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Palak Parekh

QA Lead | Test Automation · IBM ODM · Agile | Delivering Release Confidence for AI-Driven Systems | 11+ Years | Ex-Mastercard · Ex-Capgemini

Mumbai Metropolitan Region

11+ years of work experience

Mastercard
Mar 20233 yrs 1 moMar 2026

Pune District, Maharashtra, India

Working on AI-driven decision systems, focusing on testing and validating business rules using IBM ODM. Leading end-to-end testing, including functional, regression, integration, and performance testing, to make sure systems behave as expected and handle complex decision logic correctly. Designed and owned automated regression suites for IBM ODM rule validation, reducing manual regression effort by ~60% and enabling bi-weekly release cadence on a previously monthly cycle. Work closely with developers and business teams to understand requirements, catch issues early, and ensure everything is implemented correctly. Supported performance tuning and UAT across 3+ production release cycles, contributing to zero critical post-release defects in the final 2 quarters of the engagement.
Capgemini
Jun 20211 yr 11 mosApr 2023

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Led end-to-end QA for Dynamics 365 and Power Platform integrations across 4 client workstreams — delivering full regression coverage with a Cypress automation suite that reduced UAT prep time by 40%.
Capgemini
Dec 20148 yrs 4 mosMar 2023

Led a QA team of 8 engineers, managing daily task assignments, sprint planning participation, progress tracking, and delivery risk escalations to project stakeholders. Acted as the single point of contact for QA across all project phases — coordinating between the client, business analysts, development team, and offshore QA resources to maintain alignment on quality objectives. Prepared and presented weekly QA metrics dashboards, defect trend analysis, and test execution status reports to senior management and client stakeholders. Executed end-to-end STLC activities: requirement analysis, test planning, test case design, environment setup, execution, defect tracking, and QA sign-off. Designed and developed a robust Selenium WebDriver (Python) + Pytest automation framework for end-to-end UI testing of logistics workflows — covering shipment tracking, booking, and billing modules. Extended Selenium framework to support cross-browser testing (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) using Selenium Grid, ensuring consistent application behaviour across all browsers. Automated Selenium test execution as part of the CI/CD pipeline, enabling parallel test runs and reducing the overall regression cycle from 5 days to under 8 hours. Debugged and validated business rules, decision tables, and rule flows, identifying root causes and ensuring correct execution. Developed test documentation, project metrics, and V&V files supporting compliance and traceability requirements. Mentored junior QA engineers on Selenium best practices, automation design patterns (POM, Factory), and Agile testing principles — upskilling 4 team members within 6 months.
Capgemini
Aug 20146 yrs 11 mosJun 2021

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Worked on validating business and system requirements through test case design and execution. Used SQL for data validation to ensure consistency between systems and outputs. Supported workflow and reporting validation to maintain accurate operations. Provided support during releases, troubleshooting issues to keep systems stable and running smoothly.

Education

University of Mumbai

Bachelor of Science - BS, Information Technology

University of Mumbai

Usha Pravin Gandhi College of Arts, Commerce and Science

Bachelor of Science

Usha Pravin Gandhi College of Arts, Commerce and Science

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Headline

QA Lead | Test Automation · IBM ODM · Agile | Delivering Release Confidence for AI-Driven Systems | 11+ Years | Ex-Mastercard · Ex-Capgemini

About

I help engineering teams ship faster — without sacrificing quality. Over 11 years, I've built and led QA functions at Mastercard and Capgemini, owning test strategy for AI-driven decision systems where a single misconfigured business rule can affect millions of transactions. My edge: I don't just find bugs — I architect the systems that prevent them. From designing Selenium + Pytest frameworks that cut regression cycles from 5 days to 8 hours, to governing IBM ODM rule validation across complex financial workflows, I bring both technical depth and delivery leadership to every engagement. I've led teams of 8+, mentored junior engineers into automation contributors, and been the QA voice in the room with clients, BAs, and C-suite stakeholders alike. What I'm looking for: A QA Lead or QA Manager role where quality is treated as a strategic function — not just a final gate. 📩 Open to conversations. Let's connect.

Location

Mumbai Metropolitan Region

Work experience

Software Engineer II at Mastercard, Mar 2023 - Mar 2026 · 3 yrs 1 mo, Pune District, Maharashtra, India, Working on AI-driven decision systems, focusing on testing and validating business rules using IBM ODM. Leading end-to-end testing, including functional, regression, integration, and performance testing, to make sure systems behave as expected and handle complex decision logic correctly. Designed and owned automated regression suites for IBM ODM rule validation, reducing manual regression effort by ~60% and enabling bi-weekly release cadence on a previously monthly cycle. Work closely with developers and business teams to understand requirements, catch issues early, and ensure everything is implemented correctly. Supported performance tuning and UAT across 3+ production release cycles, contributing to zero critical post-release defects in the final 2 quarters of the engagement.

Consultant at Capgemini, Jun 2021 - Apr 2023 · 1 yr 11 mos, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Led end-to-end QA for Dynamics 365 and Power Platform integrations across 4 client workstreams — delivering full regression coverage with a Cypress automation suite that reduced UAT prep time by 40%.

Quality Assurance Team Lead at Capgemini, Dec 2014 - Mar 2023 · 8 yrs 4 mos, Led a QA team of 8 engineers, managing daily task assignments, sprint planning participation, progress tracking, and delivery risk escalations to project stakeholders. Acted as the single point of contact for QA across all project phases — coordinating between the client, business analysts, development team, and offshore QA resources to maintain alignment on quality objectives. Prepared and presented weekly QA metrics dashboards, defect trend analysis, and test execution status reports to senior management and client stakeholders. Executed end-to-end STLC activities: requirement analysis, test planning, test case design, environment setup, execution, defect tracking, and QA sign-off. Designed and developed a robust Selenium WebDriver (Python) + Pytest automation framework for end-to-end UI testing of logistics workflows — covering shipment tracking, booking, and billing modules. Extended Selenium framework to support cross-browser testing (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) using Selenium Grid, ensuring consistent application behaviour across all browsers. Automated Selenium test execution as part of the CI/CD pipeline, enabling parallel test runs and reducing the overall regression cycle from 5 days to under 8 hours. Debugged and validated business rules, decision tables, and rule flows, identifying root causes and ensuring correct execution. Developed test documentation, project metrics, and V&V files supporting compliance and traceability requirements. Mentored junior QA engineers on Selenium best practices, automation design patterns (POM, Factory), and Agile testing principles — upskilling 4 team members within 6 months.

Associate Consultant at Capgemini, Aug 2014 - Jun 2021 · 6 yrs 11 mos, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Worked on validating business and system requirements through test case design and execution. Used SQL for data validation to ensure consistency between systems and outputs. Supported workflow and reporting validation to maintain accurate operations. Provided support during releases, troubleshooting issues to keep systems stable and running smoothly.

Education

Bachelor of Science - BS, Information Technology, University of Mumbai

Bachelor of Science, Usha Pravin Gandhi College of Arts, Commerce and Science