Faces of SteelCloud: Pushing ConfigOS to its Limits with Quality Assurance
It’s 2pm. Do you know where ConfigOS is? Quality Assurance Manager Steve Wilkerson knows where it is. It’s in testing. There is never a moment when SteelCloud is not prodding, poking and trying to break ConfigOS or the platforms it runs on, especially recently with the introduction of ConfigOS MPO.
We sat down with Steve to discuss SteelCloud quality assurance and the role it plays in the company’s innovative products. Here’s what he said.
What do you do as Quality Assurance Manager?
I came to SteelCloud four years ago when they didn’t have an organized QA function. Since then, I’ve been building the QA team and testing infrastructure from the ground up. We ensure all the features of our two software products (ConfigOS Command Center and ConfigOS MPO) are well tested and perform as promised. We design test cases, create documentation, and policies for my team. Moreover, I am ensuring my team can handle everything I can. I train the new employees that join my team in the applications and testing methodologies we use. We work hand in hand with development and business stakeholders to ensure everything we test meets everyone’s expectations. With the recent release of MPO we’ve been in overdrive. Lastly, we are leaned on as SME’s (subject matter expert’s) for others looking to get an answer they need.
What are some of the challenges you’re facing as MPO hits the market?
As you said, we are introducing a new product, so it’s crunch time. We have five people on our team—a mix of veterans and new testers. So, I am being clever with how I allocate resources and time to get the most efficiency from each. I try to match the skillsets of individual team members with the best parts of the product to test their skills. I often jump in to help when and wherever I’m needed.
What qualities do you look for in a tester?
I look for someone who is inquisitive and always asking questions – always looking for the next question to ask. They need to be passionate about finding ways to make the product better. They need to be willing to play a role that isn’t glitzy or glamorous but has its own reward.
Do QA and development play together well?
Yes. There is a true symbiosis there and a shared mission to make the product its best. At SteelCloud, QA is one of the biggest drivers of new features. While we are playing with the software, we see ways to make it better. I believe we have a symbiosis with the business, too, in that we are thinking for the customer and for the business and for all the other stakeholders as well.
What should we understand about the role of QA in a software company?
QA is not usually a part of a company that gets a whole lot of recognition. In most companies, we are the quiet underdogs. The unsung heroes. We will work weekends and nights in the same room as development, but development will get all the applause. QA has to understand the product from many perspectives. We have to think like a customer would think, like the business side would think, and as the developers think. QA has to have a full picture understanding down to the very last detail.
Why do you love doing what you do?
I get to break multi-million-dollar things for a living! That is fun. When we are stress testing, we are purposely trying to break things so we can refine and ensure our product works the way it’s intended.
Why do you love doing that at SteelCloud?
SteelCloud is a family in ways that I’ve not seen in other companies, large or small. Everyone genuinely cares about one another. Believe it or not, there are no office politics. It’s the only place I have worked that I have not had to walk on eggshells. We all have an important role to play for the success of the products and the company. We all share a mission that is bigger than ourselves—to help protect our nation’s sensitive data. It really is a unicorn of a company.
When Steve isn’t looking for things to break at SteelCloud, he is at home with his wife, five cats and six children. He loves playing tabletop strategy games like Warhammer 40000 because they engage his imagination and creative talents.
Connect with Steve on LinkedIn!
