Software Development Professional

Quality Assurance - Artificial Intelligence - Automation - Machine Learning 

“Driving quality through collaboration, automation, and innovation.”

Adam Armitage-Kerr

Passionate about Automation, AI & Continuous Improvement | Ensuring Scalable, High-Quality Software Solutions

| ISTQB-Certified Tester Foundation Level | BTEC in Communication Technology | Level 6 Fellowship in AI & Machine Learning (Multiverse) - In progress |

Introduction

I’m a QA Test Manager with over 10 years of experience across e-commerce, logistics, and telecommunications, with a focus on building scalable and effective testing practices.

I started out in manual testing and, over time, moved into automation, AI, and machine learning. I still place a strong emphasis on the role of manual testing within the SDLC and how it complements automated approaches.

In my current role as QA Manager at Debenhams Group, I lead on test automation and quality improvements, helping to increase delivery speed, test coverage, and overall product quality and compliance. I’ve also built and managed QA teams, working closely with engineering and product to adapt testing practices to fast-moving delivery environments.

I’m particularly interested in leadership, improving processes, and finding practical ways to use AI and emerging technologies to support Quality Assurance and software delivery.

Career Highlights / Achievements

📉 Quality Improvements & Shift-Left Testing

  • Drove a shift-left testing approach, implementing structured QA gates that significantly reduced post-release defects.

  • Streamlined defect management through data-driven prioritisation and improved triage workflow.

⚙️ Automation & Efficiency Gains

  • Reduced regression testing time by 40% through strategic test automation integration.

  • Optimised test environment execution times — achieved an initial 10% reduction, targeting up to 80% as automation coverage scales.

  • Integrated AI-assisted test case generation, saving approximately 70% of manual QA time spent on test design.

👥 Leadership & Team Development

  • Managed and developed a team of 20+ QA professionals, fostering a culture of quality ownership and continuous improvement.

  • Established a QA Knowledge Share & Mentorship Program to upskill cross-functional teams and promote consistent testing standards.

🧩 Tools & Innovation

  • Introduced several open-source tools to improve productivity, visibility, and maintain low operational costs.

  • Delivered QA strategy and execution across enterprise-scale projects — including third-party integrations, large-scale IT stack overhauls, and new web/mobile platform launches.

🏭 Logistics & Systems Integration

  • Led QA initiatives during the transition from manual to automated warehouse operations, integrating Matflo and Selektron WMS systems to enhance process accuracy, efficiency, and end-to-end performance.

  • Worked with stakeholders, engineers and thirdpartys to ensure system reliability, seamless process flow, and data integrity across automation layers, resulting in measurable improvements in fulfilment accuracy, operational speed, and defect reduction post-deployment.

My Vision

My vision is to continue to lead and innovate in digital quality, automation, and AI-driven testing. I aim to help organisations deliver seamless, data-backed user experiences through smarter QA and leadership excellence.

  • Reduce costs using like for like open source tools where possible
  • Shift left testing/Holistic approach
  • Hybrid QA strategy - Manual, Automation & AI/ML
  • Risk & Data based defect analysis and priortisation.
  • Upskill & Multi-train workforce