About
Quality engineering leadership built on 25+ years of hands-on testing experience.
Don Welsh is a results-oriented testing professional, Principal QA Engineer, and automation leader with 25+ years across the software testing lifecycle and 20+ years specializing in automation, framework strategy, and AI-enhanced QA.
Profile
Professional summary
Don brings deep hands-on experience across test strategy, automation architecture, performance testing, and quality engineering leadership.
His background spans the full testing lifecycle, from framework design and implementation through reporting, governance, and delivery support.
Over the last 20+ years, that automation focus has evolved from traditional Selenium-based ecosystems into modern Cypress and Playwright workflows,
with practical use of AI tools to accelerate test design, improve coverage thinking, and support faster quality feedback.
That blend matters. Strong quality work still depends on judgment. AI can increase speed and sharpen analysis, but the real value comes from pairing it with disciplined engineering standards and clear business-risk prioritization.
Leadership
Leadership and strategic impact
- Built, led, and scaled high-performing QA teams with strong product ownership and measurable quality outcomes
- Provided strategic leadership across the full SDLC in Agile and DevOps environments
- Implemented automation strategies that accelerate delivery while maintaining quality standards
- Established quality metrics, executive reporting, KPIs, and organization-level quality initiatives
Automation
Automation expertise and innovation
- 25+ years in testing with 20+ years of automation specialization across evolving tooling generations
- Selenium expertise since 2004, including framework design, Grid architecture, web automation, and API testing
- Modern automation delivery with Cypress and Playwright for UI, cross-browser, and API-focused workflows
- Practical use of ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and Cursor to support test creation, exploratory preparation, and quality insights
Architecture
Technical architecture and delivery
- End-to-end automation strategy, framework design, implementation, and analytics
- CI/CD quality integration across GitHub Actions, CircleCI, and Jenkins
- Full-stack testing across APIs, databases, and integrated application workflows
- Performance testing experience using LoadRunner, JMeter, and k6 for web and API systems
Mentorship
Mentorship and collaboration
- Passionate about mentoring junior engineers in automation practices, test design, and quality thinking
- Comfortable as both an independent contributor and a collaborative leader across organizational levels
- Focused on continuous learning and practical adoption of new tools and testing methodologies
Credentials
Certifications
- ISTQB Advanced Level Test Automation Engineer (CTAL-TAE)
- ISTQB Foundation Level Agile Tester (CTFL-AT)
- ISTQB Certified Tester, Foundation Level (CTFL)