Tom Catanach
About Tom Catanach
Tom Catanach is a Senior Agile Test Analyst at CDL Software, specializing in performance testing and automation within continuous delivery pipelines. He has a background in Computing and Business Studies and extensive experience in various testing roles across multiple organizations.
Current Role as Senior Agile Test Analyst
Tom Catanach currently holds the position of Senior Agile Test Analyst at CDL Software, a role he has occupied since 2019. In this capacity, he applies an incremental approach to performance testing using Gatling for each product release. He focuses on reducing manual test efforts by emphasizing automation in testing processes. Tom also specializes in setting up automated tests within continuous delivery pipelines using GitLab, contributing to the efficiency and effectiveness of the testing lifecycle.
Career Progression at CDL Software
Tom Catanach's career at CDL Software began as a Junior Agile Test Analyst from 2015 to 2017. He advanced to the role of Agile Test Analyst from 2017 to 2019 before becoming a Senior Agile Test Analyst. Throughout his tenure, he has contributed to various testing initiatives and has played a significant role in enhancing the testing framework within the organization.
Professional Experience at Marks and Spencer
Prior to his roles at CDL Software, Tom Catanach worked at Marks and Spencer in various capacities. He served as a Sales Advisor from 2001 to 2006 and later took on roles such as Section Coordinator/Relief Manager from 2006 to 2012. He also worked as Integrated Support Team (2nd Line Support) for HR Systems from 2013 to 2014 and as User Acceptance Test Lead for HR Systems from 2014 to 2015. These experiences provided him with a solid foundation in customer service and technical support.
Educational Background
Tom Catanach completed his high school education at Bramhall High School from 1995 to 2000. He then pursued further studies at Aquinas College, Stockport, where he earned A Level qualifications in Computing & Business Studies Dual Award from 2000 to 2002. Tom later attended The University of Salford, obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Business Information Technology Systems from 2002 to 2005.
Testing Methodologies and Tools
Tom Catanach employs a variety of testing methodologies and tools in his work. He utilizes stubbing tools like Wiremock early in the development process to enhance testing efficiency. Additionally, he acts as a Subject Matter Expert for test approaches in Data Migrations and Middleware. Tom is proficient in several test automation tools, including SoapUI, Cypress, Selenium, Serenity BDD, and Podam, which he incorporates into his testing strategies.