Venugopal G

About Venugopal G

With over 24 years of experience in the field, I am a seasoned testing and quality assurance professional, excelling in various aspects of testing with a consistent track record of high performance.Currently, I hold the position of R&D Leader for Product Testing at Nokia. My expertise spans software testing, testing strategy formulation, and test automation, encompassing both traditional and Agile/SAFe testing methodologies. I have extensive experience collaborating with teams spread across diverse geographical areas.A key driver in my role involves aligning test management to establish a process-driven approach for planning, documenting, and overseeing the entire testing process, utilizing tools like JIRA. As a critical resource, I have played a pivotal role in implementing repeatable test strategies and approaches, establishing a Regression Test Case repository, and automating the process, resulting in a significant reduction in first feedback time.My track record includes the successful development and delivery of solutions to customers, showcasing strong operational leadership of engineering teams. I specialize in managing complex projects with multiple dependencies, demonstrating a keen focus on execution and foresight to ensure successful outcomes.

Experience

1. R & d Leader

   Nokia

   Jul 2011 — Present · Bangalore, IN

   Leadership & Team Management:Led the verification team as the final gate for delivery, managing up to 34 engineers. Conducted regular coaching and 1-on-1 meetings, achieving a better attrition rate and improvement in team happiness. Directed a team of testers to ensure comprehensive system verification.Process Improvement & Automation:Implemented automation strategies, reducing test cycle time from 4 to 2 days. Identified and resolved process silos, enhancing productivity. Cross-Functional Collaboration:Facilitated coordination and communication with software development and product management teams. Implemented CI/CD pipelines integrated with Kubernetes in collaboration with DevOps teams.Stakeholder & Environment Management:Managed technical issue resolutions and escalations with support teams. Ensured project milestones were met using Nokia processes, tools, and interfaces. Oversaw lab environment scheduling, conflict resolution, and maintenance.Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives:Promoted a diverse workforce, achieving a better diversity rate Communication & Negotiation:Reconciled conflicting priorities among stakeholders, fostering consensus and commitment.Performance Optimization:Monitored KPIs and performance metrics, driving continuous improvements and optimizing resource allocation, resulting in improvementInfrastructure & Monitoring:Utilized Prometheus and Grafana for real-time system metrics visibility, reducing manual efforts significantlyComprehensive Verification & Management:Conducted project requirement analysis, ensuring traceability and effective management. Designed test plans and strategies, ensuring full requirement coverage. Managed defect management, reporting, and resolution. Experienced in using HP Quality Center for test management.Formulated processes for defect management, configuration management, and testing documentation templates. Planned test phases and engaged resources effectively.

Education

• Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

  M.S, Software Systems

  1999 — 2000

• Mar Athanasius College of Engineerng (MACE)

  B.Tech, Electronics & Communication

  1995 — 1999

Skills

• Gprs
• Optimization
• Agile Testing
• Network Optimization
• Cellular Communications
• Agile Methodologies
• 3gpp
• Cdma 1x
• Telecommunications
• Wimax
• Scrum
• Testing
• System Testing
• Cdma
• 4g
• Nsn
• Software Project Management
• Ip
• Sdh
• Bss
• 2g
• Gsm
• Wireless
• Volte
• Lte