Boeing

Chief Release Manager

Boeing$159K — $194K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 1+ year in a leadership role or completion of Boeing's 'Exploring Leadership' course
  • 10+ years delivering SAP solution development (functional & technical)
  • 3+ years orchestrating wave-based SAP releases on global implementations
  • Experience with SAP Activate methodology
  • 3+ years using change/transport tools: SAP CTS+, Solution Manager, Cloud ALM, Active Control or Rev-Trac
  • 5+ years in SAP release management/test automation
  • 3+ years SAP hands-on experience (FI, SD, MM, PP, etc.)

Responsibilities

  • Design and maintain wave-based release roadmaps aligned with SAP Activate phases
  • Define release scope, sequencing, and coordination across all streams
  • Establish release gates and quality checkpoints for all waves
  • Lead planning ceremonies and manage interdependencies and risks
  • Own system migration strategy and govern transport management process
  • Oversee technical release decisions and system integration testing
  • Develop cutover plans, orchestrate rehearsals, and lead hypercare activities

Benefits

  • Health insurance and flexible spending accounts
  • Health savings accounts and retirement savings plans
  • Life and disability insurance programs
  • Paid and unpaid time off options
  • Relocation assistance based on eligibility
Full Job Description
Chief Release Manager

Position Responsibilities:

Release Planning & Wave Orchestration
  • Design and maintain comprehensive wave-based release roadmaps aligned with SAP Activate phases (Discover, Prepare, Explore, Realize, Deploy, Run)
  • Define release scope, sequencing, and cutover strategies for each wave, coordinating across value streams, work streams, business and technical streams
  • Establish and enforce release gates, entry/exit criteria, and quality checkpoints across all waves
  • Lead release planning ceremonies including kick-offs, milestone reviews, go/no-go calls, and post-release retrospectives.
  • Manage wave-level interdependencies, critical path analysis, and schedule risk mitigation


Environment & Transport Management
  • Own the SAP system migration strategy - defining configuration and governance of transport landscape from Development, QA, Pre-Production, and Production environments
  • Govern the transport management process using SAP certified migration tools (Active Control, Rev-Trac, Cloud ALM etc), ensuring all transports are tracked, tested, and promoted through the landscape in a controlled manner
  • Coordinate activities including system refreshes, client copies, kernel upgrades, and patch cycles in alignment with release schedules
  • Manage environment availability windows and prevent environment conflicts across concurrent workstreams


SAP Technical Oversight
  • Apply working knowledge of SAP Basis (system administration, workload management, performance tuning, authorization concepts) to facilitate technical release decisions
  • Collaborate with ABAP development teams on transport packaging, code freeze enforcement, and regression risk assessment
  • Evaluate technical change impact analyses and translate findings into actionable release risk decisions
  • Oversee SAP system integrations, middleware touchpoints, and interface testing coordination within the release cycle
  • Support solution validation activities including SIT, UAT, performance testing, and cutover rehearsals


Stakeholder & Governance
  • Serve as the single point of accountability for release status across program leadership, business owners, and SI partners
  • Maintain the release register, change log, and decision log; produce executive dashboards and release status reports
  • Chair the Release Advisory Board (RAB) or Change Advisory Board (CAB) cadences
  • Identify, escalate, and resolve release blockers in a timely manner, broker trade-off decisions between scope, schedule, and quality
  • Partner with PMO, Solution Architects, and Business Process Owners to align release content with program objectives


Cutover & Go-Live Management
  • Develop and maintain detailed cutover plans and runbooks for each wave go-live event
  • Orchestrate dry-run/mock cutover rehearsals and document lessons learned for continuous improvement
  • Lead hypercare planning, war-room operations, and stabilization activities in the immediate post-go-live period
  • Coordinate decommissioning of legacy systems and data archival activities where applicable


Process Improvement & Tooling
  • Continuously refine release management processes, playbooks, and tooling to increase velocity and reduce risk
  • Champion DevOps and automation practices (CI/CD pipelines, automated testing integration, release automation tools such as SAP Cloud ALM, Solman, or third-party orchestration platforms)
  • Establish metrics and KPIs for release health: deployment frequency, change failure rate, mean time to restore (MTTR), and cycle time


To be considered for this position you will be required to complete an assessment as part of the selection process. Failure to complete the assessment will remove you from consideration.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills/Experience)
  • Candidates must have at least one year of experience in a leadership role (team leader, temp manager, large scale cross functional project/program management, or formal manager experience) OR have completed the Boeing internal course "Exploring Leadership."
  • 10+ years of experience delivering of SAP solution development efforts including functional and technical solutions
  • 3+ years orchestrating wave-based SAP releases on large-scale, global implementations (ECC, S/4HANA, or hybrid landscapes)
  • Experience with SAP activate methodology
  • 3+ years with change/transport tooling: SAP CTS+, SAP Solution Manager (ChaRM / Focused Build), SAP Cloud ALM, Active Control or Rev-Trac
  • 5+ years in SAP release management and/or test automation
  • 3+ years of hands-on experience with any of the following SAP skills; FI, SD, MM, PP, GTS, EH&S, CFIN, GPD, PS, EWM, Manhattan Associate AATP or SAP Basis
  • 3+ years of experience with creating engineering release plans and releasing engineering
  • Must have excellent written and verbal skills to communicate pertinent details regarding major incidents to executives, product, and technical teams
  • Must be willing to travel up to 25%


Preferred Qualifications (Desired skills/experience)
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related technical discipline
  • 10+ years of experience Leading delivery of SAP solution development efforts including functional and technical solutions (SAP Solutions Manager)
  • SAP Activate Methodology Certification or equivalent Agile/SAFe certification
  • Experience with S/4HANA greenfield or brownfield conversion programs
  • Exposure to SAP BTP, SAP Integration Suite, or SAP Datasphere in a release context
  • 5+ years orchestrating wave-based SAP releases on large-scale, global implementations (ECC, S/4HANA, or hybrid landscapes)
  • 5+ years with change/transport tooling: SAP CTS+, SAP Solution Manager (ChaRM / Focused Build), SAP Cloud ALM, Active Control or Rev-Trac
  • Familiarity with ITSM frameworks (ITIL v4) and formal CAB/RAB governance models
  • Experience with cloud-native CI/CD tooling integrated with SAP delivery pipelines (Jenkins, Azure DevOps, GitLab CI)
  • PMP, PMI-ACP, or SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) certification.
  • Prior experience in regulated industries (Aviation & Defense) with validation and compliance requirements
  • Relevant SAP technology certifications (SAP Activate, SAP Solution Manager, SAP Basis, etc.)
  • Experience managing complex multi-vendor and SI partner ecosystems within a formal governance model
  • 3+ years experience with SAP development practices (Fiori, ABAP) : object types, transport categories, code freeze disciplines, and regression risk assessment


Conflict of Interest:

Successful candidates for this job must satisfy the Company's Conflict of Interest (COI) assessment process.

Drug Free Workplace:

Boeing is a Drug Free Workplace where post offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies.

Pay & Benefits:

At Boeing, we strive to deliver a Total Rewards package that will attract, engage and retain the top talent. Elements of the Total Rewards package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities.

The Boeing Company also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work.

The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

Pay is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

Summary pay range:$159,300 - $194,700

Language Requirements:
Not Applicable

Education:
Not Applicable

Relocation:
This position offers relocation based on candidate eligibility.

Export Control Requirement:
This position must meet U.S. export control compliance requirements. To meet U.S. export control compliance requirements, a "U.S. Person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. #120.62 is required. "U.S. Person" includes U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.

Safety Sensitive:
This is not a Safety Sensitive Position.

Security Clearance:
This position does not require a Security Clearance.

Visa Sponsorship:
Employer will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status.

Contingent Upon Award Program
This position is not contingent upon program award

Shift:
Shift 1 (United States of America)

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About Boeing

Insitu designs, develops, produces, and operates high-performance, cost-effective unmanned aircraft systems. The company’s focus is to deliver ISR information to their customers that are located all over the world, whether on land or at sea. To meet new operational needs and address the global market, they have introduced scores of game-changing technologies that have improved imagery and exploitation, operational security, training, airspace safety, reliability, maintainability, and availability. They are fully backed by their parent company, The Boeing Company, and its 95+ years of world-renowned innovation, delivery, performance and value. Insitu Pacific, the company’s Australia-based affiliate, was established to serve the unique needs of the Asia-Pacific region. Insitu also maintains a strong network of partners and suppliers, allowing them to provide specialized, in-country support for any region in the world. Insitu was founded in 1994 and is based in Bingen, Washington, United States.

Boeing Careers

Joining Boeing presents an unparalleled opportunity to advance your career with a leader in innovation and aerospace technology. As part of our global team, you will contribute to some of the most challenging and transformative projects in the aerospace industry today. Work You’ll Do At Boeing, we are committed to pioneering advancements in aerospace and defense. Our team is looking for professionals who are eager to drive innovation and lead the industry in creating cutting-edge solutions for the future. Transform the Sky Work alongside the brightest minds in the industry to reshape the future of air travel and defense solutions. Boeing offers a unique position at the forefront of aerospace innovation, where technology meets visionary leadership. Engage with a Global Team Collaborate with over 140,000 employees worldwide, all dedicated to achieving excellence and pioneering new solutions. Boeing’s diverse and inclusive culture fosters a collaborative environment that encourages networking and professional growth. Boeing Career Opportunities We are actively expanding our team and have numerous job opportunities, from internships to leadership positions. Boeing is committed to hiring top talent and providing them with the training, benefits, and support needed to succeed. Innovate and Grow Join a company that values innovation and leadership. At Boeing, you will have access to extensive professional development programs and diversity training that will future-proof your career and enhance your skills. Be Part of Our Team Experience the culture of growth and excellence at Boeing. Our team is driven by a passion for aerospace and a commitment to achieving extraordinary results. We offer competitive benefits and a supportive environment where every employee is valued. Explore Boeing’s Impact From revolutionizing air travel to advancing global satellite communications, Boeing is at the forefront of technological innovation. Our projects not only support global infrastructure but also contribute to humanitarian missions and environmental sustainability. The Boeing Advantage Our commitment to leadership in aerospace is matched by our dedication to our employees' career advancement. Boeing fosters an environment where innovation, leadership, and a diverse workforce thrive. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search for open positions that match your skills and interests. We are looking for passionate, curious, and driven team players ready to make a significant impact. SEARCH BOEING JOBS Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, the latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await at Boeing.
Learn more about Boeing
Size
142,000 employees
Market Cap
$112.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$11.8 billion
Founded
1916
5 Year Trend
-7.8%
Revenue
$58.6 billion
NASDAQ

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