Release Manager

Role Overview

The Release Manager owns the end-to-end release lifecycle for mobile applications and games across multiple platforms, including iOS and Android . This role ensures that releases are delivered on time, to quality, and in full compliance with platform and security requirements.

Working closely with the QA Manager , development teams, and studio leadership, the Release Manager safeguards build integrity, manages localization sign-off, oversees store submissions and propagation, and provides clear visibility into release readiness and live incidents. The role plays a critical part in maintaining operational excellence and delivering seamless experiences to a global audience.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and maintain the release calendar , aligning studio priorities, testing milestones, and external deadlines.
• Track release scope, dependencies, and risks using JIRA .
• Partner with the QA Manager to ensure test phases, certification, and sign-off are fully integrated into release plans.
• Manage release build pipelines , ensuring stable, validated builds are delivered to internal teams and external platforms.
• Oversee store submissions and full store propagation across Apple App Store, Google Play, and other distribution channels.
• Ensure compliance with platform guidelines, submission requirements, and versioning standards.
• Identify, track, and resolve build, environment, or deployment blockers.
• Work closely with QA teams using TestRail to validate release readiness, including regression, performance, and compliance testing.
• Produce clear, professional release reports for stakeholders, covering test coverage, risk assessments, and go/no-go status.
• Ensure rollback, hotfix, and recovery procedures are defined and ready when required.
• Coordinate localization testing and sign-off across all supported languages and regions.
• Ensure translated content is accurate, culturally appropriate, and fully integrated into release builds.
• Partner with QA and localization vendors to validate functionality and user experience across locales.
• Monitor releases during submission and launch windows, providing real-time incident reporting to relevant stakeholders.
• Communicate incident impact, mitigation actions, and resolution timelines clearly and concisely.
• Maintain incident logs and contribute to post-mortems and root-cause analysis.
• Act as the primary point of contact for release status and readiness across development, QA, and leadership teams.
• Facilitate release reviews and retrospectives to capture lessons learned and improve processes.
• Ensure consistent, transparent communication throughout the release lifecycle.
• Coordinate with third-party partners (e.g. cybersecurity, audit, or holding group teams) to meet compliance and security requirements.
• Monitor changes to platform policies (Apple, Google) and adapt release practices accordingly.
• Drive efficiency and reliability through automation and CI/CD improvements .
• Champion best practices to reduce release cycle times and improve release quality.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation for release processes, standards, and compliance requirements.

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in mobile release management across iOS and Android.
• Strong working knowledge of JIRA and TestRail .
• Hands-on experience with build management, store submissions, localization workflows, and incident handling .
• Familiarity with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, or Fastlane.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent releases in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Understanding of security, compliance, and audit considerations for mobile applications.