I diagnose issues methodically, document them clearly, and build the checks that keep them from returning.

$ whoami
Maldwyn Bacon — Support Engineer developing QA expertise
$ cat focus.txt
Manual QA testing · Claude-assisted regression automation · Datadog & Sentry investigation

Experience

~3 years

Technical Support Specialist

Dec 2025 – Sep 2026 B2B SaaS platform · London · full-time

Owned the end-to-end bug lifecycle on a SaaS platform, from triage and reproduction through to developer escalation and customer communication.

  • Designed and implemented a structured bug triage and reporting process, cutting developer back-and-forth by roughly 80%
  • Reproduced complex issues across staging and test environments using Datadog and Sentry alongside structured investigation methods
  • Wrote developer-ready bug reports in Jira, including reproduction steps, expected vs. actual behaviour, and technical context
  • Built and maintain a Playwright (TypeScript) regression suite of 60+ specs, cutting manual testing from hours to minutes
  • Acted as the bridge between support, QA, and engineering, keeping issues accurately classified and prioritised

Digital Support Technician

Jul 2024 – Dec 2025 IoT safety devices · apprenticeship

Diagnosed and resolved hardware and software issues across connected safety devices, and supported users of a health & safety SaaS platform.

  • Performed hands-on device testing, identifying faults and validating fixes before deployment
  • Investigated and reproduced software bugs across staging and test environments to improve escalation quality
  • Documented root causes, solutions, and recurring patterns to improve future response efficiency
  • Created and maintained internal troubleshooting guides and support procedures

Retail Assistant

Feb 2024 – Jul 2024 Automotive parts retail · part-time

Delivered customer support by identifying and sourcing compatible parts using supplier databases and technical diagrams, balancing accuracy with a fast-paced service environment.

How I approach support

01

Reproduce before you escalate

A bug report without steps to reproduce it just moves the guessing downstream. I try to nail down exact conditions — environment, role, data state — before it ever reaches an engineer.

02

Write for the person who didn't see it happen

A good ticket reads the same six months later as it did the day it was filed: expected behaviour, actual behaviour, and everything needed to get from one to the other.

03

Automate the check, not just the fix

Every recurring manual test is a future regression waiting to slip through. Where it makes sense, I turn repeat verification work into an automated spec instead of doing it again by hand.

04

Communicate the status, not just the ticket number

Customers and stakeholders care about what's happening and when, not which queue an issue sits in. Clear, honest updates protect trust even when the news is "still working on it."

About

I'm approaching my third year in support, and most of that time has gone into the same core loop: understand what broke, prove how, explain it clearly, and stop it happening again.

I'm developing my QA skills alongside that work — I already manually test for defects day to day, and I use Claude to help build and maintain regression test coverage.

Skills & expertise

Technical Support Specialist

Bug Tracking · Manual Testing · Jira · HubSpot · Slack · Anthropic Claude · Claude Code Subagents · Ubuntu · Visual Studio · Technology Services

Day to day, I own bug tracking and triage across Jira and HubSpot, coordinate with the team over Slack, and use Claude — including Claude Code subagents — to help draft reproduction steps and extend regression coverage. Most of my tooling runs on Ubuntu, with Visual Studio for editing specs and internal tooling.

Apprentice Digital Support Technician

Intercom · Salesforce.com · Customer Support · Technical Support · IT Hardware Support

Supported end users through Intercom and Salesforce, diagnosing hardware and software issues on connected devices and documenting fixes so the wider team could resolve similar cases faster.

Retail Assistant

Databases · Customer Service

Worked daily with supplier and parts databases to source accurate components against technical specifications, balancing accuracy with a fast-paced, customer-facing environment.

Student

Python · HTML · MySQL · SQL · Troubleshooting · Regulatory Compliance · Service-Level Agreements (SLA) · Information Technology · Communication · Teamwork · Written Communication

Built my foundations through formal study: secondary and sixth-form computer science covering Python, HTML, MySQL, and object-oriented programming, followed by apprenticeship coursework in troubleshooting, regulatory compliance, service-level agreements, and core information technology concepts — including secure data handling and CRM/CMS systems. Alongside that, general technical grounding in computer repair, maintenance, Windows administration, and virtualisation with VirtualBox.

Verified skill assessments

Software Quality Assurance · Programming Foundations · Software Testing · Test Automation · GitHub

Completed LinkedIn Learning assessments covering software QA and testing foundations, test automation foundations, and GitHub — supporting my move into a more formal QA-focused skill set.

Education

Level 3 Digital Support Technician (Apprenticeship)

Jul 2024 – Jan 2026 · Pass

Developed skills across digital technologies, data management & security, digital information systems, and technical support & problem resolution — including CRM/CMS platforms, secure data handling, and structured helpdesk diagnostics.

Secondary & Sixth Form Education

Sep 2016 – Jul 2023

Built a foundation in programming and computer science, including object-oriented programming, system design, and exposure to Python, JavaScript, C#, HTML/CSS, and MySQL. Developed a game project in Unity and C#. 9 GCSEs including Computer Science (7), Maths (7), and English Language (8); A Level Computer Science (C).