Nandita Ashok

Software Quality Manager @ Apple @ Apple

About

I am a Quality and Operations Leader with 9+ years in software quality and 5+ years in strategic leadership, focused on building reliable, scalable systems for complex, high-impact platforms. My work sits at the intersection of quality engineering, program execution, data-driven process improvement, and organizational change. At Apple, I lead quality and delivery for developer-facing platforms, serving as DRI for revenue-critical, regulatory, and high-risk initiatives. I partner closely with engineering, product, design, legal, and compliance teams to own release readiness, risk assessment, and execution under ambiguity. I am trusted to make data-informed tradeoffs and escalation decisions that balance speed, quality, and long-term system health. A core part of my leadership approach is operational excellence through DMAIC and continuous improvement. I have led DMAIC-based initiatives that improved estimation accuracy by 20–30%, eliminated recurring delivery crises, and freed engineering capacity. I increasingly apply machine learning and predictive analytics to operational challenges—using ML-driven estimation, automation optimization, and risk forecasting to support better decision-making. I am a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner who values strong teams, clear ownership, and durable systems that scale beyond individual projects. I’m especially interested in how AI and ML can be responsibly integrated into quality, operations, and delivery processes to improve reliability, transparency, and outcomes at scale.

Country

United States

City

San Francisco Bay Area

Industry

Computer Software

Skill

Machine Learning Operations (MLOps), ML-Driven Operational Optimization, Predictive Analytics & Forecasting, Data-Driven Decision Making, AI/ML for Quality & Operations, Model Evaluation & Monitoring (Conceptual), Anomaly Detection Data Quality & Governance, Change Management Prosci Methodology, Organizational Change & Adoption, Stakeholder Alignment, Process Transformation,, Quality Engineering Leadership, Quality Strategy & Release Governance, DMAIC Methodology, Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, Risk-Based Decision Making, Escalation & Tradeoff Management, Cross-Functional Leadership, Program & Delivery Management, QA Leadership & Team Management, Python (Programming Language), Change Management, Agile Project Management, UI Testing, Performance Dashboards, C++, Java, JMeter, Selenium WebDriver, Software Development, Agile Methodologies, iOS testing, JavaScript, Android testing, SDLC, TestNG

Experience

Software Quality Manager @ Apple

Apple

2020-10 - Present · 6 yrs

Cupertino, California

Apple – QA Manager / Lead QA Engineer (DRI) Cupertino, CA | Oct 2020 – Present Lead quality and delivery for Pricing and App Store Connect developer-facing platforms; serve as DRI for feature sign-off, release readiness, and escalation. Manage complex, high-impact initiatives requiring cross-functional coordination across engineering, product, design, legal, compliance, and infrastructure teams. Drive DMAIC-based process improvements, increasing estimation accuracy by 20–30%, eliminating recurring delivery crises, and institutionalizing data-driven planning. Apply machine learning and predictive analytics to estimation, automation optimization, anomaly detection, and operational risk forecasting. Partner with leadership on tradeoffs, risk assessment, and go/no-go decisions for regulatory and revenue-critical releases. Build and mentor high-performing teams; establish onboarding models, continuous learning programs, and change adoption at scale.

Apple – Senior Software Engineer in Test

Apple

2016-10 - 2020-10 · 4 yrs 1 mo

Cupertino, California, United States

Tested Pricing systems and App Store Connect workflows, ensuring seamless developer experience. Designed and executed functional, accessibility, and performance test plans. Championed automation frameworks, reducing manual test time and improving scalability.

Software Development Engineer in Test

WalmartLabs

2015-3 - 2016-6 · 1 yr 4 mos

sunnyvale, CA

QA Lead for Store Locator API services; validated data integrity and load/performance during peak traffic. Automated functional/UI test suites and maintained homepage content pipelines. Role and activities: 1. Testing HomePage: (Responsive, Functional, Usability, UI and UX testing) Using Google/Firefox DevTools to validate published HTML and CSS Modify and publish Web content using Tempo Validate Walmart Web pages on mobile devices(both iOS and Android) Automate FE tests using Node.js and Nightwatch in Magellan framework. 2.Testing Backend store locator services and UI for Sore Page: This involved validating data in SQL Server DB, validating Json response for REST API, Load and Performance testing using JMeter, Automation testing using Java and TestNG in Spring Framework, Creating Build pipelines using Jenkins and Pebl.

Mobile QA Engineer

IMVU

2014-10 - 2015-3 · 6 mos

Mountain View

QA Lead for iOS app releases, validating purchasing workflows and credits transactions. Conducted functional and performance testing across Android/iOS devices and network conditions.

Mobile Test Engineer

Genietrack

2012-6 - 2014-8 · 2 yrs 3 mos

San Bruno

Tested GPS-enabled mobile family tracking app for load, performance, and usability. Designed test cases for registration, messaging, and event workflows.

Design Analyst

Accenture

2012-1 - 2012-4 · 4 mos

Bengaluru Area, India

Worked in Agile project cycle to develop and test Web site content. Used JavaScript to do validations. Performed usability, functional and UI testing of thé Web site.

Software Development Engineer in Test

Self Employed Software Engineer

2009-1 - 2011-11 · 2 yrs 11 mos

Bangalore Area, India

Software Engineer

Infopro Corporation

2003-5 - 2003-12 · 8 mos

Noida Area, India

Developed software for training in object-oriented programming languages, Oracle and network administration. Performed manual and automated testing of final product versions to ensure bug-free releases.

Software Engineer

NIIT Limited

1999-5 - 2003-5 · 4 yrs 1 mo

New Delhi Area, India

Code development in Java and C++. I worked in a collaborative environment to develop and test code in C++. Developed PL-SQL code for queries and report generation. Designed user forms in Visual Basic for managing data in Oracle databases. Was part of the Quality Assurance team and tested training software created for software and network exam certifications.