Associate Release Manager - Blizzard Entertainment

Team Name

Quality Assurance

Job Title

Associate Release Manager | Irvine, CA or Austin, TX

Requisition ID

R026600

Job Description

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 Austin, TX and Irvine, CA.

Job Summary

The Associate Release Manager is a professional who will support first-party submissions and releases for major platforms. They support the submissions team in the setup of 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 escalating any issues arising during approval and obtaining guidance in addressing them. Additionally, will support configuring and releasing products and updates, executing quality control checks, and providing expert technical guidance and platform support to development teams. They understand and support submission activities and may participate in product development meetings. They have mastered the fundamental submission process, collaborating with stakeholders to meet objectives.

What You Bring To The Table

• Support first-party submissions and releases (i.e., Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Apple, Google, Amazon).
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to set up bundles, promotions, and events.
• Proactively gather all necessary assets required for timely delivery to first parties.
• Support in preparing and submitting builds, downloadable content, and metadata to first parties.
• Report any issues hindering first-party approval and collaborate with senior staff to troubleshoot and resolve them.
• Support in configuring and releasing products and updates to development and live environments.
• Execute and document quality control checks for submissions and releases.
• Communicate with platform support to development teams.
• Process, verify, and deliver builds to quality assurance teams across all supported platforms.
• Ensure project tracking tools and documentation meet team standards and are up to date.
• 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.

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• Effectively drive and facilitate group tasks to completion and promote a team environment.
• Provide the submissions team with recommendations or suggestions on technical and process improvement opportunities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Experience

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum 3 years of experience in submitting AAA games to first parties required.
• Experience working with a global QA team structure preferred.
  
  

Knowledge & Skills

• High School diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor’s Degree in a related field preferred.
• Knowledge of first party submission tools and platforms.
• Solid understanding of software development processes and project management methodologies.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills in a team environment.
  
  

EXTRA POINTS

• Ability to maintain scripts to automate manual repetitive tasks.
• Technical requirements testing experience (TRC, XR, App Store Review Guidelines, etc.)
• ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) or equivalent.
• Global age rating boards experience.
• Project management certifications.

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• High level of gaming knowledge and/or skill.
• Passion for Blizzard’s line of products and services.
  
  

Your Platform

Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), 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 industry’s 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 Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

Our World

Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's 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’ - we’ve 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 accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. 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.

Rewards

Requirements

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. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $24.04 - $44.47 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.