Software QA Manager · Pacific Northwest
Hi,I’mCarson,a Software QA Manager.
I lead QA teams, build automation and ship AI tools. Poke around, chat with my AI assistant, or play a text adventure I built, right from your phone.
Now
QA Manager · Octus
Built by me
Trailhead Intelligence
About me
Quality is a strategy, not a checkpoint.
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
0+
years in QA & engineering
0
QA leadership roles
0
professional certifications
0.00
GPA, Magna Cum Laude (OSU)
Skills
- Leadership
- Risk management
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Collaboration
Work experience
Leading teams that ship with confidence.
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.
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 teams.
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
Certifications are an essential aspect of professional development, showcasing expertise and commitment to continuous learning.
- ISTQB Agile Certified2021
- ISTQB Foundation Certified2021
- FranklinCovey Team Leadership2025
- FranklinCovey Leading Change2025
Playable in your browser
Escape from Patmos
A text adventure I wrote in C++ and rebuilt for the web. Explore the island, find weapons and armor, and fight your way out. It works on any phone: tap the buttons or type a command, nothing to install.
> h
Move with n, s, e or w, then press enter.
Equip your weapon and armor as soon as you find them.
Type ! to end the game.
> n
On a phone, just tap the buttons.
>
Projects
Things I’ve built.
A mix of games, AI products and code from my GitHub. The repository grid below is pulled live.
Escape from Patmos
A text adventure you can play right here, on any phone.
- Original game written in C++ (rooms, characters, weapons, armor, items)
- Rebuilt as a TypeScript game engine with automated tests
- Mobile-first terminal UI with tap buttons and a keyboard prompt
Trailhead Intelligence
My AI startup for Salem, Oregon small businesses.
- Missed-call text-back and website chat with booking
- Custom AI employees: inbox sorting, quotes, invoice follow-up
- Built, hosted and maintained for each client
This site and its AI assistant
A Node.js web app with an agentic chatbot powered by Claude Haiku.
- Server-side tool loop with streaming responses
- Live data from the GitHub API
- Rate limiting and input limits on the API route
PembleBox
A website for my personal Plex server.
- Personal project
- Self-hosted media server front page
Live from GitHub
More code on github.com/PembleC
- Java-ReviewI want to create a review of basic Java programsJava★ 1 · updated 1 year ago
- MyBattleShipAfter class additions for our Software Engineering projectJavaScriptupdated 4 years ago
- PembleC.github.ioPersonal Website (Resume&Portfolio)JavaScript★ 1 · updated 5 years ago
- EscapeFromPatmosA text-based adventure game (CLI)C++★ 1 · updated 6 years ago
- WeatherApp2.0A much better and improved android weather appJavaupdated 6 years ago
- WeatherAppCreating a basic weather forecast application.Javaupdated 6 years ago
- final-project-boardgamezfinal-project-boardgamez created by GitHub ClassroomJavaupdated 6 years ago
- Python-ReviewI want to create a review of basic Python programsPythonupdated 6 years ago
- Python-CompilerI am working on building a compiler for a subset of the Python languageLexupdated 6 years ago
- C-ReviewI want to create a review of basic C programsCupdated 6 years ago
My AI startup
Trailhead Intelligence
I build missed-call text-back, website chat and booking, chatbots, websites and custom AI employees for small businesses in Salem, Oregon. When an owner can’t pick up, the customer still gets an answer.
- Missed-call text-back
- Website chat and booking
- Custom AI employees
- Chatbots and websites
“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.”
Testimonials
What they say
“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!”
Contact
Let’s talk.
Hiring, a project, or just want to say hi? Send a message, or ask my AI assistant first.