Associate Manager, Release Management

Activision Blizzard•Irvine, CA

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Blizzard Entertainment, we pour our hearts and souls into everything we create. Best known for iconic video game universes, including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, we’ve been creating genre-defining games for millions of players around the world for more than 30 years. We’re on a quest: bring our dreams to life and craft the most epic entertainment experiences…ever. Hard work, iteration, and polish go into the Blizzard “secret recipe,” but the most important ingredients come from talented people who share our vision. The concept of “Blizzard polish,” that is, the infinite care and loving detail put into every aspect of our games, is something we take seriously and pride ourselves on delivering to our players. It’s a responsibility shared across the company – and its undisputed heart and soul is Blizzard QA. Blizzard QA is a close-knit team; we care about iteration, problem-solving, and succeeding as a group. We genuinely love what we do for a living and expect the same from everyone who joins us! This role offers a flexible hybrid work week, with a mix of remote and on-site days. While hybrid is the standard arrangement, you're also welcome to work on-site full-time if you prefer. Our primary studio locations are in Albany, NY, and Irvine, CA. Job Summary The Associate Manager, Release Management assists in guiding a team responsible for first-party submissions and releases. This role helps ensure smooth product launches worldwide, while providing technical expertise and promoting best practices. They help oversee submission activities, participate in product development meetings, and contribute to quality assurance and team growth.

Requirements

Minimum 6 years of Quality Assurance, first-party submission experience, or a similar role.
Minimum 2 years of experience leading teams or projects via direct or indirect leadership.
Ability to maintain scripts to automate manual repetitive tasks
Strong knowledge of all first-party submission tools and platforms.
Thorough understanding of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), specifically QA processes in agile and waterfall development environments.
Proven ability to analyze and interpret data/workflows, recognize critical issues, and raise concerns.
High School diploma or equivalent .
Excellent written and verbal communication, planning, organization, and time management skills.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in a related field preferred.
Technical requirements testing experience (TRC, XR, App Store Review Guidelines, etc.).
Global age ratings submissions experience.
Certifications: PMP, Scrum Master and/or Product Owner, ISTQB.
Scripting or software tool creation experience.
White box testing experience.
Coding Knowledge: XML / HTML, JavaScript, Python, Java, C / C++ / C#, SQL.
High level of gaming knowledge and/or skill.
Passion for Blizzard’s line of products and services.

Responsibilities

Lead a team for submissions, ensuring the quality of all deliverables, workflows, and relationships.
Support in leading the configuration and release of products and updates to development and live environments for first-party submissions and releases, collaborating with internal and external partners.
Ensure the team prepares and submits bundles, promotions, events, downloadable content, metadata, and other submission activities to first parties.
Execute and document quality control checks for submissions and releases.
Process, verify, and deliver builds to quality assurance teams across all supported platforms.
Keep stakeholders informed on all first-party policies and process changes.
Maintain an archive of all final assets and supplemental materials submitted to first parties.
Create, monitor, and control metrics that impact product and team quality, analyzing product quality and usability, associated system limitations, and reporting on associated risks .
Lead and support projects and initiatives with regional teams, cross-functional partners, and QA teams.
Provide leadership, support, and mentorship to the assigned team, ensuring their performance is effectively managed and fostering a productive, positive, and collaborative work culture.
Champion efforts that build synergy , trust, collaboration, and inclusivity within the organization.
Own and manage relationships with key partners, resources, colleagues, and leaders, ensuring transparency around critical decisions and trade-offs.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!
Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including: Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance; 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching; Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave; Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.
Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company.

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