Release Manager

Overview The ideal candidate will have a strong background in release management, a keen understanding of finance applications, and experience in the insurance sector. This role requires a proactive approach, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. As an DevOps Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining our CI/CD pipelines, ensuring the seamless integration and delivery of software products. You will work closely with development, operations, and quality assurance teams to automate and streamline our processes, improve system reliability, and enhance overall productivity. Your role will involve managing Azure resources, configuring build and release pipelines, and monitoring system performance. You will also be expected to troubleshoot issues, implement security best practices, and stay up to date with the latest industry trends and technologies. The successful candidate will possess excellent problem-solving skills, a proactive mindset, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Key Responsibilities Release Planning and Coordination • Develop and maintain release schedules for the finance application, ensuring alignment with business objectives and compliance requirements. • Coordinate with various stakeholders, including development, QA, and operations teams, to ensure smooth and timely releases. • Ensure all release activities are properly documented and communicated to relevant parties. Deployment Management • Oversee the deployment of new releases, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations and adherence to SLAs. • Manage rollback plans and contingency measures in case of deployment issues. • Collaborate with the IT operations team to ensure optimal performance and availability of the finance application during and after releases. • Design, implement, and maintain CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps. • Manage and optimize Azure resources and infrastructure. • Collaborate with development, operations, and QA teams to streamline processes. • Automate deployment and release processes. • Monitor system performance and troubleshoot issues. • Implement security best practices and ensure compliance. • Stay up to date with industry trends and new technologies. • Provide technical guidance and support to team members. • Document processes and procedures. • Participate in code reviews and provide feedback. • Ensure high availability and reliability of systems. • Optimize build and release processes for efficiency. • Manage version control systems and branching strategies. • Implement and maintain infrastructure as code (IaC). • Configure and manage monitoring and alerting systems. • Collaborate on disaster recovery planning and implementation. • Conduct performance tuning and optimization. • Support continuous improvement initiatives. • Develop and maintain automation scripts. • Ensure seamless integration of new tools and technologies. Incident and Problem Management • Act as the primary point of contact for release-related incidents and problems, ensuring timely resolution and root cause analysis. • Coordinate with L1 and L3 support teams to address and resolve issues impacting releases. • Maintain a comprehensive incident and problem management log, documenting all actions taken and lessons learned Continuous Improvement • Identify opportunities for process improvements in release management and implement best practices. • Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to release management activities. • Participate in post-release reviews and retrospectives to gather feedback and drive continual improvement. Qualifications Education and Experience • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. • Minimum of 5 years of experience in release management or a similar role within the finance or insurance industry. • Proven track record of successfully managing complex releases in a fast-paced environment. • Strong knowledge of Azure/Google cloud services and infrastructure. Familiarity with Azure Data Factory (ADF), SSIS, Azure Synapse and cloud platforms. • Experience with CI/CD tools like Bitbucket, Jenkins, GitHub, and Azure DevOps. • Proficiency in scripting languages such as PowerShell, Python, or Bash. • Familiarity with containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes. • Understanding of version control systems, especially Git. • Experience with infrastructure as code (IaC) tools like Terraform or ARM templates. • Knowledge of monitoring and logging tools such as Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, or Splunk. • Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills. • Excellent communication and collaboration abilities. • Experience with Agile and Scrum methodologies. • Understanding of network and security best practices. • Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. • Proactive and self-motivated with a strong attention to detail. • Experience with automated testing frameworks. • Knowledge of database management and optimization. • Familiarity with serverless computing and microservices architecture. • Ability to mentor and guide junior team members. • Strong organizational and time management skills Technical Skills • Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and release management processes. • Experience with release management tools (e.g., Jenkins, Git, Jira). • Knowledge of finance applications and their integration within the insurance industry. • Familiarity with ITIL framework and best practices in IT service management. Soft Skills • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. • Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams. • Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively. • Attention to detail and proactive in identifying potential issues before they escalate. Additional Skills • Experience with financial products, applications, or regulatory reporting applications, such as Prophet, SAS, SunGL, OneStream, Oracle ERP, IFRS17, others. • Experience with Disaster Recovery processes and data replication activities. • Knowledge of audit processes and compliance requirements.