Mexican engineer · technology and everyday life

Hello, I’m Leslie.

I’m interested in how things work and whom they serve: from the systems we test to the practices we build together in communities.

Quality engineering · accessibility · people-centered systems

Cartoon avatar of Leslie with magenta and cyan lighting
Leslie Dickinson · quality engineer

A little about me

Quality engineering for software people can rely on

I’m Leslie: a software quality engineer, developer, Mexican, and social justice advocate. I found my way into engineering because I loved technology and wanted it to help people. I still believe a good experience matters as much as a working system; no one should have to blame themselves for a confusing, inaccessible, or broken product.

I have more than five years of experience in manual and automated testing, from planning scenarios to investigating bugs with engineering and product teams. I like asking questions, finding the detail that slipped through, and leaving a process clearer than I found it.

I have contributed to Llave CDMX, serving more than 1.6 million people each month; Freshly, preparing more than one million meals a week; and fintech company Mutuo. I currently work as a QA Analyst at The Chronicle of Higher Education.

A person outside work, too

I lead an online economics community of more than 2,000 members. My partner and I met there talking about economics, gender, and social justice; later, we fell in love and got married. We now live in the United States with our dog, Timea. We work from home, play Overwatch 2, and raid in EverQuest with the Machin Shin guild.

I care about diversity, women’s issues, public health, animal welfare, and financial literacy. I’m also interested in how everyday practices—in technology and beyond it—reflect the institutions, relationships, and conditions in which we live.

Career

Experience

Quality engineering, automation, and technical problem solving across software, public services, publishing, and financial technology. My work is grounded in the belief that good UX and good quality are part of the same responsibility.

Quality Assurance Analyst

The Chronicle of Higher Education

November 2023–Present

Perform UI, API, and database testing for NetSuite ERP and related business solutions. Develop automated validation processes to improve release quality and reduce regression risk across NetSuite, Workato, and Boostr integrations.

Web Administrator

Foreign Affairs Latinoamérica

June 2014–January 2025

Managed and maintained a WordPress website serving more than 30,000 monthly visitors. Translated publishing needs into practical technical solutions and supported editorial staff with web technology.

Software Quality Assurance Tester

Independent study and technical projects

January–October 2023

Expanded skills in test automation, API testing, SQL, Agile methods, and enterprise platforms through hands-on projects and professional development.

QA Engineer

Freshly

May 2021–December 2022

Tested web and mobile experiences in partnership with product, design, and engineering teams. Supported more than 93% of targeted web, iOS, and Android devices and reduced defect introduction risk by 40% through requirements reviews and early defect identification.

  • Maintained more than 200 Cucumber/Gherkin test cases in TestRail.
  • Performed API and backend validation with Postman, SQL, and shell scripts.
  • Conducted functional, regression, accessibility, and end-to-end testing.

Digital Innovation Consultant

Agencia Digital de Innovación Pública, Government of Mexico City

October 2020–January 2021

Supported Llave CDMX, a secure digital signature platform serving more than 1.6 million monthly users. Validated user flows and business scenarios, contributed to operational documentation, and improved ticket routing to reduce response times by approximately 30%.

Software Business Analyst

MUTUO Financiera

November 2016–October 2020

Built data validation, ETL, reporting, and workflow tools supporting lending operations. Automated financial and operational workflows with Python, reducing processing time by 85% while improving data accuracy by 3%.

Summer Intern

Denumeris Interactive S.C.

May–June 2013

Worked with a web development team and learned how software projects move from idea to deployment.

Education

Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering
Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM)

Organ Studies
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), 2006–2013

What I work with

Skills and learning

I offer seasonal, contract, consultation, and freelance QA support for teams that want clearer releases and more confident users.

Test planning and execution

I create test plans and scenarios from use cases, then validate the experience through manual, functional, regression, usability, compatibility, performance, API, mobile, and automation testing.

Defect management

I find, reproduce, prioritize, and clearly report bugs so teams can act on them. I also support root-cause analysis and release decisions.

Documentation and reporting

I maintain test plans, test cases, test reports, metrics, and practical documentation that keeps stakeholders informed throughout the testing cycle.

Acceptance and exploratory testing

I execute UAT and ad-hoc testing to check whether a product meets end-user requirements, including the less structured scenarios that formal plans can miss.

Automation and development

Python, Java, SQL, shell scripting, Selenium, Katalon Studio, Cucumber/Gherkin, REST API testing, web development, and debugging.

Accessibility and UX

I bring a user-centered perspective to quality work, with attention to accessibility, usability, HCI, and communication that helps more people use a product successfully.

Why work with me?

I bring hands-on QA and software development experience, tailor the approach to each project, communicate clearly, and work quickly without treating quality as an afterthought. I’m bilingual in Spanish and English, and happy to communicate in Spanglish too.

Certifications and courses

  • Test Automation with Python: WebDriver Automation Architecture
  • Test Automation with Python: Python for Testers
  • Test Automation with Python: Testing Web and Mobile
  • Essential User Experience (UX)
  • Shane Snow on Storytelling

Selected work

Selected projects

A few examples of work at the intersection of technology, public understanding, and human needs.

Cara a Cara installation project

Cara a Cara

An installation using facial recognition to create a reflection on disappearances in Mexico, memory, and dignity. The project aimed to build awareness and empathy.

Read about Cara a Cara
Justice transparency data project

Justicia Transparente

A data project using Python and Selenium to analyze and explore rulings by Mexico’s Supreme Court, supporting transparency and public understanding of the justice system.

Explore Justicia Transparente

Dollar Scholars

Financial literacy initiatives that make personal finance more approachable, practical, and accessible.

Publications

“Ellas la portan, ¿sólo ellos la padecen?” — published in Blog Cuido Mi Mundo.

Notes and essays

Ideas in context

I write to better understand how technology, culture, and community life connect. Sometimes I begin with a question; the writing is a way to follow it.

Let’s connect

Interested in quality engineering and useful technology?

Whether you are launching a new application, improving an existing product, or trying to make a release safer and more accessible, I’d love to hear what you’re working on. I’m especially interested in SDET, quality engineering, automation, enterprise systems, ERP, financial technology, and projects that help people.