Mark Custard

I'm a QA Analyst

About

Versatile and results-driven QA Analyst with over 8 years of experience ensuring software quality across web, mobile, and TV platforms. Backed by a foundation in Business Law (LLB), I bring a unique blend of analytical rigor, process thinking, and user-focused testing strategies to every project.

QA Analyst & Full-Stack Developer

I hold a Bachelor of Laws in Business Law from London Metropolitan University and a Web Development certification from Actualize Coding Bootcamp. I thrive in fast-paced, cross-functional teams—partnering with developers, designers, and stakeholders to deliver high-quality software at scale.

  • Degree: Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
  • GitHub: github.com/markxcustard
  • Phone: (360) 771-0564
  • City: Ridgefield, Washington
  • Experience: 8+ Years
  • Specialization: QA & Automation
  • Email: mark.a.custard@gmail.com
  • Freelance: Available

With over eight years of experience in Quality Assurance and recent full-stack development work, I specialize in manual and automation testing across web, mobile, and TV platforms, as well as building production applications. I've designed comprehensive QA strategies, built automated test suites scaling to 700+ tests, and developed end-to-end booking platforms with React, FastAPI, and PostgreSQL. My toolkit includes Playwright, Selenium, pytest, Postman with ChaiJS, and Python for data validation. I'm a self-starter who bridges the gap between development and quality assurance.

Resume

Over 8 years of proven experience in Quality Assurance across fintech, insurance, ecommerce, and entertainment industries. Specialized in cross-platform testing, test automation, and ensuring software quality at scale.

Summary

Mark Custard

Results-driven QA Analyst with 8+ years of experience in manual and automated testing across web, mobile, and TV platforms. Proven track record of ensuring software quality at scale for FAANG companies and fintech organizations.

  • Ridgefield, Washington, 98642
  • (360) 771-0564
  • mark.a.custard@gmail.com

Education

Web Development Certification

October 2017 - May 2018

Actualize Coding Bootcamp

Comprehensive full-stack web development training including Ruby, JavaScript, React, and modern development practices.

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in Business Law

September 2002 - September 2006

London Metropolitan University

Grade: Very High 2:1

Degree in Business Law providing a strong foundation in analytical thinking, process analysis, and attention to detail.

Professional Experience

Full-Stack Developer (Part-Time)

October 2025 - Present

TAG Parking, Remote

  • Built end-to-end booking platform for Bournemouth Airport meet & greet service with Stripe payments and real-time flight integration
  • Developed admin dashboard for booking management, promo codes, and refund processing
  • Implemented automated email system using SendGrid for confirmations and marketing campaigns
  • Built responsive mobile-first UI with React featuring real-time form validation
  • Integrated third-party APIs including DVLA (vehicle lookup) and OS Data Hub (postcode/address lookup)
  • Deployed on Railway (FastAPI + PostgreSQL) with comprehensive pytest test suite

Senior QA Engineer - Contractor

June 2025 - December 2025

Embrace Pet Insurance (Remote)

  • Execute comprehensive manual testing and A/B testing across web applications
  • Built automation processes for 2 quote creation tools, streamlining validation workflows
  • Leverage Azure DevOps for merging PRs and deploying to production
  • Added 400+ test cases to Testmo repository for comprehensive test management and reporting
  • Utilize Salesforce CRM and Cosmos DB for data validation across insurance systems
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure quality across insurance quoting systems

QA Analyst - Manual | Automation

July 2024 - Present

BlueinGreen, Portland, OR

  • Performed manual and server-side QA across web, iOS, Android, and TV platforms for a FAANG company
  • Built comprehensive automated test suite from scratch using Playwright, scaling from zero to 700+ automated tests
  • Reduced spot-checking manual testing by 90% through strategic automation implementation
  • Led QA validation for Logomator and Mockup Tool migration project
  • Executed functional, regression, and exploratory test cases on key UI features

QA Analyst

March 2022 - May 2024

Stake (Fintech), Seattle, WA

  • Ensured quality of web and mobile applications across Android and iOS platforms as KPR
  • Led development and execution of comprehensive test plans including functional, integration, and regression testing
  • Utilized ChaiJS, Postman, Python for unit testing, and SQL/Pandas for data analysis
  • Leveraged Salesforce technical proficiency creating customized list views and reports

QA Engineer

July 2021 - May 2022

CSC Generation, Merriville, IN

  • Developed and executed detailed test cases based on requirements
  • Conducted comprehensive regression and exploratory testing
  • Performed rigorous testing on desktop and mobile platforms

Software QA Analyst

April 2021 - July 2021

Kemper Insurance, Downers Grove, IL

  • Developed and continuously updated test plans ensuring comprehensive coverage
  • Executed functional, integration, regression, and user acceptance testing

Software QA Analyst

January 2020 - April 2021

American Access Casualty Company, Downers Grove, IL

  • Crafted and executed detailed test scripts, cases, and scenarios
  • Conducted compatibility tests across various browsers and versions
  • Led initiatives to enhance unit testing coverage and automation

Junior Application Developer

October 2018 - January 2020

American Access Casualty Company, Downers Grove, IL

  • Wrote, tested, and analyzed software programs and web applications
  • Analyzed and corrected software errors providing timely updates
  • Worked directly with customers to develop new features
Download Resume

Portfolio

A collection of my personal projects showcasing test automation, BDD practices, data processing, and API development skills.

  • All
  • Automation
  • BDD
  • API
  • Data

Personal Website Automation

Comprehensive test automation suite built with Selenium and Python, featuring automated test cases for website functionality validation.

Selenium Python Automation
View on GitHub

BDD Personal Website

Behavior-Driven Development implementation using Gherkin syntax and Selenium WebDriver for readable, maintainable test scenarios.

BDD Gherkin Selenium
View on GitHub

Pandas Filtering Films

Data analysis and manipulation project leveraging Python's Pandas library for efficient film data filtering, sorting, and processing.

Python Pandas Data Analysis
View on GitHub

Films CRUD API

RESTful API demonstrating full CRUD operations built with SQLAlchemy ORM and SQLite database for film data management.

API SQLAlchemy SQLite
View on GitHub

Technical Skills

Comprehensive technical expertise across testing tools, programming languages, and QA methodologies

Programming Languages

Ruby, Python, JavaScript, ChaiJS, SQL

Testing Tools

Pytest, pytest-asyncio, unittest.mock, Postman, TestRail, Testmo, Browserstack, Rainforest QA, Playwright, Selenium, BigQuery, Xray for Jira, Zephyr for JIRA

Types of Testing

Unit, Integration, Functional, Regression, Exploratory, Smoke, Automation, Sanity, Spot Checking, A/B Testing, Cross-Platform, Cross-Browser, API Testing

Test Practices & Methodologies

Test Design, Test Planning, Test Documentation, Test Coverage, Code Coverage, Data Analysis, Root Cause Analysis, Debugging, TDD, BDD, Page Object Model (POM), ETL Validation

Frameworks & Libraries

React, React Router, VueJS, FastAPI, SQLAlchemy, Vite, Pandas, Gherkin, Cucumber, Behave

Project Management & Agile

Jira, Azure DevOps, Scrum, Agile, Sprint Planning, Sprint Retrospectives, Confluence, ClickUp, Notion, Test Documentation

Version Control & CI/CD

Git, GitHub, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, GitHub Workflows, Continuous Integration, Deployment Pipelines

Cloud & Databases

AWS, Heroku, Railway, Netlify, Salesforce, PostgreSQL, Cosmos DB, Zapier, Microservices Architecture

Developer Tools & Integrations

Chrome DevTools, Browser Debugging Tools, Stripe, SendGrid, Alembic (migrations), Issue Tracking, Defect Management

Platform Testing

Web, iOS, Android, TV Platforms, Desktop, Cross-Browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge), Mobile Testing

Skills

Core expertise in manual and automated testing with a focus on quality assurance best practices

Manual Testing 95%
Test Automation (Playwright, Selenium) 85%
Python & SQL 80%
API Testing (Postman, ChaiJS) 90%
Salesforce Testing 85%
Agile & Scrum Methodologies 90%

Testimonials

What colleagues and clients say about working with me

I only needed a day to know how valuable Mark is on a QA team. His experience, dedication and commitment are truly out of the ordinary. He will get the job done, no questions asked.

Santiago Guerrero

SR Software Development Engineer in Testing at Glassdoor

I had the pleasure working with Mark for about 2 years - he's an outstanding QA Engineer with a knack for spotting details. His dedication to testing have made a huge impact in our product team.

Jon Kim

iOS Developer at Stake

Mark's meticulous attention to detail, thorough understanding of testing methodologies, and proficiency with various QA tools were instrumental in ensuring the high quality and reliability of our projects. His analytical mindset and knack for identifying potential issues preemptively added immense value to our team. I highly recommend Mark for any role where technical excellence and a passion for quality are paramount.

Julia Guimiot

Back End Software Engineer at Stake

We are extremely pleased with the outstanding work Mark did to update the pricing calculator section on our website. Mark demonstrated exceptional diligence and hard work throughout the project, ensuring every detail was meticulously addressed. His impressive skills and dedication have significantly improved our site's functionality. We highly recommend Mark for all future work and look forward to collaborating with him again.

Dominic Withers

Managing Director & Co-Founder at Withers & Wagg

Mark has played an essential role in bringing my startup to life, and I would have struggled to implement my vision without him. He is not only a highly skilled QA professional and also someone who applies his analytical mindset to challenges well beyond his usual remit. He has a fantastic, can-do attitude, and working with him has been a genuine pleasure. I look forward to continuing to work with Mark in the future.

Kristian Andrews-Brown

Founder of TAG Parking

Contact

Get in touch to discuss QA projects, testing opportunities, or collaboration

Address

Ridgefield, Washington, 98642

Call Me

🇺🇸 +1 (360) 771-0564

🇬🇧 +44 7441 343276

Email Me

mark.a.custard@gmail.com