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https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2358/invited-03.pdf
Test Architects at Siemens
Peter Zimmerer, Siemens AG, peter.zimmerer@siemens.com
Abstract experiences and lessons learned since the Test Ar-
chitect program was launched in 2016 (see [3]):
At Siemens we have invented and defined a new
• Why do we need a Test Architect?
key role Test Architect to meet the diverse challen-
• What is a Test Architect?
ges of shorter time-to-market, increasing com-
• What are the responsibilities and tasks of a Test
plexity and more agility while keeping quality and
Architect?
other key system properties high. In the real world
• How can a Test Architect provide value and
our test systems increase in size, volume, flexibility,
create impact on the business?
velocity, complexity and unpredictability: think
about testing of autonomous systems or testing of Attend this presentation and learn what a Test Ar-
AI systems (artificial intelligence). Additionally, chitect is all about and why we at Siemens are driv-
digitalization (virtualization, cloud, mobile, big ing this forward. We are continuing our journey in
data, data analytics, internet of things, continuous this direction – at Siemens our target is to have
delivery, DevOps) requires more than just a face lift nearly 50 certified Test Architects by the end of
in testing. 2019. That means a tremendous upgrade and em-
This talk shares our motivations, decisions, powerment of testing!
achievements, and experiences on our journey since
2016 to establish this new key role Test Architect on Key Takeaways
eye level with the software architects within the • Understand the rationale why we need a new
company. key role Test Architect
• Get familiar with a thorough definition of a real
Talk Description Test Architect – it’s not just another fancy title
What is a “Test Architect”? At Siemens we have that is misused
invented this new key role by defining the respon- • Get to know the responsibilities and tasks of a
sibilities and tasks of a Test Architect and this talk Test Architect – job profile, contents, focus
is about our journey to establish this new key role points
within the company. • Apply discussed strategies, tactics, practices,
Imagine that you build a system with 10 million and experiences and become a successful Test
lines of code. To be successful this system should Architect – a new career path for testers!
have a good architecture, and for that you need
good software architects (see experience report [1]). References
Next, to perform good testing on 10 million lines of (1) Paulisch, F. and Zimmerer, P. 2010. A role-
code, you also need to build an appropriate test based qualification and certification program
system – not by spaghetti coding but with a well- for software architects: An experience report
designed, sustainable test architecture and by ap- from Siemens. In Proceedings of the Interna-
plying innovative software and test technologies. tional Conference on Software Engineering,
But, who is responsible and in charge to make 2010, DOI: 10.1145/1810295.1810300
this happen? Typically, neither the test manager
(2) Paulisch, F. and Zimmerer, P. 2016. Collabor-
nor the quality manager will do this; therefore, we
ation of Software Architect and Test Architect
need to create a new role on eye level with the
Helps to Systematically Bridge Product Lifecy-
software architects: The Test Architect is born (see
cle Gap. In Proceedings of the 1st International
position paper [2]). To implement and establish this
Workshop on Bringing Architectural Design
key role we have developed a unique expert train-
Thinking Into Developers' Daily Activities
ing program for Test Architects at Siemens to meet
(Bridge), 2016, co-located workshop at Interna-
the diverse challenges of shorter time-to-market,
tional Conference on Software Engineering,
increasing complexity, and more agility while
2016, DOI: 10.1145/2896935.2896936
keeping quality and other key system properties
high. (3) Zimmerer, P. 2016. Test Architect a key role
This talk introduces the new key role Test Ar- defined. Professional Tester Magazine, issue 39,
chitect, provides practical guidance on the needed December 2016.
strategies, tactics, and practices, and shares our http://www.professionaltester.com/
V. Thurner, O. Radfelder, K. Vosseberg (Hrsg.): SEUH 2019 6