Papuna Gagnidze, Developer in Rustavi, Kvemo Kartli, Georgia
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Papuna Gagnidze

Verified Expert  in Engineering

Bio

Papuna is a QA automation and DevOps engineer passionate about solving tech challenges. He became a CCNA at 16 and created the Georgian programming language "Ena" to help others learn. He also developed Owloops, an open-source browser automation tool. As a co-founder of GeoSTQB, he works to improve software testing standards in Georgia. Papuna enjoys building high-quality tests and scalable systems and fostering a positive team environment.

Portfolio

Cleardoc Inc.
JavaScript, DevOps, CI/CD Pipelines, TypeScript, Cloud Services, Amazon RDS...
GeoSTQB
Test Automation, Software Testing, QA Testing, Quality Control (QC)...
OctoML, Inc.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Experience

Availability

Part-time

Preferred Environment

MacOS, Docker, Git, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Unix, Fedora, Amazon Web Services (AWS), JavaScript, Lua, Go, System Administration, Kubernetes, Firebase

The most amazing...

...project I've created is Ena, a Georgian programming language. Mentored by Lua creator Roberto Ierusalimschy, I learned to design programming languages.

Work Experience

DevOps Engineer

2021 - PRESENT
Cleardoc Inc.
  • Achieved 25% overall cost savings and 75% S3 cost reduction by analyzing access patterns, implementing lifecycle policies, and auto-scaling for video transcoders.
  • Enhanced database security and management using advanced measures through AWS CDK, improving data protection and simplifying migrations.
  • Streamlined AWS resource management and improved disaster recovery by migrating the webinar application infrastructure to IaC.
Technologies: JavaScript, DevOps, CI/CD Pipelines, TypeScript, Cloud Services, Amazon RDS, Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), Continuous Integration (CI), GitHub, Cloud Architecture, Automated UI Testing, AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK), SDKs, API Gateways, Google Workspace, DevSecOps, Release Management, Terraform, Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS), Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Redis, SQL, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Disaster Recovery Consulting, Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP), AWS IAM, AWS CloudFormation, Scrum, Python, MySQL, AWS Deployment, NestJS, MongoDB

Co-founder

2019 - PRESENT
GeoSTQB
  • Participated in conferences, cooperating with the industry's financial sector and public institutions.
  • Administered accreditation of training providers to supply courses that meet the syllabus of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB).
  • Provided certification of IT professionals in Georgia according to ISTQB standards.
  • Assured large company managers about the effectiveness of ISTQB-certified staff.
  • Implemented an internationally recognized scheme of certified testers.
Technologies: Test Automation, Software Testing, QA Testing, Quality Control (QC), Quality Auditing

AI Developer

2023 - 2023
OctoML, Inc.
  • Developed and integrated a custom endpoint with the front-end project to verify and improve platform functionality.
  • Conducted usability tests and provided feedback, significantly improving clarity around public access and health checks.
  • Identified critical bugs and issues with endpoint management, leading to important system fixes.
Technologies: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

QA Screener

2021 - 2022
Toptal
  • Conducted over 170 interviews for manual and automation QA engineers.
  • Contributed to developing interview techniques that enhanced the quality of candidate selection for QA roles.
  • Helped design and implement technical assessments for QA candidates, including live coding tasks and technical projects.
Technologies: Interviewing, Test Automation, Manual QA

QA Automation Engineer

2020 - 2021
Cleardoc Inc.
  • Introduced Zephyr Scale plugin for test management and traceability and created and maintained test cases for a beta product with rapid development.
  • Automated smoke testing test cases of a remote video creation real-time application with a hybrid Cypress, Puppeteer, and FFmpeg framework from scratch.
  • Created load tests using k6 for critical web sockets and executed them from k6 cloud load generators.
  • Reviewed customer support issues and created a bug-tracking system.
  • Trained team members in testing methodologies and testing principles.
Technologies: QA Automation, QA Testing, iOS, JavaScript, TypeScript, Documentation, Mobile App Testing, Web App Testing, CI/CD Pipelines, Cloud Architecture, Automated UI Testing, Automated Testing, E2E Testing, Release Management, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Manual Testing, Regression Testing, Test Planning, Smoke Testing, Test Automation Frameworks, Test Cases, Jira, Scrum, MySQL, Cucumber, Angular, NestJS, Gherkin

QA Engineer

2019 - 2020
Casting Networks (via TulaCo)
  • Managed a team of five senior QA automation engineers.
  • Implemented unit testing for performance using the k6 load testing tool.
  • Maintained UI, API, and load-testing frameworks for a large-scale application with up to three million users.
  • Implemented optimized tests that validated big data up to four million records in extreme cases.
Technologies: QA Leadership, JavaScript, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Amazon DynamoDB, TestRail, WebdriverIO, Cloud Services, Testing, GitLab CI/CD, Cloud Architecture, Automated UI Testing, E2E Testing, Release Management, SQL, Manual Testing, Manual Software Testing, Regression Testing, Test Planning, Smoke Testing, Test Automation Frameworks, Test Cases, Jira, Scrum, Test-driven Development (TDD), MySQL, Cucumber, Gherkin

Mobile Automation Engineer

2019 - 2020
Switch Four
  • Analyzed business and functional requirements and developed test scripts for iOS and Android Native applications. Automated test coverage of the core functionality increased by 75%.
  • Created data-driven tests by integrating a framework with Google Sheets API as a database and creating data tables as an external asset.
  • Implemented a simplified flow for the application version management by integrating a framework with Bitrise API.
  • Set up a CI/CD pipeline on a TeamCity server with parametrization to run tests using specific builds on Sauce Labs cloud devices. Built reporting with Allure reporter and integrated results with TeamCity.
  • Managed the application state using API calls within UI tests.
  • Trained the QA team on mobile automation processes.
Technologies: JavaScript, WebdriverIO, Cloud Services, Cloud Architecture, Automated UI Testing, Automated Testing, E2E Testing, Test Automation Frameworks, Cucumber, Gherkin

QA Engineer

2018 - 2019
TBC Bank Group
  • Managed a team of QA engineers (ten testers) as a chapter lead.
  • Collaborated with automation consulting engineers to standardize end-to-end automation tools and processes.
  • Created JMeter scenarios and scheduled the virtual users to generate a realistic load on the server using JMeter (load generator machine).
  • Developed automation test scripts for web service (API) testing.
  • Implemented page objects and test classes using Selenium WebDriver, Java, and JUnit.
Technologies: Jenkins, Apache JMeter, SoapUI, Java, Cloud Services, Automated UI Testing, Automated Testing, E2E Testing, SQL, Manual Testing, Manual Software Testing, Regression Testing, Test Planning, Smoke Testing, Test Automation Frameworks, Test Cases, Jira, Jest, Scrum, API Testing, Test-driven Development (TDD), MySQL, Cucumber, Gherkin

QA Engineer

2017 - 2018
Product Savvy Consulting
  • Served as a project team leader working on highly available software for event management.
  • Migrated test plans into scripts for automated regression testing using frameworks such as Protractor and Calabash.
  • Designed architecture and implemented a highly scalable system using dockerized microservices with AWS ECS, ALB, and VPC.
  • Set up Jenkins as a continuous delivery pipeline which included automated build, E2E testing, and deployments in multiple environments.
  • Developed and maintained test cases for testing the applications after analyzing system specification documents.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Bash, TypeScript, Jenkins, Cloud Services, Cloud Architecture, Automated UI Testing, Automated Testing, E2E Testing, Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS), Amazon S3 (AWS S3), SQL, Manual Testing, Manual Software Testing, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), AWS IAM, AWS CloudFormation, Regression Testing, Test Planning, Smoke Testing, Test Automation Frameworks, Test Cases, Jira, Scrum, Test-driven Development (TDD), MySQL, AWS Deployment, Cucumber, Angular, Gherkin

Network Operation Center Engineer

2016 - 2017
Delta Comm
  • Collaborated with field technicians and vendors to resolve data circuits, voice, and data problems.
  • Monitored network performance using tools such as Cacti and Nagios.
  • Configured and maintained Cisco and Juniper routers and switches.
  • Analyzed and determined technical problems within LAN and WAN infrastructure.
  • Coordinated with other departments to resolve customer issues and determine appropriate escalation paths where necessary.
Technologies: Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), Routing, Cacti, Nagios, IT Security

WorkTrip

WorkTrip is a web- and mobile-based event management software. It serves as a centralized hub for communicating all of the users' events and travel details.

Casting Networks

https://castingnetworks.com/
Casting Networks is the leading provider of casting and audition management software to the casting industry. Casting directors and agents worldwide use Casting Networks to source and manage talent across film, television, digital, and commercial projects, facilitating over a million auditions per year.

T-Pay

https://tpay.ge/
TPay is an innovative payment method using QR payments and simple online checkout procedures. QR payments can be made with Android and iOS applications, while online checkout is available on the web for stores.

TBC Web

https://www.tbcbank.ge/web/en/personal-banking
TBC Bank's internet banking allows customers to check balances and view statements and transfers between their accounts and the accounts of others, legal entities, or the state treasury. TBC Bank's internet banking was declared the best four times by Global Finance magazine in the years from 2012 to 2015.

TBC Mobile

https://www.tbcbank.ge/web/en/web/guest/mobile-banking-for-iphone
TBC Mobile is a mobile banking app that offers customers the most innovative and easy way to manage their money on the go. It was a global winner and Global Finance magazine named it the best in the mobile banking category in 2019.

ParkMyCloud

ParkMyCloud is a policy-driven cloud cost optimization platform that turns utilization data into automated action. It provides an easy-to-use platform that helps enterprises automatically identify and eliminate wasted cloud spend.

WolfPack

https://www.wolfpack.run/
WolfPack reinvents the group riding experience. It allows users to plan group rides, invite their pack, navigate together, and communicate from Android or iOS devices. For system monitoring and management, a web application is used.

Speaker at EXTENT Talks

https://extent.exactpro.com/extent-talks/extent-talks-20-april-2019
I spoke at EXTENT Talks, a conference for IT specialists in various industries seeking professional growth. The meeting was held at Tech Park in Tbilisi, Georgia. I discussed a possible solution for successful test automation.

Speaker at DevOps Con Tbilisi 2019

http://devopsgeorgia.ge/doct19/en/
As an emerging technology speaker, I was invited to present unikernels at the DevOps Con conference at Ilia State University in Tbilisi. My lecture, Unikernels: Building Blocks of Future Applications, explored the concept of unikernels and their potential impact on the future of software development. Using real-world examples and technical demonstrations, I showcased the unique features of unikernels and how they can improve performance, security, and efficiency in modern applications.

Panel Discussions at TMPA Conference

https://tmpaconf.org/events/tmpa-2019/about-2019-en
These discussions have allowed me to share my insights and perspectives on the latest advancements and challenges in software testing while providing a platform for meaningful dialogue between academia and industry experts. Through these discussions, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from thought leaders in the field, furthering my understanding and contributing to the advancement of the industry.

Panel Discussions at the A4Q World Congress

https://a4qtestingsummit.com/a4q-world-congress-2021-edition-1/
I participated in panel discussions about challenging quality engineering practices at the A4Q World Congress, discussing use cases for accessibility, biometrics, location-based applications, and real-time application testing.

Owloops

https://www.owloops.com
FEATURES
• Extension: Enhance browser testing with AI-driven automation and recorder integration. Utilize AI (GPT-4) to instruct browser interactions and instantly convert Chrome DevTools recordings into ready-to-run tests.
• Updo: A CLI tool for real-time monitoring of website uptime and performance. Provides metrics on status, response time, and SSL expiry, with customizable intervals and alert notifications. Supports HTTP/HTTPS and flexible request settings.
• Flybird: Streamline browser testing with intuitive JSON syntax, powerful actions, and smart defaults. Effortlessly create and customize tests using user-friendly actions and adaptable workflows, optimizing efficiency.

Ena

https://ena-lang.org/
The Ena programming language aims to make programming more accessible for Georgians by allowing them to write code in their native language. Ena uses the syntax of popular, widely used languages, modified to use the Georgian alphabet and keywords.

AI Printed Art

https://youtube.com/shorts/dmbboR47-c4
AI Printed Art allows you to materialize your thoughts, ideas, and memories in a couple of minutes with the help of the Stable Diffusion AI model. You can describe any situation that the AI model will use to create an image and print on various products.
2015 - 2016

Coursework Toward a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics

Tbilisi State University - Tbilisi, Georgia

Libraries/APIs

Node.js, WebDriverJS, Chai, React, Playwright, REST APIs, Paessler PRTG API, Puppeteer, Shopify API

Tools

Cucumber, Jenkins, Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS), GitHub, Jira, REST Assured, Mocha, Apache JMeter, Git, Gradle, Postman, AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK), Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), Amazon CloudFront CDN, GitLab CI/CD, AWS IAM, AWS Deployment, TestRail, Nagios, Cacti, WebdriverIO, TeamCity, Grafana, Kibana, AWS CloudFormation, Ansible, Vagrant, SoapUI, Google Workspace, Terraform

Languages

SQL, JavaScript, Gherkin, TypeScript, Python, Bash, Java, Lua, Go

Frameworks

Appium, Selenium, Selenide, Jest, JUnit, Next.js, Cypress, Angular, NestJS

Paradigms

Manual Testing, Continuous Integration (CI), Continuous Delivery (CD), Automated Testing, DevOps, Testing, Test Automation, E2E Testing, DevSecOps, Scrum, Behavior-driven Development (BDD), Agile Software Development, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Load Testing, Microservices Architecture, Test-driven Development (TDD), Stress Testing, REST, Software Testing, Serverless Architecture

Platforms

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Docker, Linux, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Unix, AWS Lambda, Fedora, MacOS, Amazon EC2, Firebase, Kubernetes, iOS, Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

Storage

MySQL, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), PostgreSQL, Database Testing, Amazon Aurora, Redis, MongoDB, Microsoft SQL Server, Databases, Elasticsearch, Amazon DynamoDB

Industry Expertise

Banking & Finance

Other

Mobile App Testing, Web App Testing, SDET, Manual QA, QA Testing, AWS DevOps, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Cloud Architecture, QA Testing, Agile Software Testing, UI Testing, API Testing, Network Engineering, QA Automation, CI/CD Pipelines, Cloud Services, Automated UI Testing, SDKs, Quality Control (QC), Quality Auditing, Manual Software Testing, Test Planning, Smoke Testing, Test Automation Frameworks, Test Cases, Regression Testing, Integration Testing, Monitoring, AWS Cloud Architecture, QA Leadership, IT Security, Test Design, Configuration Management, Business Services, Performance Testing, Linux Server Administration, Resource Management, Amazon RDS, API Gateways, Release Management, Disaster Recovery Consulting, Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP), Rideshare Services, Event Management, Routing, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), IT Networking, System Administration, Linear Algebra, Calculus, Networking, Cisco, Cisco Networking, Troubleshooting, Prometheus, Filebeat, QA Test Plan Management, ECS, Security, Website Performance, Performance Tuning, K6, Interviewing, Documentation, Conference Speaking, Public Speaking, Project Leadership, Mobile Device QA Automation, Web App Automation, Mentorship & Coaching, Artificial Intelligence (AI), AIOps, APIs, Programming

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