Leathon Lagerwall

At Lightcast Discovery, I’ve developed deep expertise in testing both embedded software and front end applications across complex microfluidic instruments. Over the years, my role has expanded beyond hands-on testing to include leading software releases, providing cross-functional technical support, and acting as a key liaison between software teams, scientists, and field engineers especially ensuring that assays are successful.

• Testing expertise: Lead testing efforts for both embedded systems and front-end applications. Write and execute detailed manual test cases, raise issues via Jira, and contribute to exploratory and regression testing.
• System-wide ownership: Test across multiple development streams, gaining a complete picture of system functionality and integration. Use this knowledge to support scientists and engineers with technical troubleshooting and feedback.
• Release leadership: Own the release process from planning to sign-off. Since Q3 2023, I have led over 40 company-wide release meetings, coordinating with stakeholders and running sprint closeouts in collaboration with the Director of Software.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Gather requirements from application scientists and feed them back into development through structured meetings. Provide ongoing technical support to in-house scientists and field application engineers.
• Automation support: Work closely with automation engineers to help design and execute automated test cases. Run and verify automated test suites to ensure system stability.
• Quality and compliance: Build formal release certificates that are delivered to the Quality Assurance team as part of the internal product release process.
• Technical support: Act as a bridge between software teams and scientific users, interpreting logs, diagnosing issues, and supporting both hardware and software troubleshooting in the field and in-house.

At Global Graphics, I played a key role in ensuring the quality and reliability of our flagship product, the Smart Print Controller, as well as other internal and commercial software projects. Starting as a Test Engineer and progressing to Test Lead, I was responsible for designing and implementing comprehensive test plans that streamlined the development lifecycle. I focused on identifying potential issues early, testing new features thoroughly, and ensuring compatibility across multiple platforms. By incorporating TestComplete automation, I significantly improved test efficiency and reduced testing time by 50%.

• Automation testing: Developed and maintained desktop automation tests using JavaScript in TestComplete.
• Code-level support: Occasionally added or updated UI automation IDs in the C# codebase when required.
• Test planning: Designed and executed detailed test plans for both manual and automated testing efforts.
• Team leadership: Led a small team of two testers with weekly syncs to review scrum board items, track progress, and address blockers.
• Agile collaboration: Actively participated in sprint planning and contributed to story estimation.

As a Graduate Tester at WorkSmart, I gained valuable experience writing test cases and executing tests for a web-based product. This role marked my first step in a career as a Software Tester and equipped me with a strong foundation in software testing principles and techniques. Working in a fast-paced environment, I developed critical skills in attention to detail, problem-solving and collaboration that have
proven invaluable throughout my career.