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Thomas Margrave

Thomas Margrave

Software Quality Assurance Engineering Manager

15330 Bro-Gan Lane, Carrollton, Virginia, US, 23314
(757)560-2682
English

Background


About

About

Thomas Margrave is a strategic and results-driven Software Quality Assurance and Automation Leader with over 15 years of experience in software quality engineering, framework development, and testing tools. Known as a 'project turnaround specialist', he excels at mastering emerging technologies and solving complex challenges. He has a proven track record of leading high-impact, geographically distributed teams (onshore, nearshore, offshore) across diverse industries including defense, finance, healthcare, and education. His expertise includes designing scalable automation frameworks using tools like Selenium, Playwright, and UFT, delivering significant reductions in testing cycles (up to 97.5%) and boosting team productivity (over 90%). A distinguished US Navy veteran, his service instilled a strong work ethic, meticulous attention to detail, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. He has led IV&V efforts for federal agencies like the DoD, FAA, and DOT, developed custom tools for IVR and API testing, and implemented data-driven QA strategies for platforms like Oracle HCM. He holds an active security clearance and is actively seeking new roles in Software QA/Automation Engineering.

Work Experience

Work Experience

  • Team Technical Manager, Qualitest

    Sep, 2024 - Apr, 20257 months

    Led the implementation of testing for a high-priority Department of Defense (DoD) contract, focusing on accelerating delivery, improving automation, and enhancing collaboration in a secure, air-gapped environment. Architected and implemented a CI/CD-adaptable test automation framework tailored to mission-critical system constraints and security protocols.

    • Quickly hired, trained, and led a team of 10 engineers to meet aggressive project timelines for a rapid deployment schedule

    • Collaborated with government stakeholders to define testing requirements and streamline processes, ensuring compliance with DoD standards

    • Implemented a network-shared Git repository in an air-gapped environment, improving collaboration and increasing team efficiency

    • Designed and deployed a custom testing framework, increasing test script creation efficiency by 65%

    • Converted undocumented tribal knowledge related to the security clearance process into standardized procedures, reducing onboarding time and allowing the team to focus on core testing activities

    • Standardized Git workflows across the team, established version control best practices, and integrated traceable test coverage mapping

    • Authored and prioritized user stories to align development with federal compliance and operational requirements

    • Produced comprehensive onboarding and operational documentation, accelerating new team member integration and maintaining continuity in a high-security environment

    • Enhanced system transparency and execution traceability through structured test execution reporting and defect linkage strategies

  • Team Lead, Qualitest

    Jul, 2024 - Sep, 20242 months

    Served as the primary point of contact for a comprehensive diagnostic review of the DoD’s Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) processes, identifying operational inefficiencies and providing actionable recommendations.

    • Led an in-depth diagnostic survey across 27 DoD projects to identify systemic issues in the IV&V processes

    • Investigated the root causes behind low automation rates, uncovering why less than 5% of 8,000 test cases were automated

    • Facilitated comprehensive reviews involving contractors, subcontractors, and federal management to gather diverse insights and align improvement strategies

    • Delivered a detailed diagnostic report with actionable recommendations, laying the foundation for process enhancements implemented in Phase II

  • Senior QA Engineer / SDET (Contract), Kanini Software

    Apr, 2024 - May, 20241 month

    Contracted to assist in assessing a healthcare provider client's needs and developing a proof of concept (POC) for automating and testing deployments of their Oracle Human Capital Management (HCM) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) systems.

    • Led investigation meetings to understand client’s technical requirements and challenges, ensuring alignment with project objectives to develop testing strategies for automated testing

    • Developed SDLC testing matrix for Oracle HCM, along with test scenarios and cases, for the latest release from Oracle

    • Designed modular UI automation for Selenium using .NET/C#, implementing keyword-driven logic to streamline updates and produce clear reports for product managers and developers

    • Created a defect analytic system using Azure dashboards to forecast upcoming workload, reducing test execution time by 90% and increasing detection accuracy

    • Engineered a test design to demonstrate automation for critical processes such as job requisition and procurement

    • Achieved an initial 90% reduction in testing schedule, with the potential of further optimization up to 97.5% by adapting parallel testing configurations

    • Optimized testing processes and enhanced software design, enabling testers to focus on pivotal tasks such as UI changes and updating training materials

    • Proactively identified unrelated UI issues during automation using deductive reasoning and analytics

    • Utilized the Quality Practices Assessment Model (QPAM) to ensure high standards of quality

  • Senior QA Lead / Lead SDET, Qualitest

    Aug, 2022 - Dec, 20231 year 4 months

    Provided expert Interactive Voice Response (IVR) testing guidance to both manual and development testing teams, optimizing testing processes and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of IVR systems, resulting in a 78% reduction in testing cycle time.

    • Designed and implemented a secure data transmission tool for IVR systems, improving manual testing efficiency by 90% and safeguarding sensitive information

    • Developed a speech-to-text converter prototype tailored for IVR testing, increasing testing speed by 125% and accuracy by 200% through automated transcription of spoken commands

    • Strengthened collaboration between onshore and offshore teams, fostering effective communication channels and promoting a culture of teamwork, resulting in a 90% reduction in project delays and improved task completion rates

    • Spearheaded the development of Office 365 Power Platform tools, including project management and user-facing applications, reducing administrative burdens and enhancing team productivity by 88%

    • Implemented features for progress tracking, real-time reporting, task updates, and plan submissions, resulting in a 92% increase in project transparency and a 45% improvement in overall project efficiency

    • Created and deployed a milestone management system with optimized resource allocation and integration with leave management, ensuring a 35% reduction in project delivery times and enhanced operational continuity

    • Built QA team-wide libraries and reusable functions, increasing productivity and consistency by 90%

  • Senior Software Quality Assurance Engineer Lead, Qualitest

    Feb, 2021 - Aug, 20221 year 6 months

    Spearheaded initiatives to modernize testing practices, driving innovation and improvement throughout the testing process, resulting in a 35% increase in testing efficiency and productivity using Test Automation Frameworks.

    • Led the transformation of manual testing processes into automated workflows, driving significant efficiency gains and reducing testing efforts by 90%, resulting in a 50% reduction in testing cycle time

    • Overhauled and modernized the testing code base to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of testing procedures, resulting in a 20% decrease in test execution time and a 12% reduction in defect density

    • Implemented a rigorous code review process to ensure adherence to the highest standards of code quality and reliability, resulting in an 80% reduction in post-release defects and a 25% increase in overall software reliability

    • Provided comprehensive training and mentorship to 20+ team members on code review processes and best practices, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing, resulting in a 50% increase in team productivity

    • Designed and deployed a cutting-edge tool for automating test standardization procedures, streamlining processes, and improving overall efficiency, leading to an 85% reduction in manual effort for test standardization tasks

  • Lead Quality Engineer, Qualitest

    Apr, 2019 - Feb, 20211 year 10 months

    Spearheaded the successful deployment of Plutora across multiple environments for a large multimedia conglomerate, ensuring seamless integration and functionality.

    • Managed the setup and administration of Plutora, including user management, Single Sign-On (SSO), project setup, and workflow configuration, reducing setup time by 30% and enhancing user experience

    • Utilized Tableau to generate reports from Plutora data, providing actionable insights to stakeholders and facilitating data-driven decision-making processes

    • Developed and executed independent testing scripts to validate Plutora integration and syncing tools, ensuring seamless functionality, and reducing the risk of system errors by 15%

    • Collaborated closely with vendors to obtain desired output for reporting tools and mitigate issues between customers and vendors, resulting in a 75% improvement in vendor performance and customer satisfaction

    • Led multiple teams (Onshore, offshore, and nearshore), effectively communicating progress, risks, and issues to management, and implementing mitigation strategies, resulting in a 30% increase in team productivity

  • Senior Consultant, Qualitest

    Jun, 2018 - Apr, 201910 months

    Spearheaded comprehensive testing of API interfaces with SAP, JMS, SOAP, REST, and databases, resulting in a 20% reduction in interface errors and ensuring seamless interoperability across systems.

    • Developed and executed test scripts to validate API functionality, achieving a 30% increase in test coverage and reducing the risk of system failures during integration

    • Conducted performance testing on API interfaces, identifying and resolving bottlenecks, which led to a 15% improvement in system response times and enhanced overall system reliability

    • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline testing processes and optimize resource allocation, resulting in a 25% reduction in testing cycle time

  • Senior Technical Support Engineer, Orasi Software

    Jan, 2009 - Jun, 20189 years 5 months

    Designed and established a support team dedicated to the deployment and maintenance of HP tool UFT, resulting in a 40% increase in company sales and an 80% increase in customer satisfaction.

    • Developed comprehensive processes and procedures for setting up a new department at Orasi, streamlining operations and promoting consistency, leading to a 30% reduction in onboarding time for new team members

    • Developed HP Accredited Technical Professional certification in UFT, showcasing advanced proficiency in the tool's functionality and usage

    • Managed the triage of customer-reported issues related to HP products, investigating root causes and identifying appropriate solutions or workarounds, resulting in a 95% reduction in resolution time and improved customer satisfaction

    • Wrote automation install scripts and setup guides, decreasing user onboarding errors and support escalations

    • Designed and implemented automated installation scripts for HP software products in customer development environments, resulting in an 85% decrease in installation errors

    • Served as a pivotal liaison between customers and HP, effectively resolving technical issues and boosting customer satisfaction ratings by 80%

    • Provided valuable insights to management through comprehensive metrics reporting, leading to a 25% improvement in support effectiveness

    • Trained customers in test development, covering everything from requirements gathering and design traceability to root cause analysis, while utilizing testing tools and QA automation

    • Collaborated with customer experience to develop a company product using agile methodologies that assisted technical specialists

  • Sr Consultant, Orasi Software

    Feb, 2004 - Feb, 20117 years

    Designed and executed streamlined processes for installing and upgrading HP products in customers' development and test environments. Acted as a pivotal liaison between customers and HP, effectively resolving technical issues.

    • Managed the CM Accelerator product as a Project Manager/Developer, making critical decisions and overseeing its successful implementation

    • Demonstrated expertise as an HP Quality Certified AIS, developing integrations between HP Quality Center and other essential tools

    • Led and mentored a team of junior consultants, imparting knowledge on systems, software, and processes

    • Recognized as Borland’s Trainer of the Year for 2004, showcasing exceptional training and mentoring skills in various industries and companies, including Federal Express, McKesson, and Raymond James

    • Provided Technical Account Management (TAM) for major clients such as Amerisource Bergen and Turner Broadcasting

    • Conducted StarTeam and configuration management training sessions for clients including AIG, Bank of America, and Raymond James

    • Managed a team of developers and analyzed client configuration plans, delivering actionable recommendations to improve performance and efficiency

    • Developed and customized tools to facilitate smooth deployments and enhance overall productivity

  • SR Consultant, Borland Software Corporation

    Jan, 2002 - Jan, 20042 years

    Spearheaded Configuration Management decisions for the Eastern Region, driving strategic initiatives and optimizing processes to enhance efficiency and performance across projects.

    • Provided mentorship and guidance to junior consultants, fostering their professional development in systems, software, and process management

    • Conducted comprehensive analyses of company and customer configuration plans, identifying areas for improvement and implementing strategic recommendations

    • Effectively scheduled personnel and managed resources to ensure optimal utilization on projects

  • SR Consultant, StarBase

    Dec, 1999 - Jan, 20033 years 1 month

    Led Configuration Management decisions for the Eastern Region.

    • Mentored junior consultants on systems, software, and process

    • Served as a Senior Implementation Specialist

    • Managed a team of developers for deployment of software

    • Analyzed company and customer configuration plans and made recommendations to improve performance

    • Developed and implemented Statement of Work for various customers

    • Assisted in defining custom work flow for several companies

    • Customized tools to aid in customer deployments

  • Software Engineer, GE HARRIS HARMON

    Dec, 1998 - Dec, 20002 years

    Administered StarTeam and PVCS at multiple US locations within the company.

    • Developed a pre-scanning script for PVCS archives that reduced issues on processes and worked with StarTeam

    • Headed a two-month tool study, resulting in change from PVCS to StarTeam

    • Developed a training plan and implemented training to all StarTeam users at various company locations, also trained Harmon subcontractors

    • Developed a deployment schedule for projects transitioning to StarTeam

    • Served as SCM Lead for the Harmon Software Engineering Process Group (SEPG)

    • Primary interface between R&D and MIS departments

    • Interface between software tool vendors and Harmon R&D

    • Involved in preparing for Dec 2000 CMM Level 2 audit

  • Systems Engineer, TRIPLE-I CORPORATION

    Jul, 1998 - Dec, 19985 months

    Contracted to provide financial reports from a database using VB, SQL, and Access.

  • Engineering Support Specialist, AIRSYS ATM INC. (formerly Wilcox Electric Inc.)

    Feb, 1990 - Jul, 19988 years 5 months

    Developed a tracking database to follow software engineering problem reports using Access and VB. Served as PVCS Administrator and Software Librarian for a safety critical system.

    • Scheduled and prioritized activities for the computer systems in the department

    • In charge of SCM for specific projects

    • Primary interface between the Engineering and MIS departments

    • Increased software engineering productivity by enhancing and upgrading GUI for several databases

    • Served as Engineering Database Administrator, used RDD-100 and other programs

    • Provided training for the Engineering department on requirements traceability

    • Assisted in the development of an aviation DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) receiver from the design level through the production level, including troubleshooting, failure-analysis and improving the software driving the test bench

  • Radioman Second Class (Submarines) / Digital Satellite Communication Tech, US Navy

    Jan, 1984 - Jan, 19906 years

    Responsible for operation, preventive maintenance, component level, and corrective maintenance of HF Receivers, various Antenna Systems, Data-Link Communication Systems, Cryptographic Equipment, and VLF Receiving Systems aboard submarines.

    • Gained administrative experience as a Work Center Supervisor, 3M System Division Coordinator, Repair Parts Petty Officer, Secret Material Control Petty Officer, Naval Warfare Publications Custodian, and Division Leading Petty Officer

    • Received Honorable Discharge on January 22, 1990

Projects Experience

Projects Experience

  • DoD JOMIS Project Phase II

    Sep, 2024 - Apr, 20257 months

    Led test automation for high-priority DoD contract in a secure air-gapped environment, managing a 10-member engineering team. Designed a custom framework in Git, improving efficiency by 65% and standardizing onboarding procedures.

    • Improved efficiency by 65%

    • Standardized onboarding procedures

  • DoD JOMIS Project Phase I

    Jul, 2024 - Sep, 20242 months

    Performed IV&V diagnostic review across 27 DoD projects and presented actionable recommendations to stakeholders.

    • Enabled automation expansion for follow-on contract phase

    • Improved multi-team collaboration

  • Oracle HCM Testing Automation

    Apr, 2024 - May, 20241 month

    Designed automated test framework for Oracle HCM using Selenium and .NET/C#.

    • Developed test matrices and dashboards in Azure DevOps

    • Reduced testing time by 90% through parallel execution and modular scripting

  • IVR Speech-to-Text Automation

    Aug, 2022 - Dec, 20231 year 4 months

    Built IVR toolkit and speech-to-text automation using Python.

    • Enhanced QA speed by 78%

    • Integrated Power Platform dashboards and scheduling apps to streamline testing and improve stakeholder visibility

  • Orasi System Information Utility (OSI)

    Aug, 2004 - Jun, 201611 years 10 months

    Designed, developed, and managed OSI to automate the collection and presentation of diagnostic system data for support cases. Outputs are generated in both text and HTML formats for ease of analysis and team collaboration.

  • NoteGen for Support Teams

    Aug, 2004 - Jun, 201611 years 10 months

    Built a tool that generates structured email responses based on a hierarchical checklist of issues. Enables support personnel to provide consistent, fast, and technically accurate answers using predefined diagnoses and recommended solutions.

  • TCT – Tom’s Copy Tool

    Apr, 2002 - Present

    Developed using AutoIt to solve clipboard issues between incompatible tools. TCT simulates keyboard input to transfer text between applications where copy/paste functions fail.

  • VBScript to Repair Excel Files for UFT/QTP Compatibility

    Mar, 2004 - Jun, 201612 years 3 months

    Created and published on GitHub, this script repairs corrupted Excel files that prevent UFT/QTP from running correctly. Widely used internally to recover automation test assets.

  • IVR Input Assistant (Python)

    Aug, 2022 - Dec, 20231 year 4 months

    Developed a tool to assist manual testers with accurate data entry into IVR systems (e.g., account info, credit cards), reducing human error and tracking input for test repeatability.

  • IVR Automation Framework (Python)

    Aug, 2022 - Dec, 20231 year 4 months

    Created a Python-based automation tool to interact with IVR systems for testing purposes. Automates regression scenarios and increases test efficiency across voice response platforms.

  • Archive Data Integrity Analyzer

    Nov, 1997 - Jan, 200810 years 2 months

    Designed to scan and detect issues in legacy archive data, generate fix recommendations, and assist in clean migration to new data repositories.

  • Selenium Job Scraper for Twitter

    Dec, 2020 - Dec, 20233 years

    Built a personal automation tool to scrape job postings from the Qualitest website and repost them to Twitter using Selenium and Python. Automatically removes tweets when positions are filled.

  • Project Template Replication Utility

    Dec, 2006 - Jan, 201811 years 1 month

    Developed a system to replicate product/project templates into new environments. Saves setup time and enforces standardized configurations across new deployments.

  • Gmail Scheduling Tool (Google Apps Script)

    Apr, 2020 - Present

    Created and deployed a Gmail-based scheduling solution using Apps Script, enabling users to capture, organize, and schedule email-based workflows. Hosted on GitHub.

  • Silent Auction Platform (Google Apps Script)

    Dec, 2021 - Sep, 20229 months

    Built a fully functional Google-based application using Forms, Sheets, and Apps Script to run silent auctions—both for in-person and remote attendees. Used by local organizations to manage event bidding and results in real-time.

Skills

Skills

  • Quality Assurance & Testing

    Manual Testing

    Functional Testing

    API Testing

    IVR Testing

    Speech-to-Text Testing

    Usability Testing

    Performance Testing Basics

    Regression Testing Strategy

    Cross-Browser & Cross-Platform Testing

    Shift Left for SQA

    Test Case Design & Execution

    Defect Lifecycle Management

    Test Code Optimization

    Test Standardization

    Test Data Management

    Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

    Bug Triage & Prioritization

    Risk Assessment

    Software Issue Tracking

    Test Environment Management

    Quality Control

    User Acceptance Testing

    Business Testing

    Code Review

  • Automation Engineering

    Software Automation

    Automation Framework Design

    Procedure Automation

    Automation Tool Implementation

    Tool Development

    Test Automation Software

    Custom Tool Development

  • Project & Team Leadership

    Project Management

    Team Leadership

    Team Development

    Resource Planning & Allocation

    Global Team Collaboration

    Metrics Management for Projects

    Agile/Scrum Methodologies

    Customer Advocate

    Stakeholder Management

    Strategic Vision & Roadmap Planning

    Product Managers Collaboration

    Product Quality & Data Driven Decision Making

    Technical Teams & Stressful Situations Management

    Reliability & Embed Best Practices

  • Technical Operations & Tools

    Configuration Management

    Managing Software Deployments

    Tools Assessment

    Tools Administration

    Version Control Systems

    Systems Analysis

    New Technologies

    Operational Efficiency

    Product Offering

  • Client & Stakeholder Engagement

    Client Engagement

    Post-Sales Support

    Documentation & Knowledge Transfer

    Development Analysis

    Requirements Analysis

  • Innovation & Product Support

    User-Facing Tools Development

  • Programming Languages

    C#

    Java

    JavaScript

    NodeJS

    TypeScript

    Python

    HTML

    XML

    YAML

    JSON

    VBScript

    App Script

    VBA (Visual Basic for Applications)

    AWK

    DOS Shell Scripting

    PowerShell

    Bash/Shell Scripting

    Visual Basic

    REST

    SOAP

    Swagger

    XPATH

    INI

    Plant UML

  • Testing & Development Tools

    Selenium

    Playwright

    UFT

    Eggplant

    UiPath

    Postman

    Swagger

    SikuliX

    QTP

    AutoIT

    SoapUI

    TestNG

    TestRail

    Azure DevOps

    JIRA

    qTest

    Jenkins

    GitHub

    Confluence

    Tableau

    Git

    SonarQube

    Microsoft 365

    Microsoft Teams

    SharePoint

    Outlook

    Excel

    Access

    Microsoft Power Automation

    Microsoft Apps

    Microsoft Power Platform

    Visual Studio

    Visual Studio Code

    Google Cloud Platforms

    Eclipse

    MySQL

    SQL

Education

Education

  • Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification, Certification, Tri-County Career Academy

    May, 2025 - May, 2025

    Certification Number: #060520250188

  • Submarine Operations Training, Certification, US Navy – Submarine School

    Sep, 1984 - Nov, 1984

  • Digital Satellite Communications Repair and Operations, Trade Certification, US Navy

    Sep, 1984 - Sep, 1985

  • Electronics Diagnostics and Repair (Radio & TV Systems), Trade Certification / Technical Diploma, Herndon Career Center

    Sep, 1981 - May, 1983

  • , High School Diploma, Hickman Mills High School

    Aug, 1980 - May, 1983

  • Visual Basic Programming, , Metropolitan Community College – Maple Woods Campus

    Sep, 1997 - Dec, 1997

  • General Studies, , Metropolitan Community College – Longview Campus

    Jun, 1983 - Sep, 1983

Certificates

Certificates

Awards

Awards

  • Support Engineer of the Quarter , Orasi Software

    Awarded on: Jun 01, 2018

  • Support Engineer of the Quarter , Orasi Software

    Awarded on: Jun 01, 2017

  • Presidential Award , Orasi Software

    Awarded on: Jan 01, 2015

  • Support Engineer of the Year , Orasi Software

    Awarded on: Jan 01, 2014

  • Support Engineer of the Quarter , Orasi Software

    Awarded on: Mar 01, 2014

  • Support Engineer of the Quarter , Orasi Software

    Awarded on: Jun 01, 2013

  • Support Engineer of the Quarter , Orasi Software

    Awarded on: Dec 01, 2011

  • Team Builder of the Quarter , Orasi Software

    Awarded on: Sep 01, 2007

  • Trainer of the Year , Borland Software

    Awarded on: Jan 01, 2004

    Borland’s Trainer of the Year for 2004 out of over 100 trainers worldwide.

Volunteer Work

Volunteer Work

  • Digital Programs Coordinator,

    Jan, 2004 - Present

    Hosted and managed the guild's website, ensuring a seamless online presence, and played a key role in migrating operations to Google Workspace, enhancing efficiency. Coordinated successful conferences and facilitated online class processes and automation, improving overall efficiency.

    • Served as a technical advisor for online deployment and custom applications

    • Developed and managed an efficient online membership registration system

    • Implemented an innovative Online Vendor Registration App for streamlined processes

    • Responsible for managing multiple online email groups, fostering effective communication

    • Donated additional time and expertise to the guild's mission, providing voluntary assistance in online class processes, automation initiatives, technical advising, and managing online communication groups

    • Demonstrated a commitment to the guild's success by volunteering beyond the scope of the paid role, contributing to the community's growth and sustainability