Director of Release Management and Software Quality, Cohere Health

• This role is ideal for a technical leader who thrives in balancing strategic oversight with hands-on responsibilities and is passionate about delivering quality software at scale
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. Equivalent work experience may be considered
• 8+ years of experience in software development, release management, and/or software quality assurance
• 3+ years of experience in a leadership role, managing release or quality teams
• Proven track record of managing and delivering complex software releases in a fast-paced, agile environment
• Experience working with CI/CD pipelines, automation tools, and test-driven development (TDD) practices
• In-depth knowledge of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and Agile methodologies, particularly concerning release management and software quality
• Strong understanding of version control systems (e.g., Git) and release automation tools (e.g., GitLab CI/CD, AWS)
• Experience with software quality tools, such as automated testing frameworks (e.g., Cypress, Rest Assured), code analysis tools (e.g., SemGrep), and defect tracking systems
• Familiarity with cloud-based environments (e.g., AWS) and containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, mentor individuals, and inspire a culture of excellence
• Problem-solving: Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with the ability to quickly assess situations and find resolutions
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts into business terms and vice versa
• Collaboration: Ability to work across multiple teams and influence decisions at both the operational and executive levels
• Strategic Vision: Ability to think long-term, aligning release and quality management strategies with organizational goals
• Hands-on Execution: Willingness to step in and perform individual contributor tasks, especially during critical releases or issue resolution
• Attention to Detail: Strong focus on accuracy, quality, and process adherence, especially in complex, high-stakes releases
• Change Management: Skilled in managing organizational change, particularly in driving process improvements and technology adoption

Desirable

• Design and implement release management strategies, policies, and processes to deliver high-quality, timely, and efficient software
• Champion a quality culture across the organization by establishing best practices for quality assurance, automated testing, and continuous improvement in software development processes
• Work closely with product management, engineering, DevOps, and operations teams to ensure release schedules, quality metrics, and goals align with business priorities
• Establish risk management strategies to identify and mitigate potential issues before and during the release process, including managing dependencies, scope changes, and critical paths
• Directly participate in managing critical releases, resolving issues in real-time, and stepping in to lead when necessary. This may include coordinating across teams, troubleshooting technical issues, or overseeing deployment pipelines
• Personally conduct quality reviews, testing audits, and validation activities to ensure high standards are met. Provide feedback and corrective actions when necessary
• Collaborate with engineering and DevOps teams to ensure efficient CI/CD processes are in place. Participate in configuring, managing, and improving pipelines to enhance automation and release efficiency
• Actively identify gaps in existing processes and drive initiatives for continuous improvement in release management and quality assurance areas
• Lead a team of release managers and quality assurance engineers, providing guidance, mentoring, and support for their professional growth. Foster a collaborative and results-driven work environment
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for release and software quality. Regularly report release performance, including on-time delivery, defect density, and post-release incident rates
• Evaluate, select, and implement tools for release management and quality assurance. Stay current with industry best practices and emerging technologies to ensure the organization utilizes the most effective solutions