Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Sumanth Akula

Phoenix

Summary

Results-driven Quality Assurance Analyst and Software/Mobile Test Engineer with 11 years of experience in the Software Development Life Cycle. Expertise in manual and automation testing, test strategy design, and integration of automated suites into CI/CD pipelines. Experienced in API testing, SQL validation, and backend verification. Proven ability to troubleshoot complex issues and deliver quality software in Agile environments.

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior QA Engineer/SDET

American Airlines
Phoenix
08.2024 - Current
  • Designed and enhanced automation framework using Java, Selenium, TestNG, and Maven for UI regression. Cypress, and WebdriverIO for modern web applications
  • Built API automation using Rest Assured and Postman for flight services, booking, and loyalty program APIs
  • Used Playwright API testing to prepare test data and validate backend services
  • Implemented BDD using Cucumber for business-readable test scenarios
  • Leveraged AI-assisted development tools such as Cursor AI, GitHub Copilot, and OpenAI-based assistants to accelerate test automation development, refactoring, and debugging
  • Leveraged Playwright’s auto-wait and smart locators to reduce flaky tests.
  • Integrated automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions, establishing quality gates and enabling automated smoke tests and regression suites
  • Tested full end-to-end AWS workflows, validating events, triggers, data flows, and integrations across multiple cloud components
  • Combined API and UI testing in Playwright, enhancing reliability of end-to-end scenarios
  • CI/CD integration and failure diagnostics using Playwright tools
  • Executed backend validation using SQL on Oracle and PostgreSQL databases
  • Used Jira and Zephyr for test management, defect tracking, and reporting
  • Designed and maintained UI automation framework using Playwright with TypeScript for modern web applications
  • Built scalable Playwright frameworks using Page Object / component-based design
  • Improved regression cycle time through enhanced parallel execution and stability of tests
  • Automated end-to-end user flows including login, booking, checkout, and data validation
  • Working on customer-facing and internal airline systems including booking, check-in, loyalty, and operations workflows

Senior QA Engineer/SDET

Cigna
Dallas
06.2022 - 05.2024
  • Identify, write and execute Manual Test Cases from VDD and FRS
  • Determine and perform Test Data setup and execution, including identifying and loading Testing Data by writing SQL against Database
  • Coordinated UAT reviews and presentations with business owners, ensuring signoffs and approvals were obtained
  • Executed end-to-end testing of AMI systems, ensuring comprehensive coverage of smart meters, head-end systems, MDMS, and downstream integrations
  • Used Playwright for end-to-end UI automation of modern web applications
  • Developed API automation using Postman and REST clients to validate backend services supporting pricing, inventory, and order processing
  • Tested Customer Care & Billing applications covering customer onboarding, billing, payments, adjustments, and account management.
  • Built scalable UI automation framework using Playwright with TypeScript/JavaScript
  • Executed UAT for various online applications, including online banking and payment systems
  • Create, manage, and update Test Performance Metrics for Web & Mobile modules
  • Leveraged Playwright’s auto-wait and smart locators to reduce flaky tests
  • Implemented regression and smoke test suites to ensure release stability in frequent deployment cycles
  • Validated meter data ingestion, interval reads, events, and alarms across multiple integrated systems
  • Verified meter communication and data exchange workflows through API and message-level testing
  • Author and maintain Test Plans, and Test Conditions Library for multiple Web Mobile applications
  • Integrated Playwright with Jenkins and GitHub Actions
  • Designed and executed end-to-end test scenarios covering product browsing, checkout, payments, and order management workflows
  • Participated in UAT planning, execution, and sign-off with business stakeholders
  • Perform Cross-Browser Testing on Web, Mobile, E-Commerce applications
  • Lead Test Readiness including Test Lab setups on Virtual Machine VM and Test Environments
  • Collaborate closely with product, project and development teams to identify and resolve technical, business, and process related issues
  • Performed integration testing between CCS, AMI/MDMS, payment gateways, and external systems
  • Identify and test Functional Boundary behaviors constraints on Android, Samsung Nexus iOS devices
  • Conducted Rest API testing with Postman, ensuring functionality and reliability of APIs
  • Used Playwright’s auto-wait and smart locator strategies to reduce flaky tests
  • Proactively work with Developers in problem analysis, reproduction, and resolution
  • Apply Quality procedures and testing standards to add value and improve existing process
  • Supported performance testing and regression testing for software development activities
  • Analyze test results and documented Defects in Jira and work with Business Analysts, Developers and QA peers to resolve bugs
  • Perform detailed Functional/GUI Testing during various phases of the development life cycle
  • Provide regular Progress Testing Reports PTR to Quality Assurance Lead & Project Manager

QA Analyst

BCBSM
Detroit
04.2019 - 03.2022
  • Led UAT efforts for multiple projects, ensuring alignment with business requirements and regulatory standards
  • Collaborated with UAT team to streamline testing processes, enhancing overall efficiency of testing workflows
  • Created and led QA Team to create Test Plan, Test Scripts, Test Cases based on functional specifications for various web portals and modules - Provider, Provider Search, Members Groups
  • Worked with business partners, facilitated UAT Test Case Development for Provider Portals from BRDs
  • Migrated existing manual Test Cases to automated test scripts in QTP to add to automation framework
  • Executed regression, smoke, and UAT testing for AMI enhancements, upgrades, and configuration changes
  • Validated integrations between AMI, billing systems, outage management systems (OMS), and customer platforms
  • Analyzed & translated BRDs and TRDs into Test Cases assuring maximum requirements coverage
  • Assisted in developing and maintaining QA documentation, ensuring clarity and consistency in test plans, test cases, and test scripts
  • Facilitated regular status meetings with stakeholders, providing timely updates on testing progress and defect resolution
  • Performed detailed data analysis using SQL to ensure data integrity and accuracy during testing
  • Engaged with development team to enhance application features
  • Heavily used HP Quality Center to write, execute and analyze Software Test Plans and Test Cases to describe the software testing approach that will be followed during the testing cycle
  • Conducted Rest API testing using Postman and MuleSoft platforms
  • Worked as part of an application development team to understand project business objectives, overall application design and functionality
  • Designed, built and used automated tools to improve the test effort and operational efficiency by creating Automated Test Scripts in HP QTP
  • Tested batch jobs, high-volume billing runs, and end-of-cycle processing scenarios
  • Validated edge cases such as rebills, billing corrections, disputed charges, and account adjustments
  • Ensured data consistency between UI, backend systems, and downstream reporting platforms
  • Used Parameterization from Excel to run huge number of Test Scripts with multiple sets of data
  • Created functional documentation on new and updated features, including help text hover text
  • Documented test results and participated in Test Execution Reviews to explain and evaluate test results
  • Provided additional testing support to on-shore/off-shore teams where necessary and on release days
  • Provided additional testing support to on-shore/off-shore teams where necessary and on release days

QA Tester

Vanguard
Malvern
02.2018 - 02.2019
  • Reviewed and validated software requirements and functional design specifications, creating both manual and automated testing artifacts to ensure alignment with project standards
  • Developed, executed, and maintained Test Plan, Test Case, Test Scripts and test data for both Manual and Automated Testing approaches
  • Utilized HP Quality Center for writing and executing test cases, tracking defects, and managing the complete testing process to enhance software quality
  • Identified software defects and documented them in Quality Center
  • Mapped test scenarios to business requirements, ensuring comprehensive coverage and relevance of testing efforts
  • Created and executed SQL queries to validate actual test results to match expected results
  • Defined entry and exit criteria for test execution
  • Actively participated in meetings to gather information relevant to automated testing

QA Analyst

Union Bank of India
Hyd-TG
06.2013 - 03.2015
  • Developed test cases, test plans, and test scenarios based on business and functional requirements to ensure comprehensive coverage
  • Performed functional, regression, integration, and UAT testing
  • Automated regression suites using QTP and Selenium
  • Used HP Quality Center (QC) for test management and defect tracking
  • Executed SQL queries on Oracle and SQL Server to validate backend data integrity and support data-driven decision making
  • Collaborated with developers and business teams to analyze and resolve defects, improving software quality and user experience
  • Supported multiple releases in Agile and Waterfall environments
  • Worked on financial applications related to payments, accounts, and transaction processing.

QA Analyst

United Health Care
Hyd-TG
05.2011 - 04.2013
  • Designed and executed manual and automated test cases for web-based applications
  • Automated smoke and regression tests using QTP and Selenium
  • Executed functional, regression, integration, and UAT testing to validate application performance and compliance
  • Tested healthcare applications for patient records, claims, and billing systems to identify defects and ensure quality standards
  • Managed test execution and defects using HP Quality Center (QC)
  • Performed backend validation using SQL on Oracle and SQL Server
  • Collaborated with business analysts and developers to verify regulatory and data accuracy, facilitating successful project outcomes
  • Participated in release testing and production validation cycles

Education

Masters - Computer Science

University of Campbellsville
Louisville, KY
12.2016

Masters - Business Administration & Computers

JNTU
Hyderabad, India

Bachelors - Computers

Osmania University
Hyderabad, India

Skills

Programming and Scripting: Java, SQL, JavaScript

Test Automation: Selenium WebDriver, Playwright, TestNG / JUnit, Automation Framework Design (Page Object Model)

API Testing: REST API Testing, Postman, JSON / Request–Response Validation

Defect management

Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL

Testing Practices: Manual Testing, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), Data Validation Testing, Defect Lifecycle Management, Performance Testing

Methodologies: Agile / Scrum, Waterfall

Timeline

Senior QA Engineer/SDET

American Airlines
08.2024 - Current

Senior QA Engineer/SDET

Cigna
06.2022 - 05.2024

QA Analyst

BCBSM
04.2019 - 03.2022

QA Tester

Vanguard
02.2018 - 02.2019

QA Analyst

Union Bank of India
06.2013 - 03.2015

QA Analyst

United Health Care
05.2011 - 04.2013

Masters - Computer Science

University of Campbellsville

Masters - Business Administration & Computers

JNTU

Bachelors - Computers

Osmania University
Sumanth Akula