Release Manager, Engineering

We are seeking an AI-First Release Manager to rethink how engineering delivers software at scale. This is not a traditional, spreadsheet-heavy coordination role. You will sit at the intersection of release engineering and technical program management, operating as both a builder and a strategist.

You will not simply manage the release lifecycle; you will automate it. We want someone who leverages modern AI developer tools to rapidly prototype, code, and deploy custom tooling that eliminates manual overhead. If you are passionate about using generative AI to solve complex coordination bottlenecks, automate risk assessment, and drive engineering velocity, this role is your sandbox.

Responsibilities: 

Release Management & Automation

• AI-Driven Release Lifecycles: Manage the end-to-end release strategy and own the full release cycle for the C3 AI Platform and Applications. Replace manual go/no-go meetings with data-driven, AI-supported deployment pipelines, automated release readiness assessments, and streamlined executive communications.
• Build Your Own Tooling: Act as a force multiplier. Use AI coding assistants and low-code/no-code platforms to rapidly build scripts, bots, and custom automations that streamline branching, build coordination, and dependency tracking. Maintain comprehensive program dashboards, status reports, and executive-level summaries that provide clear visibility into release health and delivery.
• Intelligent Quality Gates: Define and enforce release criteria through dynamic, automated quality gates that ensure reliability, security, and performance, rather than static checklists.
• Predictive Incident Management: Manage hotfixes and patch releases using AI-driven root cause analysis and automated triage, mobilizing teams quickly with full context.
• Automated Stakeholder Communication: Engineer workflows that automatically synthesize release notes, update status dashboards, and generate clear go-live communications for internal and external stakeholders.

Technical Program Management & AI-Native Execution

• Strategic Program Leadership: Lead comprehensive program management for critical engineering projects, driving alignment on scope, schedule, and success metrics across product, engineering, and infrastructure teams. Facilitate release readiness reviews, program increment planning, and retrospectives, translating outcomes into clear, time-bound commitments.
• Predictive Execution & Tracking: Replace manual status gathering with automated dashboards and LLM-generated progress summaries. Leverage data to predict bottlenecks, surface dependencies, and mitigate risks before they impact the release train. Conduct structured post-mortem analyses following major releases or incidents, identifying systemic issues and driving actionable follow-through.
• Builder of Bridges (and Bots): Foster cross-functional alignment not only through meetings, but by deploying self-serve internal tooling, automated workflows, and ChatOps integrations that keep distributed teams synchronized effortlessly.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or graduate degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of combined experience in release management and technical program management within a software or enterprise AI environment.
• Deep familiarity with modern software release processes, including CI/CD pipelines, GitOps workflows, branching strategies, and deployment automation.
• Proven track record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs from inception through delivery in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML infrastructure, cloud-native architectures, and enterprise SaaS delivery models.
• Exceptional ability to distill technical complexity into clear executive-level communications, status reports, and risk summaries.
• Proficiency with project and program management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence) and methodologies (Agile, SAFe, Scrum, Kanban).
• Outstanding organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and drive multiple concurrent workstreams to on-time completion.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with enterprise AI/ML platforms or large-scale data infrastructure products.
• Familiarity with release tooling such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or similar CI/CD platforms.
• PMP, PgMP, or SAFe certification.
• Experience operating in a publicly traded, high-scrutiny software company serving enterprise customers.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future company sponsorship.

Compensation (from employer):
California Base Pay Range — 99,000 – 190,000 USD — (<p>C3 AI provides excellent benefits, a competitive compensation package and generous equity plan.&nbsp;</p>)