VLAD KULAGIN

(646) 387-5952 / vladkulaginv@gmail.com

SOFTWARE QA ENGINEER

 Senior QA Engineer with over 7 years of hands-on experience in testing web-based and client/server financial
applications.
 Solid understanding of capital markets, including stocks, bonds, fixed income, derivatives, and trade order
management systems.
 Deep expertise in SDLC, STLC, QA Manual and Automation processes, and advanced testing methodologies,
tools, and techniques, delivering high-quality software solutions.
 Skilled in creating comprehensive test plans, test cases, and traceability matrices to drive rigorous testing and
maximize software quality.
 Proficient in identifying and documenting software problems in an easily reproducible manner, utilizing
robust bug tracking applications to facilitate efficient resolution.
 Proven experience in Agile environments, adept at adapting to changing priorities and collaborating with
cross-functional teams on multiple projects simultaneously.
 Self-motivated and proactive, known for their can-do attitude, excelling with minimum supervision and
continuously seeking growth opportunities.
 Exceptional problem-solving, analytical and troubleshooting abilities, with a keen eye for detail and track
record of quickly identifying and resolving issues.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Testing Tools: HP ALM, JIRA, Test Complete, Bugzilla, Cygwin, SQL Developer, Azur, Zephyr,
WebDriver, Cucumber, Kafka, Informatica
Automation: Selenium, Apache JMeter, Postman, SoapUI, Eclipse, Git, TestNG, Jenkins, BURP, Splunk
Database: Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server, MS Access
Languages: SQL, Python, Java, JavaScript, HTML, XML, CSS, C#, C++
Domains: Financial, E-Trade, FX, Capital Markets, Wealth Management
Architectures: Client/server, Multi-tier/Web-based financial applications
Operating Systems: MS Windows, macOS, LINUX, UNIX
Methodologies: Agile, Waterfall

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Senior QA Engineer, Merrill Edge, New York, NY December 2019 – Present

Merrill Edge - Trading platform that provides access to a variety of investment products, including stocks,
bonds, options, and mutual funds. It offers real-time market data, customizable watchlists, and integrated
research tools.
 Ensured accurate transaction processing by successfully testing critical functionalities like trade
capture/process, trade confirmation, and settlement, adhering to FIX Protocol standards.
 Performed thorough testing of the new trade functionality, by entering ticket numbers, trade dates, rates,
prices, settle and maturity dates.
 Effectively executed automated test cases using Java and Selenium-based framework, handling scripting,
seamless pipeline integration, and continuous maintenance.
 Created and implemented sophisticated automated testing frameworks with TestNG, leveraging technical
expertise to develop, maintain, and execute automation tests along with CI/CD pipelines.
 Leveraged TestComplete for conducting GUI testing of mobile applications and utilized Python for verifying
file properties, using pre-established code.
 Employed Postman for diverse API requests (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to validate data actions,
displaying expertise in best practices and methodologies.
 Proficiently executed multiple types of testing under Agile Scrum methodology, including functional and
non-functional testing, system integration testing, backend testing, end-to-end testing, and regression testing.
 Utilized TDD and BDD methodologies to deliver high-quality software product efficiently and accelerating
software development through short cycles and precise testing.
 Supported comprehensive testing across frontend, data integrity, backend, and databases, utilizing SQL
queries for accurate data extraction and validation from tables and reports.
 Made extensive use of HP ALM testing tool to create and execute scenarios and test cases, manage test
results, report defects and bugs, and generate comprehensive test graphs and reports.
 Validated script files and parameters files using UNIX commands to ensure proper functionality and
compliance with system requirements.

Senior QA Engineer, Ally Financial, New York, NY March 2016 – December 2019

Ally Invest - Comprehensive financial platform for investors, businesses, and advisors. It handles equity,
fixed income, and offers advanced features for reliable trades. Users can monitor real-time market data and
conveniently trade stocks, options, and bonds within one user-friendly interface.

 Carried out comprehensive testing on different trade order varieties, such as limit, stop, and market orders, to
guarantee precision and dependability while adhering to the FIX protocol guidelines.
 Tested the creation of seamless views across multiple screens such as stock, option, charting, and portfolio
modules for user friendly experience.
 Efficiently performed automated test cases using a framework based on Java and Selenium, handling script
management, seamless integration into pipelines, and continuous maintenance.
 Employed Splunk for real-time system log monitoring, identifying anomalies, and proactive testing to prevent
potential incidents.
 Optimized application rollout across different platforms with Jenkins DevOps tool and performed branch
management and merging operations using Git.
 Employed Informatica for ETL processes, ensuring full data extraction, accurate transformation, and
successful loading of new data into destination databases.
 Executed precise backend testing using SQL commands to validate data integrity and functionality,
demonstrating expertise in database structures and assigned test tasks.
 Effectively utilize UNIX commands to validate the functionality and accuracy of Unix scripts and parameter
files, ensuring their proper execution and adherence to desired specifications.
 Conducted extensive testing of APIs and Web Services, demonstrating a deep understanding of best practices,
tools, and methodologies in this specific domain.
 Thoroughly documented test results and consistently provided timely status updates to the project manager,
ensuring clear visibility into the testing progress.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Bachelor’s degree from International College Albena, 2005