Job Description

The Manager, Release Management is a senior leadership role responsible for improving the predictability, safety, and credibility of software releases across both on‑premises and cloud‑based products.

This role initially operates in a learning and enablement posture, focusing on observing existing release practices, supporting teams, identifying systemic risks, and improving release readiness using objective evidence and transparency. Over time, the role transitions to direct people leadership, managing the individual contributors responsible for day‑to‑day release management execution.

The Manager ensures release decisions are grounded in facts, readiness signals, and risk awareness rather than optimism or schedule pressure. Success is measured by fewer surprises, reduced release risk, smoother stabilization, and increased trust, rather than release speed alone.

Job Functions

• Observe, understand, and support existing release processes across on‑prem and cloud products.
• Improve release predictability by identifying systemic risks, gaps, and recurring failure modes.
• Partner with external groups and other functions within Software Excellence & Enablement (SEE) to define and apply objective release readiness and lifecycle gates.
• Support deployment teams with the data, dashboards, and evidence needed to make informed release decisions.
• Serve as a trusted escalation point for release readiness and risk discussions.
• Help establish consistent release practices, cadence, and expectations across products over time.
• Ensure release decisions balance customer commitments, technical readiness, and operational risk.
• Facilitate release readiness reviews, stabilization reviews, and learning loops.
• Improve transparency into release status, readiness, and post‑release outcomes.
• Partner with DevOps, Observability, SecOps, and FinOps to ensure releases meet quality, security, operational, and cost expectations.
• Reduce reliance on heroics and last‑minute fixes by strengthening upstream readiness.
• Over time, provide people leadership for Release Management individual contributors, including coaching, prioritization, and performance management.
• Develop Release Management talent and establish clear ownership and accountability within the function.

Travel Requirements

• 15% overnight travel (Travel expenses paid by Toyota Automated Logistics)

Required Qualifications and Preferred Skills

• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Experience leading or coordinating software releases in complex environments.
• Strong understanding of software delivery lifecycles for both on‑prem and cloud systems.
• Experience supporting release decisions using objective data rather than subjective status.
• Comfort working across engineering, operations, delivery, and product teams.
• Ability to surface and communicate risk clearly and early.
• Experience improving processes through observation, learning, and incremental change.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills at both technical and leadership levels.
• Familiarity with DevOps, CI/CD, observability, and operational readiness concepts.
• Ability to transition from hands‑on involvement to people leadership as teams scale.
• Must be eligible to work in the USA long term without sponsorship.
• Employees must follow all information security policies, protect confidential data, complete required training, and report any suspected security incidents to support our information security controls.

About Toyota Automated Logistics

Toyota Automated Logistics is your global partner for integrated warehouse automation. Our team combines the talents of Bastian Solutions, Vanderlande’s warehousing business and viastore under one brand to deliver scalable systems, intelligent software and life-cycle services.

In addition to exciting work at a growing company, we offer the following benefits:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with a company match
• Vacation / Holiday Pay
• Paid Volunteer time off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Professional Associations, Conferences and Subscriptions
• Company Meetings & Events

Toyota Automated Logistics does not work with outside recruiting agencies. No solicitation phone calls please.