― My background
With 4+ years of hands-on QA and engineering experience, I’ve gone from writing test cases, test plans and running releases myself to designing quality strategies that scale with the business. At Octus, I collaborate daily with engineers, product managers, and developers to fine-tune testing processes, roll out automation frameworks, and keep bugs from ever seeing daylight.
I’m passionate about building products that just work — beautifully and reliably. As QA Manager, I lead very talented teams of testers and problem-solvers who help turn big ideas into polished, production-ready software that everyone loves. I have excelled in many projects, and I believe that my number one asset is my ability to adapt to any challenge thrown my way.
What really fires me up:
Leading a team that takes pride in both the details and the big picture
Building smart, efficient automation that speeds up delivery without cutting corners
Fostering a team culture where collaboration, learning, and communication thrive
― Skills
Leadership
Risk management
Communication
Critical thinking
Collaboration
― Work experience
QA Lead
FinDox / Oct 2021 - Jan 2023
As a QA Lead, I directed a high-performing QA team, overseeing all aspects of testing for a cutting-edge FinTech platform. My role focused on refining QA processes, improving test automation, and ensuring seamless collaboration between.
Key Contributions:
Test Strategy & Automation – Designed and executed scalable test strategies, balancing manual and automated testing to improve coverage and reduce regression time.
Process & Release Optimization – Partnered with Product and Development to refine QA workflows, enhance testing efficiency, and ensure smooth, risk-managed releases.
Leadership & Mentorship – Led and mentored QA team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and technical excellence.
― Education
Oregon State University
Bachelor's degree, Computer Science / 2018 - 2020
Magna Cum Laude (3.84 GPA)
President's List and Dean's List Recipient
OSU Game Development Club
OSU InterVarsity Leader
Chemeketa Community College
Associate of Science, Computer Science / 2016 - 2018
Summa Cum Laude (3.9 GPA)
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
― Courses / Certifications
QA Manager
Octus / Jan 2023 - Present
As a QA Manager, I lead multiple teams to ensure the delivery of high-quality financial products across all teams. My focus is on driving rigorous testing processes, improving automation, and enhancing collaboration between QA, Development, and Product teams.
Key Contributions:
Test Strategy & Execution – Implemented and refined end-to-end testing strategies, leveraging AI tools to enhance test efficiency, bug detection, and overall quality.
Automation Improvement – Led enhancements to QA automation frameworks using Cypress, Selenium, and WebDriverIO, reducing time to release and increasing test coverage.
Cross-Team Collaboration – Partnered with Product and Development teams to integrate QA earlier in the SDLC, preventing defects before they reach production.
Application Support Initiatives – Established an Application Support Team to provide rapid issue resolution, improving customer satisfaction and reducing escalations.
Continuous Improvement – Utilized DataDog and Qualytics to analyze data, logs, and alerts, enabling data-driven QA decisions and proactive issue detection.
Certifications
Certifications are an essential aspect of professional development, showcasing expertise and commitment to continuous learning.
ISTQB Agile Certified - 2021
ISTQB Foundation Certified - 2021
FranklinCovey Team Leadership - 2025
FranklinCovey Leading Change - 2025
“Work takes on new meaning when you feel you are pointed in the right direction. Otherwise, it’s just a job, and life is too short for that.”
- Tim Cook
― JEREMY WATSON
"Working with Carson was an absolute game-changer for our QA processes. His leadership and deep technical expertise ensured that every release met the highest quality standards. During the AWS backend migration, Carson played a pivotal role in designing a comprehensive testing strategy, identifying risks early, and ensuring a seamless transition with minimal downtime. His ability to collaborate across Product, Development, and QA streamlined workflows and significantly improved test efficiency. Beyond the technical aspects, Carson fostered a culture of continuous improvement, mentoring his team and always pushing for smarter, data-driven QA solutions. Any team would be lucky to have him!"
"Carson was an incredible QA partner—proactive, detail-oriented, and always thinking ahead. During the Fundamentals revamp, his strategic approach to testing caught potential issues before they became problems, ensuring a smooth transition through every environment. He collaborated seamlessly with my team, making QA an integral part of the process rather than a checkpoint. I can't recommend him enough!"
― LIANNE HAYES
What they say:
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