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Cory Trast
// SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER · AWS · QE · TEST AUTOMATION

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Senior Software Engineer and Quality Engineering leader with 20+ years of experience designing, building, and leading test automation frameworks across Healthcare, Finance, Retail, and High-Frequency Trading. Deep expertise in AWS-native architecture, API development, and end-to-end pipeline engineering. Proven track record architecting QE practices from the ground up — frameworks, processes, teams, and tooling. AWS Certified with hands-on experience across Kinesis, Lambda, S3, Glue, DynamoDB, API Gateway, and CloudFront.

Associate
AWS Certified Developer — Associate
● Active  DVA  |  2024-08-23 → 2027-08-23
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Associate
AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate
● Active  SAA  |  2023-07-31 → 2026-07-31
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Foundational
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
● Active  CLF  |  2022-02-01 → 2027-08-23
✓ Verify Credential
Associate
AWS Certified Data Engineer — Associate
◌ In Progress  DEA  |  Hands-on pipeline build underway
LanguagesJava · JavaScript / TypeScript · C# · Python · SQL · Groovy · PERL · Bash
Test FrameworksSelenium · Cucumber / Gherkin · TestNG · RestAssured · Appium · SoapUI · ReadyAPI · Playwright
AWS ServicesLambda · Kinesis · S3 · Glue · DynamoDB · API Gateway · CloudFront · Cognito · SES · KMS · Bedrock
DevOps / CI-CDJenkins · Docker · Kubernetes · Bitbucket Pipelines · Artifactory · Git / GitHub
DatabasesMongoDB · PostgreSQL · SQL Server · Oracle · Azure Table Storage · DynamoDB
MethodologiesAgile / Scrum · SDLC · TDD · BDD · SAFe · Value Stream Validation
LeadershipQE Architecture · Team Building · Mentoring · Interviewing · Project Management · Process Design
PlatformsSalesforce OmniStudio · Kafka · JIRA / Xray · Postman · IntelliJ · Eclipse · Visual Studio
Quality Engineering Practice Lead
Dec 2021 – Present
Chief Data Office  ·  Remote
  • Lead QE practice for AI/ML API and pipeline validation within the Chief Data Office.
  • Designed and implemented API test framework incorporating AWS SDK for comprehensive service validation.
  • Documented tools, processes, and validation patterns for AI/ML pipelines.
  • Interviewed, hired, and managed QE team members; directed project resourcing and delivery.
AWS SDKAPI TestingAI/ML ValidationTeam Leadership
Agile Full Stack Developer — DreamTeam Dev-QE
Jan 2021 – Dec 2021
Chief Data Office  ·  Remote
  • Salesforce OmniStudio (Velocity) developer on an Agile dev-QE hybrid team.
  • Built and maintained Drools rules for API validation logic.
  • Developed APIs using TypeScript, Java, and JavaScript with MongoDB/Compass backend.
  • Delivered unit and integration testing across all feature work.
Salesforce OmniStudioTypeScriptJavaMongoDBDrools
Sr. Specialist Systems Developer
Jan 2019 – Jan 2021
Prudential  ·  Plymouth, MN
  • Designed and developed API automation framework using Java, Selenium, TestNG, Maven, Cucumber, RestAssured, and Jira Xray.
  • Owned test automation frameworks and techniques for UI and API validation across multiple Agile Release Trains.
  • Established continuous testing integration via Jenkins and Artifactory.
  • Mentored and coached test automation engineers; led framework knowledge-sharing initiatives.
JavaSeleniumCucumberRestAssuredJenkinsJira Xray
Lead Quality Engineer
2017 – 2018
Revel  ·  Minneapolis, MN
  • Designed and implemented UI and API automation framework: Gherkin/Cucumber, Java, Selenium, Appium, TestNG, Sauce Labs.
  • Built Bitbucket CI pipelines for continuous testing in test environments.
  • Managed QA team: 1-on-1s, interviewing, hiring, mentoring, and test strategy oversight.
SeleniumAppiumCucumberSauce LabsBitbucket Pipelines
Lead Engineer — Value Stream & Item Automation
2015 – 2017
Target Corp  ·  Minneapolis, MN
  • Architected Value Stream Validation platform: dynamically stood up application ecosystems to execute cross-app tests.
  • Built API validation framework (Java, Spring, RestAssured) and reference implementation using Docker, Kafka, Drone, Gradle, Flyway, Postgres.
  • Designed and deployed Kafka-integrated data validator; served as Product Owner for Value Stream Validation.
  • Led Item Team automation framework build (Selenium, Java, Maven, TestNG); served as Scrum Master and Product Owner.
JavaKafkaDockerSpringKubernetesJenkins
SDET & Automation Architect
2012 – 2015
Life Time Fitness / C2its–Patterson Dental  ·  Minneapolis, MN
  • Built C# .NET automation framework with GUI front-end for testers and run engine wrapping WatiN/Selenium.
  • Served as Agile Product Owner for the framework; supported three teams with automation design and objects.
  • Designed cross-platform test execution: same desktop test running on Android OS browser via Appium.
C#SeleniumAppiumVisual StudioMTM / TFS
QA Test Lead — High Frequency Trading
2010 – 2012
Citi Derivatives Markets  ·  Minnetonka, MN
  • Designed and executed automation framework (QTP/QC) and PERL/SQL test harness for high-frequency trading validation.
  • Built dashboard metrics pipeline parsing application data via PERL scripts and SQL.
  • Administered Quality Center 10.0; trained and mentored staff on framework and test case design.
QTP / QCPERLSQLHigh-Frequency Trading
QA Test Lead — Pharmacy System Conversion
2008 – 2010
BioScrip  ·  Eden Prairie, MN
  • Led QA for conversion of 35 pharmacy stores; implemented IBM Rational ClearQuest, Test Manager, Manual Tester, and RequisitePro.
  • Trained 30+ project team members, PMO, DBAs, and business users on ClearQuest workflows.
  • Designed Java automation framework using Rational Functional Tester with reusable data-driven architecture.
JavaIBM Rational RFTClearQuestHealthcare
Advisory & Senior Consultant Roles
1998 – 2010
Ambient Consulting · Project Consulting Group · SWAT Solutions · Traust Group  ·  Minneapolis, MN
  • Clients: Wells Fargo, Best Buy, Blue Cross Blue Shield MN, Ingenix, US Postal Service, State of Mississippi, Lawson Software, PeopleNet.
  • Delivered QA leadership, test automation frameworks, process design, and tool evaluations across Banking, Insurance, Healthcare, and Retail.
  • Designed Oracle E-Business Suite automation product line; authored SDLC testing process documentation and best practices.
BankingInsuranceHealthcareRetailOracle EBS
General Assembly Software Engineering Immersive — 480 hours
Baker College Online B.S. Computer Science
University of St. Thomas Accounting
American Society for Quality Six Sigma Black Belt Training, 2008
Healthcare Retail Banking & Finance High-Frequency Trading Insurance Pharmaceuticals Electric Utility Transportation & Warehousing