Release Manager

At Rohde & Schwarz Topex, we are shaping the future of Air Traffic Communication Systems (ATC) by developing cutting-edge infrastructure that ensures airspace remains a safe environment. Our Voice Communication Systems (VCS) depend on highly reliable, secure, and predictable delivery of software and infrastructure updates - making the Release Manager role essential to our mission. As Release Manager, you will join a passionate and highly skilled engineering organization, working at the core of our product line. You will coordinate and oversee the release lifecycle for our next-generation VoIP-based ATC Voice Handling system, ensuring that every software, configuration, and platform update is delivered with precision, compliance, and minimal operational impact. A strong drive for process optimization, automation, and continuous improvement is key to succeeding in this role. You will be responsible for strengthening and evolving our release processes—ensuring stable, repeatable, and auditable delivery pipelines that support both our existing signaling modules and the evolution of our next-generation VCS. Beyond the technical aspects, you will help promote a culture of operational excellence, proactively identifying bottlenecks and implementing improvements that elevate the reliability and performance of our entire development ecosystem. At Rohde & Schwarz Topex, people are our most valuable asset. We value leaders who can collaborate effectively across teams, support knowledge-sharing, and foster a performance-driven environment. While this is not a direct people-management role, you will play an important part in guiding teams toward best practices in release management, configuration management, and deployment readiness. In this role, you will work closely with DevSecOps, Testing, Quality Assurance, System Engineering, and Production teams, while also providing essential alignment and communication for Support, Project Management, and Sales. Your efforts will help ensure that every release supports our operational commitments—delivering the stability, safety, and reliability expected in mission-critical air traffic systems.

Your tasks

• Release Planning & Delivery
• Develop, maintain, and communicate a clear release calendar for Air Traffic Communication systems and supporting applications.
• Coordinate release scope, timelines, and dependencies across development, QA, operations, and business teams.
• Ensure all releases meet regulatory requirements, safety constraints, and internal quality standards.
• Facilitate release readiness reviews and lead go/no-go decision meetings. Execution & Deployment Oversight
• Oversee deployment activities in test, staging, and production environments.
• Develop rollback and recovery procedures for failed deployments.
• Ensure stable, predictable release cycles with minimal operational disruption.
• Monitor and manage release-related risks, issues, and rollback plans.
• Validate post-deployment performance and ensure successful handover to operations. Governance, Compliance & Documentation
• Maintain accurate documentation for all release processes and artifacts.
• Ensure alignment with industry regulations, cybersecurity guidelines, and internal change management frameworks.
• Promote adherence to configuration management and traceability standards required in air traffic systems. Process Optimization & Automation
• Identify opportunities for automation in build, test, and deployment workflows.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance release efficiency, reliability, and visibility.
• Contribute to the refinement of CI/CD pipelines and tooling.
• Implement trunk-based development or CI/CD pipelines with strict controls for mission-critical environments.
• Defines controls - automate deployment pipelines while enforcing strict validation and monitoring (approval gates, compliance checks, rollback procedures)
• Ensure observability and telemetry are integrated into release workflows. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication
• Serve as the primary liaison for all release-related communication.
• Provide regular status updates, KPIs, and release performance metrics to technical leadership and stakeholders.
• Foster strong collaboration between engineering, QA, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and operational teams.

Your Qualifications

• Technical Expertise
• Solid understanding of SDLC, DevOps principles, and modern CI/CD practices.
• Hands-on experience with release orchestration tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps).
• Proficiency with version control systems (Git) and issue tracking (Jira or similar).
• Understanding of secure software deployments, redundancy concepts, and high-availability environments. Industry-Specific Knowledge
• Experience in safety-critical or regulated sectors (aviation, telecommunications, defense, transportation, etc.).
• Familiarity with air traffic communication systems, standards, or regulations (e.g., ED-153, ISO standards, or equivalent) is a strong advantage. Professional Skills
• Strong planning, coordination, and prioritization abilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple releases in parallel while maintaining compliance and quality.
• Problem-solving mindset with attention to detail and risk awareness. Preferred Qualifications
• University degree in Electronics, Computer Science or similar education.
• 4–8 years of experience in release management, DevOps, or related IT roles.
• Experience working with hybrid cloud or mixed on-prem/cloud systems.
• Background in mission-critical systems or high-availability infrastructures.
• Certifications such as ITIL, Agile/Scrum, or DevOps certifications are an advantage.

Interested?

We are looking forward to receiving your application Ideally, you should apply online with the reference number. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your recruiting contact via LinkedIn.

We promote equal opportunities and welcome applications from people with and without disabilities. We offer an inclusive work environment where all individuals can develop their skills and talents regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social background, religion, worldview, age, sexual orientation, identity, and other characteristics.

Rohde & Schwarz is a global technology company with approximately 14,000 employees and three divisions Test & Measurement, Technology Systems and Networks & Cybersecurity. For 90 years, the company has been developing cutting-edge technology, pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible and enabling customers from various sectors such as business, government and public authorities to maintain their technological sovereignty.

Our offer

• Flexible working hour models
• Financial benefits
• Training & continuing education
• Company restaurant/café
• Health care
• Wellbeing programs
• Public transport
• Bookster
• Family care