George E. Mealer, Jr.
geo@snarksoft.com
Languages / Tools / Databases / APIs
C/C++, Tcl, Perl, Java, Delphi, Visual Basic, SQL, HTML, SilkTest, Squish, gcc, gdb, Perforce, CVS, StarTeam, CaliberRM, Visual SourceSafe, InstallShield, MS Access, Interbase, Paradox, COM/ActiveX, VCL, MFC, Qt, Windows & Win32 API, Sockets API
Other Skills
Quality assurance (white, grey, and black box), Product automation, Release engineering, Object-oriented design, GUI-based interface design, Design patterns, Component design, Database design, Customer support, Commercial product design cycle and release, Network applications, Unix shell scripting
Employment History
QA/Automation Engineer VMware
Mar 2006 -- Jun 2007 http://www.vmware.com/
Sr. QA/Automation Engineer
Jul 2007 -- Present
Initially hired as a manual tester. Created and executed behavioral test plans to test various portions of the Virtual Center UI. Testing required familiarity with general Windows and Linux OS configuration and networking issues, as well as with VMware ESX and Virtual Center.
In July 2006, switched to the primary automation team for Virtual Center UI. VCUI automation is implemented in Segue SilkTest code on the back end with VMTP, a proprietary action-based framework, providing runlists on the front end. Translated test plans into automation. Was a designated code reviewer. Worked closely with the team lead and manager to determine team standards and practices for runlists and code, and develop the testing framework. Liaised with other UI automation teams to share standards and practices.
In Jan 2007, switched to special projects for the VCUI automation team. Among assigned tasks, is developing an extensible componentized SilkTest harness for use with many types of testing, including multi-client concurrency testing. As a preliminary task, created SOOP, an object-oriented framework implemented over 4Test winclasses that supplements the winclass structure with constructors, destructors, interfaces, and singlecast events.
Is a key member of an initiative to provide a common code base and standards for use by the various UI automation teams, including those for VMware Virtual Center, Lab Manager, and Workstation. Participates in strategic meetings such as the Technical Lead Council and other process focus groups.
QA/Automation Engineer Stretch, Inc.
Mar 2004 -- Mar 2006 http://www.stretchinc.com/
Wrote test plans and automation, and tested the Stretch Integrated Development Environment. Tests were primarily behavioral, with some structural tests based on the source code. The Stretch IDE is written in C++, using the Qt toolkit, and is deployed on Windows and Linux. Because of the nature of the product, testing required proficiency in C, C++, and some familiarity with development for embedded devices. Automating the IDE required familiarity with Qt.
As the first and sole QA Engineer, was tasked with creating the automation system. Researched automation solutions, and designed and implemented a test harness, using Tcl, Perl, and Squish, a Qt automation tool. The harness ran nightly on Windows and Linux, reported via email, and, at the time of departure, performed approximately 3000 tests on each platform.
Quality Assurance Engineer Borland
Dec 2001 -- Dec 2003 http://www.borland.com/
Wrote test plans and automation, and tested the Integrated Development Environments for Kylix 3, C++Builder 6, and C++BuilderX. Also contributed to refining Marketing and Functional Requirements, as well as to creating the Quality Assurance process in general. Because of the nature of the products, these duties required proficiency in Delphi, C++, and Java, as well as extensive knowledge of Windows, Linux, and Solaris.
Release Engineer Red Hat
Nov 1999 -- Apr 2001 http://www.redhat.com/
Maintained code repository, and performed builds and automated testing for the GNUPro package of compiler tools, including cygwin, gcc, and gdb. These duties necessitated close contact with the engineering team in order to fix build, compilation, and execution errors. The repository was stored in CVS.
Maintained the target board lab, where hardware to test embedded targets was stored. The boards were accessed through a number of Portmasters, and power-cycled through an X10 system.
Software Engineer Louth
Sep 1998 -- Nov 1999 Defunct
Designed and implemented portions of the server and client applications comprising the ADC-100 Automation System, used by television stations to sequence and synchronize their equipment through serial control. The client applications were implemented in Delphi 3, and the server was implemented in Object Pascal for the DOS target, and Delphi 4 for the Windows target.
Programmer/Analyst Cambria Corporation
Nov 1996 -- Apr 1998 http://www.cambria.com/
Designed and implemented portions of Wildfire Enterprise, a multiuser client/server application used by MLM corporations to manage their customers, using Delphi 3 and Interbase 5. Used InfoPower and self-designed components for data entry forms, and QuickReports and ReportBuilder Pro for report generation. Wrote many SQL stored procedures and triggers for the database implementation.
Prototyped an Internet application suite for use on airport kiosks. Initial versions of the suite were implemented in Visual C++ 5.0 using MFC, and had a functional web browser using the Microsoft WebBrowser COM object.
Served as a technical reference resource for the programming staff and evaluated prospective employees for technical proficiency. Designed and implemented Delphi VCL components for use on various projects. Met with clients on- and offsite to create product specifications and engineering estimates, as well as for post-delivery support.
Programmer/Analyst Eagle Research, Inc.
Jun 1995 -- Sep 1996 http://www.xeaglex.com/
Designed VCL component hierarchies for projects generated by VB2D, a Visual Basic to Delphi conversion utility, and for DAO-Connect, a data-aware component set for connecting Delphi 2 applications to Access databases. The latter used COM extensively to communicate with the DAO API. Also designed and implemented portions of the VB2D application itself. Implementation of the VB2D application and components required extensive reverse-engineering of Visual Basic functionality. Final phases of each product included direct contact with public beta testers in order to identify and fix bugs and other problems.
Worked on miscellaneous small-business database projects using Delphi and Visual Basic, implementing forms, reports, and business logic. Met with clients onsite to provide general support.
Other Activities
Manages art show/auctions for local science-fiction/fantasy conventions. Aspects of this position include coordination of a number of artists (30-60, depending on the size of the convention), coordination with other convention departments to ensure resources, managing the execution of the event at the convention itself, and accounting and disbursement of funds to the artists.
Writes freeware, including MouseMute and SpeakerGuard. Both utilities were implemented in Delphi 7.
Education
College of San Mateo, Computer and Information Sciences
Aug 1993 -- Jun 1995
References
Excellent references are available upon request.