategy and release readiness decisions for critical PowerFlex releases.
- Championed test automation initiatives, improving validation efficiency and reducing manual testing effort.
- Coordinated effectively with product management, development, support, and architecture teams to ensure comprehensive and high-quality customer deliverables.
- Mentored engineers and interns, fostering technical growth, innovation, accountability, and a strong culture of quality.
- Continuously improved engineering processes, documentation standards, metrics, and workflow practices to enhance team efficiency and execution excellence.
- Collaborated across global teams to drive strategic initiatives, resolve complex technical challenges, and achieve organizational objectives.
- Recognized for exceptional performance and impact through the Game Changer Award, multiple Bravo Awards, and the prestigious Dell Championship Award.
- Core member of the Champion-AI program, driving the design and development of AI-powered agents, skills, and workflow automations that improved operational efficiency and accelerated business outcomes.
- Developed and delivered multiple AI skills and intelligent workflows, enabling teams to automate repetitive tasks, improve productivity, and enhance user experience.
- Acted as a bridge between engineering, product management, and customer-facing teams to address customer requirements and drive successful outcomes.
- Contributed to AI adoption across teams by identifying high-value use cases and delivering scalable automation solutions.
- Drove operational excellence initiatives that improved productivity, release predictability, and customer satisfaction.
- Completed multiple Customer RPQs (Request for Product Qualification) ahead of schedule through technical analysis, cross-functional collaboration, and data-driven recommendations.
- Provided regular executive and project-level status updates, maintaining transparency, stakeholder alignment, and proactive risk management.
- Drove operational excellence initiatives that improved productivity, release predictability, and customer satisfaction.
Software Principal Engineer
Symantec Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Bangalore, India
03.2011 - 09.2017
- Developed and implemented quality assurance protocols to improve product reliability and safety.
- Directed QA activities for eCommerce SSL Certificates and Control Compliance Suite products.
- Led I18N testing across multiple OS languages (Japanese, German, French).
- Spearheaded process improvements to enhance cross-team collaboration and shorten release cycle times.
- Managed documentation for quality assurance activities, ensuring traceability and compliance.
- Prepared detailed reports on quality performance indicators for senior management, facilitating informed decision-making.
- Delivered customer-driven solutions, resulting in new revenue streams.
- Received 10+ Applause Awards and Game Changer Award for innovation and quality delivery.
- Worked with cross-functional teams in refining and improving product features to generate ideas for new functionality.
Software Principal Engineer
Symantec Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Pune
05.2005 - 03.2011
- Achieved Symantec Professional Certification in OWASP Security Testing and performed comprehensive security assessments, including SQL injection, API, and vulnerability testing.
- Supervised and mentored QA teams, ensuring delivery of high-quality, compliant releases that met customer expectations.
- Monitored quality control procedures to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.
- Collaborated with development teams to communicate quality standards and address identified issues.
- Provided training and guidance to junior QA analysts on best practices and testing methodologies.
- Led customer requirement analysis and solution design, translating complex business and security needs into scalable enterprise solutions.
- Implemented process improvements that strengthened cross-functional collaboration and optimised release cycle times.
- Designed and delivered enterprise security and compliance solutions on the Symantec Enterprise Product suite, directly contributing to customer adoption and revenue growth.
- Collaborated with customers to create tailored solutions, resulting in additional revenue streams.
Education
B.E. - Electronics & Communication
Shantilal Shah Engineering College
Bhavnagar, GujaratSkills
Quality Engineering & Testing
- AI-Powered Quality Engineering
- AI Tools Integration
- AI Implementation
- AI Solution Design
- AI Strategy Development
- AI-Assisted Test Automation
- Intelligent Automation
- Automation strategy
- Automation framework design
- Python-Based Automation
- API Automation
- Microservices Validation
- Containerized Application Testing
- REST APIs
- Postman - API Validation
- Swagger
- Functional, System, Integration, Regression, End-to-End, API, Web Application, Security, and Internationalization (I18N) Testing
- Performance, Scalability & Reliability Testing
- Test planning
- Defect management
- Quality assurance
- Enterprise Software Validation
- Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions
- High-Performance Storage
- Infrastructure Architecture
- Data Management Solutions
- Data Recovery Strategies
- SSL Certificate Management
- Diagnostic Tools Validation
- CI/CD Pipelines
- Jenkins
- Container Orchestration
- Development Environment Management
- GitHub Copilot
- ChatGPT
- Productivity Tools Utilisation
- Agile Methodologies
- Scrum Framework
- Scrum Master
- Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
- Sprint Planning
- Effort Estimation
- Risk Assessment
- JIRA
- Team leadership
- Mentoring & Coaching
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Customer Engagement
- Decision Making
- Process Improvement
- Engineering Excellence
- Continuous Improvement
- Technical Documentation
- Communication skills
- Technical Documentation
- Quality assurance
Certification
- Registered Product Owner, ID#RPO-1534887, 2026-09-15, Scrum Inc. and Dr. Jeff Sutherland
- Registered Scrum Master, ID#RSM-6758079, 2026-09-15, Scrum Inc. and Dr. Jeff Sutherland
Custom
- Dell Championship Award
- Multiple Bravo Awards (Dell)
- Dell Game Changer Award (PowerFlex)
- Multiple Applause Awards (Symantec)
Timeline
Software Principal Engineer
Dell Technologies
09.2017 - Current
Software Principal Engineer
Symantec Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
03.2011 - 09.2017
Software Principal Engineer
Symantec Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
05.2005 - 03.2011
B.E. - Electronics & Communication
Shantilal Shah Engineering College