Afzal Mussa
Newton-Le-Willows,Merseyside
Summary
Senior / Principal QA Automation Engineer with over 12 years of enterprise experience spanning mobile app integration, cloud-based SaaS, and AAA gaming. A proven framework architect specialized in building robust, scalable automation ecosystems from scratch using Playwright, Python, Maestro, and TestCafe. Combines deep technical execution—including full-stack API validation and GCP/Azure infrastructure management—with a strong leadership background in establishing QA governance, mentoring teams, and overhauling release lifecycles. Expert at bridging the gap between development and deployment to maximize team velocity and software stability.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
QA Automation Analyst (QA Tester)
Love Business
Bolton
09.2024 - Current
- Principal Quality Authority: Functioned as the sole QA lead architecting the end-to-end strategy for the company’s enterprise web ecosystem; defined and executed cross-browser compatibility standards across Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
- Automation Framework Architecture: Designed and deployed a robust, scalable Playwright-Python automation framework from the ground up; targeted high-value user journeys to slash manual regression testing and maximize deployment velocity.
- Domain & Lifecycle Ownership: Directed risk-based end-to-end testing for core Customer and Agent portals; owned data validation strategies for complex utility datasets (meter readings, MPAN/MPRNs, tariff algorithms) across Energy, Water, and Telecom sectors.
- Full-Stack Data Integrity: Spearheaded backend-to-frontend integration testing, validating complex automated data flows, transactional email triggers, and dynamic document generation for onboarding compliance.
- QA Governance & Agile Strategy: Established organization-wide QA protocols and centralized engineering documentation; served as a strategic voice in Agile ceremonies to drive data-driven sprint scoping and technical debt mitigation.
- Operational Excellence: Identified critical gaps in the SDLC and integrated modern methodologies (Shift-Left/BDD), significantly improving team velocity and defect detection rates within the utility-service ecosystem.
Senior QA Engineer
Airtime Rewards
Manchester
03.2023 - 09.2024
- Strategic QA Leadership: Spearheaded quality assurance for the Airtime Rewards mobile application and the high-profile myO2 app integration, overseeing the end-to-end delivery of new features, and cross-platform functionality.
- Automation Framework Architecture: Architected and implemented comprehensive automated testing frameworks from the ground up using TestCafe (Web/Integration) and Maestro (Mobile), significantly increasing test coverage and reducing manual overhead.
- API and Backend Validation: Executed rigorous API testing and schema validation using Postman, ensuring seamless data communication between microservices, and third-party integrations.
- Tooling & Reporting Innovation: Developed and deployed a custom internal testing tool to standardise QA workflows across the department; designed automated reporting dashboards to provide executive management with real-time visibility into software quality, and release readiness.
- Release Management Excellence: Overhauled the release lifecycle by streamlining regression suites and optimising Beta testing protocols, resulting in faster deployment cycles and higher production stability.
- Cross-Functional Orchestration: Acted as the primary liaison for all software releases, coordinating with product, engineering, and stakeholders to ensure comprehensive documentation and company-wide alignment on upcoming features.
- Talent Acquisition & Mentorship: Directed the end-to-end hiring process for Senior QA Engineers, including technical screening and interview design, to build a high-performing, scalable quality engineering team.
Senior QA Analyst
Cloud Technology Solutions
Manchester
02.2018 - 03.2023
- Flagship Product Leadership: Directed all QA activities for the CloudM Manage suite, acting as the sole and lead tester for the launch of CloudM Manage 365, and overseeing the high-stakes rebranding of the CloudM portal and integrated payment systems.
- Cloud Infrastructure & Security: Leveraged deep technical expertise in GCP and Azure AD to manage bucket storage and KMS (Key Management Service) configurations, ensuring secure and scalable environments for cloud migrations.
- Advanced API Integration Testing: Conducted complex backend validation using Postman and Google's People API, ensuring seamless data synchronisation and directory management across G Suite and Office 365 environments.
- Automation Framework Engineering: Designed and maintained a custom automation framework using Python and Selenium, focused on accelerating regression cycles, and improving deployment reliability.
- Team Development & Mentorship: Scaled the QA department by training three QA Analysts and managing the team's weekly sprint allocations, ticket triaging, and workload prioritisation.
- Operational Innovation: Awarded for 'Excellence in Testing' following the successful selection and implementation of a new Test Management Tool, which modernised the department’s defect tracking and reporting capabilities.
- SaaS Administration Expertise: Provided subject matter expertise in GSuite Administration and Azure AD, ensuring product functionality aligned with complex, enterprise-level cloud configurations.
Mobile Test Consultant
Qualitest
Preston
04.2017 - 12.2017
- Delivered end-to-end web and mobile quality assurance for high-profile clients in the Insurance and Identity Management sectors.PDF
- Utilized SQL for deep-dive database analysis and back-office data validation across complex financial quote engines.PDF
- Conducted exhaustive compatibility testing across desktop browsers and mobile devices to ensure cross-platform responsiveness.
Test Analyst
CDL - Cheshire Datasystems Ltd
Stockport
02.2015 - 03.2017
- Acted as sole QA Lead for 6+ concurrent projects, managing full-stack validation across Agile and Waterfall environments.PDF
- Leveraged SQL (DBeaver, Squirrel) for database analysis and utilized developer code reviews to troubleshoot HTML/CSS bugs.
Functional Tester
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Liverpool
05.2013 - 03.2015
- Provided embedded studio support and test suite execution for AAA titles including Killzone: Shadow Fall and LittleBigPlanet 3 across PlayStation hardware and Android.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Interactive Systems and Video Games Design
University of Bradford
Bradford07.2012
Btec National Diploma - IT And Computing
Hopwood Hall College
Middleton07.2008
Skills
Testing & Automation
- Frameworks: Playwright, Python-Pytest, Maestro, TestCafe
- API Testing: Postman, REST API validation, Google People API
- Management & CI/CD: Azure DevOps, JIRA, TestRail, PractiTest
- Languages: Python, JavaScript
- Web Tech: HTML5, CSS3, DOM manipulation, XPath, CSS Selectors
- Databases: SQL (DBeaver, Squirrel)
- Platforms: Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), Firebase
- Infrastructure: Linux, Docker, Bucket Storage, KMS (Key Management Service)
- SaaS Administration: GSuite Admin, Microsoft 365 / Office 365
- Monitoring: Datadog
- Specialized Hardware: Neighborhood (PS4/Vita), Console Debugging
Certification
ISTQB Certified Tester - Foundation QA
G Suite Administrator - Online
Python Programming Training - Online
Hobbies and interests
- Reading
- Completing puzzles and going on outings with my wife
- Gaming (Board, card, video) with friends
- Professional taste tester for my wife
- Home Infrastructure & Security: Deployed a multi-node local server environment (Optiplex & Raspberry Pi 5) featuring automated resource telemetry monitoring and a network-wide AdGuard Home DNS server for privacy and traffic filtering.
- IoT & API Integration: Built a centralized Home Assistant hub orchestrating real-time multimedia feeds, smart climate telemetry, and custom API/web-scraping streams for live transit and local service data.
Timeline
QA Automation Analyst (QA Tester)
Love Business
09.2024 - Current
Senior QA Engineer
Airtime Rewards
03.2023 - 09.2024
Senior QA Analyst
Cloud Technology Solutions
02.2018 - 03.2023
Mobile Test Consultant
Qualitest
04.2017 - 12.2017
Test Analyst
CDL - Cheshire Datasystems Ltd
02.2015 - 03.2017
Functional Tester
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
05.2013 - 03.2015
Bachelor of Science - Interactive Systems and Video Games Design
University of Bradford
Btec National Diploma - IT And Computing
Hopwood Hall College