Why I Fit a Founding / Early-Stage Team
QA Architect and SDET with 20 years in software engineering — now operating as an AI-first builder who ships full-cycle: product spec to production. I write the automation frameworks, design the test strategy, set up the CI/CD pipeline, make the tech stack tradeoffs, and document every decision — without needing a team around me to do it. I use Claude Code and GitHub Copilot as daily engineering tools, not as a shortcut: every AI-generated artifact is reviewed, verified, and improved before commit, logged and documented in my portfolio.
I bring founding-team-level breadth: I can be the first QA hire who builds the quality culture from scratch, or the engineering lead who sets up delivery process for a 5–15 person team — with real metrics (DORA, DCE, Automation ROI). My work is AI-augmented but high-standard: scored architecture decision records, PMI-compliant delivery documentation, OWASP security audits, and full test pyramid coverage.
What I Bring
What I Build Solo
- Full-stack applications (Next.js, TypeScript)
- Playwright / Selenium E2E test suites
- CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps)
- AI-augmented test generation (Claude Code, Copilot)
- AWS infrastructure (S3, CloudFront, Route53, Lambda)
- Static sites with zero-dependency architecture
- Custom ETL tools, parsers, FIX protocol validators
AI-First Engineering
- Claude Code as primary accelerator — not a replacement for judgment
- Every AI artefact reviewed, verified, improved before commit
- AI Engineering Log: 24 tasks logged with outcome & time saved
- 83% acceptance rate (17% as-is, 67% with engineer edits)
- 14h saved on 5-day solo sprint
- AI-driven test case & data generation (OpenAI / DeepSeek / Claude)
- GitHub Copilot for framework authoring & code review
Architecture & Tech Tradeoffs
- Scored tech stack evaluation matrices (1-5 per criterion)
- 6 Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) per project
- Deployment platform evaluation (Vercel, AWS, Azure, self-hosted)
- CI/CD tool selection with objective cost/benefit analysis
- Test automation tool selection (Playwright vs Selenium vs Cypress)
- Budget-conscious infrastructure design (~$0/month portfolio site)
- OWASP security audit & static code analysis
Quality at Founding Speed
- Full test pyramid: UI, API, accessibility, visual, security
- Test strategy authored before development starts
- Risk-based prioritisation (MoSCoW, WSJF) applied to test scope
- 35+ test cases, 2 full E2E flows on solo 5-day delivery
- DORA metrics baseline from day one (Deployment Frequency, MTTR)
- PMI-compliant project charter, backlog, release plan
- DoR / DoD as living artefacts even on solo projects
Team Build & Scaling
- QA/SDET chapter built from scratch — up to 11 FTE direct
- 70+ technical interviews conducted (go/no-go authority)
- 40+ promotion cycles managed across QA and SDET
- Individual PDPs and career track design
- Shift-left quality embedded into dev squads
- Master Test Strategy authoring (Manual, Automation, TestSecOps)
- DCE 98–99% on long-running engagements
Delivery & Process
- SAFe RTE (certified) — 9 PI Planning cycles end-to-end
- Scrum Master for up to 8 concurrent teams
- DORA / EBM / Automation ROI dashboards
- Budget management up to $100k/month
- Vendor & SLA governance
- C-level reporting & OKR alignment
- Onboarding time reduced ~20% via knowledge base
Solo Build & Full-Stack Delivery
End-to-end engineering: spec to production, CI/CD, docs (click to expand)
Full-Stack Application Delivery
Design, build, and ship full-stack applications solo — from product specification through development, testing, CI/CD, and deployment. Covers Next.js / TypeScript frontends, API layers, and cloud infrastructure on AWS or Vercel.
Test Automation Framework Bootstrap
Architect and deliver a production-ready test automation framework from scratch: framework selection (Playwright, Selenium, Cypress), Page Object Model design, CI/CD integration, and full E2E coverage across the test pyramid (UI, API, accessibility, security).
CI/CD Pipeline Setup
Design and implement end-to-end CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions or Azure DevOps: quality gates, automated test runs on every PR, deployment automation, and rollback strategy. Includes Docker containerisation for environment isolation.
AWS Infrastructure Setup
Provision and configure cost-conscious AWS infrastructure: S3 static hosting, CloudFront CDN, Route53 DNS, Lambda functions, and Certificate Manager. Zero-server architecture where applicable — zero attack surface, near-zero cost.
PMI-Compliant Project Documentation
Produce scored architecture decision records, project charter, backlog, release plan, test strategy, risk register, and OWASP security audit — the complete documentation set for a PMI-compliant delivery, even on solo or seed-stage projects.
OWASP Security Audit
Conduct a structured OWASP Top 10 security review against your application: input validation, authentication, authorisation, dependency vulnerabilities (Snyk, Dependabot), and static code analysis (SonarQube). Deliverable: scored audit report with prioritised remediation backlog.
AI-First Engineering
Claude Code, Copilot, AI test generation, engineering logs (click to expand)
AI-Augmented Test Generation
Use Claude, OpenAI, and GitHub Copilot to accelerate test case design, test data generation, and coverage gap analysis. Every AI output is reviewed and verified before commit — AI as accelerator, not a rubber-stamp. Includes an AI Engineering Log documenting each task, outcome, and time saved.
AI Engineering Workflow Design
Design and embed AI-first development workflows into your engineering team: Claude Code for framework scaffolding and code review, Copilot for SDET work, OpenAI/DeepSeek for data generation. Includes prompt library development for QA-specific use cases.
AI Tool Evaluation & ROI Measurement
Evaluate AI tools against real engineering tasks with measurable outcomes: acceptance rate, edit rate, time saved, and quality impact. Produce an evidence-based selection recommendation — the same methodology used on the REM Waste 5-day sprint (83% acceptance rate, 14h saved).
AI Quality Gates & Review Standards
Define and implement standards for AI-generated code in your engineering process: review checklists, commit policies, quality gates for AI output, and logging requirements. Ensures AI acceleration without trading engineering standards for speed.
Architecture & Quality Strategy
Tech stack decisions, test strategy, ADRs, security (click to expand)
Tech Stack Evaluation
Produce a scored, evidence-based tech stack evaluation matrix for your engineering decision: test automation tool selection (Playwright vs Selenium vs Cypress), deployment platform (Vercel vs AWS vs Azure), or CI/CD toolchain. Each option scored 1-5 per criterion with written rationale and ADR.
Master Test Strategy
Author a complete test strategy covering the full testing pyramid: manual, automation, API, performance, security (TestSecOps), and accessibility. Includes risk-based prioritisation (MoSCoW, WSJF), coverage targets, and tooling selection aligned to your delivery cadence.
Architecture Decision Records (ADRs)
Produce scored ADRs for your key architectural decisions: framework selection, infrastructure design, API design, data model choices. Each ADR documents context, options evaluated, decision, consequences, and scored trade-off matrix.
Quality Culture Setup
Establish a quality culture from scratch in an early-stage team: DoR/DoD definition, shift-left practices, blameless post-mortem habit, defect containment tracking, and automation ROI measurement. Designed for 5–15 person teams moving fast without sacrificing standards.
Team Build & Engineering Leadership
QA chapter setup, hiring, PDPs, delivery governance (click to expand)
QA/SDET Chapter Build
Build a QA or SDET function from scratch: role definition, hiring process design, technical interview frameworks, onboarding runbooks, career tracks, and skills matrices. Delivered 11 FTE direct-report QA chapters with full people management authority across the lifecycle.
Technical Hiring & Interview Design
Design competency-based interview processes for QA, SDET, and BA roles. Conduct live-coding assessments, tech stack evaluations, and cultural fit interviews with go/no-go authority. 70+ interviews conducted across SDET, QA, and BA disciplines.
Engineering Onboarding Programs
Design structured onboarding programs that accelerate time-to-productivity: 30/60/90-day plans, buddy systems, knowledge transfer checklists, and remote-native onboarding runbooks. Reduced onboarding time by ~20% via Confluence knowledge base at B2BROKER.
Delivery Metrics & DORA Implementation
Implement DORA metrics, EBM dashboards, and Automation ROI tracking from day one. Build C-level-readable dashboards connecting engineering health signals to business outcomes. Maintained PI Predictability at 85%+ across 8 teams (above SAFe benchmark of 80%).
Engagement Models
Flexible engagement options for early-stage and scaling teams:
First QA Hire
From day 1Join as the founding quality engineer. Build the QA culture, test strategy, and automation framework from scratch alongside your dev team. Quality embedded into the delivery process from the start, not added later.
Engineering Lead / Fractional Head
1–6 monthsLead engineering delivery for a 5–15 person team on a fractional or interim basis. Own architecture decisions, delivery process, team health, and quality standards. Handoff-ready: everything documented for your permanent hire.
Solo Sprint / Project Delivery
1–4 weeksDeliver a complete engineering workstream solo: full-stack feature, test automation framework, CI/CD pipeline, or AWS infrastructure setup. PMI-compliant artefacts included. Live product, documented decisions, no loose ends.
All engagements include: timezone flexibility (CET-aligned, EU-friendly), regular progress reporting, and structured documentation transfer at completion.
Certifications
Quality & Automation Engineering
- ISTQB® CT-TAE — Certified Tester Advanced Level: Test Automation Engineer — ISTQB / GASQ
- ISTQB® CTAL-TM — Certified Tester Advanced Level: Test Manager — ISTQB / GASQ
- ISTQB® Foundation Level (CTFL)
- IREB CPRE-FL — Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering — IREB / GASQ
AI & Engineering
- Claude Code 101 — Anthropic
- Claude Code in Action — Anthropic
- Introduction to Model Context Protocol — Anthropic
- Model Context Protocol: Advanced Topics — Anthropic
- AI Fluency Framework and Foundations — Anthropic
- AI Product Management Certificate — Latitude
- AI Agents Evaluation — Latitude
Delivery & Leadership
- Certified SAFe® 6 Agilist — Scaled Agile
- Professional Scrum Master™ I (PSM I) — Scrum.org
- Professional Scrum Product Owner™ I (PSPO I) — Scrum.org
SAFe AI Skill Badges (2025–2026)
- Empowering RTEs with AI
- AI Skills for SAFe Practice Consultants
- AI Skills for Scrum Masters / Team Coaches
- Empowering Portfolio Leadership with AI
- Empowering Product Management with AI
- AI Skills for Product Owners
- Accelerating Team Flow
- Creating Effective Roadmaps
- Design Thinking Fundamentals
- Developing Product Vision and Strategy
- Measuring Team and ART Flow
- Prioritizing the ART Backlog
- Understanding and Improving Flow
- Writing Effective Features in SAFe
Technology Stack
- Languages & Frameworks: TypeScript, Next.js, Python (PyTest), C# (NUnit, SpecFlow), JavaScript (Playwright), SQL, Groovy
- Test Automation: Playwright (primary), Selenium, TestComplete, Katalon, Healenium, axe-core
- API & Performance: ReadyAPI / SoapUI, Postman, Swagger UI, JMeter, LoadRunner
- CI/CD & Cloud: GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, Jenkins, Docker, AWS (S3, CloudFront, Route53, Lambda), Vercel
- Quality & Security: SonarQube, Snyk, Dependabot, OWASP audit, axe-core
- Observability: Splunk, Datadog, Grafana, Elasticsearch
- AI Tools: Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT / OpenAI / DeepSeek, Healenium
Languages & Education
Master’s Degree in Computer Systems and Networks — St. Petersburg State North-West Polytechnic University
Speaker at Agile / Engineering Management / QA events (DataArt, EPAM)
Experience
Engineering Lead & SAFe RTE — QA Architecture & Delivery
B2BROKER · FinTech / Crypto
Sep 2025 – Mar 2026
- Led QA architecture and delivery governance across 3 ARTs, 8 teams (~60 FTE); embedded DoR standards with testable acceptance criteria — eliminating late-stage defect injection
- Introduced EBM metrics framework and C-level dashboards; maintained PI Predictability at 85%+ (SAFe benchmark 80%); reduced impediment resolution time by 30%
- Built centralised QA & Agile knowledge base (Confluence) reducing onboarding time by ~20%
QA Adviser & Senior Scrum Master
Quintegro LLC · Enterprise SaaS / Travel
Jun 2024 – Aug 2025
- Introduced risk-based test automation prioritisation and API automation for microservices; automated Jira/Confluence QA workflows — reducing sprint overhead by 10%, time waste by 15–20%
- Caught 60%+ of requirement ambiguity before sprint start via shift-left testability reviews; increased delivery predictability by 25% through DORA metrics and dependency management
QA / SDET Lead & Scrum Master | Head of Spain Agile Unit
EPAM Systems · FinTech, AI, E-commerce, Travel, iGaming, EdTech
Jun 2019 – May 2024
- Owned full test automation strategy across 4 concurrent projects: regression from 2 weeks to 8 hours, DCE 98%, 40%+ production defect reduction. Architected UI / API / Performance automation from scratch
- Embedded SonarQube, Snyk, Dependabot into CI/CD; integrated Splunk / Datadog for log-based defect detection and release health dashboards
- Founded Spain Agile Unit: hired, onboarded, and managed local engineering chapter; conducted 50+ technical interviews (go/no-go authority); managed 40+ promotion cycles across QA and SDET
- Led SAFe Agile transformation as RTE for 4 teams; confirmed 20–30% delivery speed improvement and 15% velocity increase within 2 PIs
Senior SDET / QA Lead & Business Analyst
DataArt Solutions · FinTech, iGaming, US Healthcare, E-commerce
Jul 2008 – May 2019
- Architected test automation frameworks across full testing pyramid (UI, API, Performance) — regression cycles accelerated up to 20x; US Hospitality billing suite: 90% regression cycle reduction
- As Business Analyst: onsite discovery workshops in Europe & USA; requirements from presale through release across FinTech, Healthcare (regulated), and E-commerce
- Built and mentored QA and SDET teams from scratch across multiple engagements (up to 10 direct reports); managed full engineering talent lifecycle including hiring, performance management, and PDPs
- Managed client relationships under fixed-scope, T&M, and fixed-budget models; C-level reporting, scope change management, and vendor coordination
What Others Say
“Evgenii designed and implemented a test automation framework architecture that was not just functional — it was thoughtfully built, scalable, and fully CI/CD-ready. Thanks to his approach, our team accelerated regression testing by 5 times while maintaining consistently high product quality. His proactive mindset and willingness to share knowledge allowed the team to avoid many issues. He was reliable, collaborative, an awesome team player and a true professional to work with.”
“I strongly recommend Evgenii for any Release Train Engineer or Agile leadership role. From day one, he impressed me with how methodical and structured his approach was, from preparing PI Planning to running ART Syncs and Inspect & Adapt workshops in a predictable, transparent way. He is genuinely result-focused: he keeps conversations anchored in business outcomes, helps teams remove impediments rather than just report them, and continuously nudges the train toward measurable improvements in delivery and quality.”
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Founding / Head of Engineering — QA Architect & SDET | AI-First Builder
Full-breadth profile for early-stage and seed-stage environments. Engineering, delivery, product, quality — whatever the team needs. AI-first builder with 20 years in software engineering. Ships full-cycle: product spec to production.
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