Associate Manager, Release Management

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 weve been creating genre-defining games for millions of players around the world for more than 30 years. Were on a quest: bring our dreams to life and craft the most epic entertainment experiencesever. 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. Its 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 youre 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 helps manage a team that will collaborate with internal and external partners to set up bundles promotions and events ensuring the timely delivery of all necessary assets. Responsibilities will include preparing and submitting builds downloadable content and metadata to first parties and proactively addressing any issues that may arise during the approval process.

Additionally they will configure and release products and updates execute quality control checks and provide development teams with expert technical guidance and platform support. They understand and help oversee submission activities and participate in or lead product development meetings. They have mastered the fundamental submission process collaborating with stakeholders to meet objectives. Additionally they play a key role in developing their team championing best practices and driving long-term vision for quality assurance.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE

• 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

• Host test closure activities such as testware evaluation knowledge transfer and retrospectives

• Create monitor and control metrics impacting product and team quality analyzing product quality and usability associated system limitations and reporting on risk

• Lead and support projects and initiatives with regional teams cross-functional partners and QA teams

• Provide leadership support and guidance to the assigned team ensuring their performance is managed effectively and fostering a productive positive 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

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Experience:

• Minimum 6 years Quality Assurance first party submission experience or a similar role

• Minimum 2 years of experience leading teams or projects via direct or indirect leadership

Knowledge & Skills:

• High School diploma or equivalent . Bachelors Degree in a related field preferred

• 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. Excellent written and verbal communication planning organization and time management skills.

Extra Points:

• Technical requirements testing experience (TRC XR App Store Review Guidelines etc.)

• 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 Blizzards line of products and services

Your Platform

Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft Overwatch Diablo and StarCraft Blizzard Entertainment Inc. () a division of Activision Blizzard which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industrys most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Xbox PlayStation Nintendo Switch iOS and Android.

Our World

Activision Blizzard Inc. is one of the worlds largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty World of Warcraft Overwatch Diablo Candy Crush and Bubble Witch. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries making us the largest gaming network on the planet!

Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical emotional and financial well-being for Every World - weve got our employees covered!

The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification when in fact they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position please email your request to . General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race religion color national origin gender sexual orientation gender identity age marital status veteran status or disability status among other characteristics.