Building Beyond Testing

When Sushmita Sarkar first began her career in quality engineering, she already had a strong grasp of testing methodologies. But over time, she realized something was missing. Sushmita didn’t just want to find bugs: She wanted to understand the architecture behind them.

She wanted to know how systems were designed, how logic flowed from backend to user interface, and how code decisions shaped performance at every layer.

Beyond simply observing technical conversations, Sushmita wanted to participate in them. She wanted the confidence and depth to discuss design decisions and troubleshoot complex issues at the source.

That drive led her to our Software Development certificate—a decision that would ultimately help propel her from QA engineer to principal software engineer in test (SDET) and position her as a technology leader at Veeva Systems.

“Since completing the program,” Sushmita reflects, “I’ve gained a much deeper technical foundation and now understand the ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind the code. I can now collaborate more effectively with developers and contribute to technical discussions that I previously would have just observed.”

That transformation—from surface-level validation to architectural understanding—became the core of her professional evolution.

Since completing the program, I’ve gained a much deeper technical foundation and now understand the "how" and "why" behind the code.

Fascinated by the Bridge Between Backend and UI

For Sushmita, software development isn’t just about syntax or frameworks; it’s about connection.

“I am fascinated by the bridge between the backend and the UI,” she says. “There is something incredibly inspiring about seeing complex logic and data structures transform into a seamless, user-friendly interface. Solving the puzzle of how these layers connect is what keeps me motivated every day.”

That curiosity—the desire to understand how data structures power user experiences—drove her to pursue our program, which emphasizes practical engineering principles and full-stack depth.

“I selected this program specifically for its focus on practical engineering principles,” Sushmita says. “I wanted to move beyond surface-level testing and gain a ‘white-box’ understanding of software systems.”

Our Program in Software Development emphasizes core programming foundations, data structures, system design and hands-on application.

“By mastering full-stack development through this program, I’ve been able to bridge the gap between QA and development, allowing me to contribute to architectural discussions and troubleshoot complex issues at the source.”

I started as a QA engineer, and thanks in part to the skills I acquired in the program, I have progressed into my current role as a principal SDET.

Learning Online Without Sacrificing Quality

Like many mid-career professionals, Sushmita completed the program wholly online while working full time.

“It was a seamless and high-quality experience that provided the necessary flexibility to balance my professional responsibilities. The platform made it easy to stay engaged with the material and the academic community, ensuring that the remote format never felt like a barrier to learning.”

This flexibility allowed her to immediately apply what she was learning in class to her work environment. Sushmita didn’t hesitate until completing the program in order to see results.

“The lessons on data structures and programming logic were immediately applicable. I started as a QA engineer, and thanks in part to the skills I acquired in the program, I have progressed into my current role as a principal SDET.

“I apply data structure lessons when I need to interact with multiple items on a webpage,” Sushmita describes. “For example, to collect and store a list of elements from the UI so that I can compare them or find a specific record. This ensures that even if there are 50 items on a page, my code can logically loop through them and verify the data accurately.

“I apply programming logic by using interfaces exposed by dev’s as a blueprint to build webpages, ensuring the UI correctly handles the properties defined in those 'contracts,'” she adds. “I’ve also converted several services from JavaScript to TypeScript, using static typing to catch logical errors early and improve code reliability. For automation, I analyzed DOM changes and updated our Cucumber logic to ensure our scripts accurately target the correct elements after UI updates.”

From these hands-on skills, Sushmita’s title shift represents an increased architectural responsibility, deeper collaboration with engineering teams and greater leadership within the development lifecycle.

Beyond attaining upward trajectory in her organization, Sushmita says that completing the program is both a professional milestone and a personal achievement.

“Professionally, this certificate represents the technical edge I needed to reach the next level of my career,” she says.

That phrase—technical edge—captures exactly what many experienced technologists seek: not a complete career reset, but a sharpening of their competitive advantage.

“Personally, it is a source of great pride and confidence. Completing a program from such a prestigious institution has reinforced my commitment to lifelong learning.”

In a rapidly evolving tech landscape, that mindset is critical. Tools change. Frameworks evolve. But foundational engineering thinking endures.

This certificate represents the technical edge I needed to reach the next level of my career

Don’t Chase Grades—Chase Understanding

Sushmita’s advice to new students reflects her own journey from surface-level testing to deep technical comprehension.

“Be curious and don’t just aim for the grade—aim to truly understand the ‘why’ behind the code instead,” she says.

“Take advantage of the instructors’ expertise and try to apply every project to a real-world problem you are facing at work.”

And she’s taking her own advice when looking ahead to her bright future: “I plan to continue evolving as a technology leader,” she says. “I want to remain at the forefront of software innovation, continuing to master the ever-changing landscape of modern technology.”