Release Manager

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Canada, +1 more country.

📋 Description

• Take charge of how Tailscale delivers its product both internally and to customers.

• Develop and manage the release coordination process.

• Establish operational practices that connect product and engineering.

• Set the release rhythm, define responsibilities, create tools, and agree on release standards.

• Design, execute, and continuously refine release management, covering readiness criteria, rollout coordination, and go/no-go decisions.

• Create and uphold tools, templates, runbooks, and documentation for consistent, low-friction releases.

• Collaborate with engineering leads and product managers to identify risks and facilitate resolutions.

• Define and monitor operational metrics like release frequency and change failure rates.

• Facilitate planning rituals across teams to ensure coordinated engineering and product efforts and timely releases.

• Identify and lead systemic operational enhancements using data and sound judgment.

• Subsequently extend processes into other areas of product and engineering collaboration, such as operational metrics.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 5 years of experience in engineering operations, release management, or a similar role within a software company.

• Proven experience in developing or significantly enhancing release management processes.

• Technical expertise in build systems, deployment pipelines, branching strategies, and production operations.

• Strong discernment regarding effective processes versus unnecessary complexity, focusing on trust and adoption.

• Ability to navigate ambiguity and construct structure from the ground up.

• Experience with both client and server software release processes is a plus.

• Background in a developer tools, infrastructure, or security-focused SaaS company is advantageous.

• Familiarity with DORA metrics is preferred.

• Experience with feature flag systems, progressive rollouts, or canary deployments is a plus.

• Experience in scaling operational practices during periods of rapid team or product growth is beneficial.

• Hands-on experience using Tailscale at work or home is a plus.

🏝️ Benefits

• Equity incentive plan.

• Comprehensive group benefits with no waiting period, including health, vision, and dental coverage for employees and their families.

• Fully remote work environment with flexible work arrangements.

• Opportunities for virtual and in-person social events.

• Corporate co-working program.

• Employer-funded retirement contributions that match employee contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to 0.75% of eligible compensation annually.

• Annual company retreat and team off-sites.

• $1500 USD per year for professional development.

• Mentorship, coaching, and opportunities for internal promotions.

• Flexible paid time off.

• Company-provided laptop (Mac or PC).

• Monthly reimbursement for home internet expenses.

• $500 USD allowance for workstation customization.

• Paid parental leave enhancements: 20 weeks for birthing parents and 16 weeks for non-birthing parents.