1

Release Management Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

This position requires a deep understanding of Salesforce release management processes, and collaboration with cross-functional teams. You will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and ...

Release Manager

VA · On-site +1

... management processes. - Coordinate closely with the Configuration Change Manager to ensure all releases are governed and executed in accordance with agency-directed processes, system engineering ...

Senior Release Manager

Mclean, VA · On-site

$100K - $160K/yr

The ideal candidate will have strong Project Management skills as well as release management experience with cloud technologies. * Negotiate, plan, and manage all release activities * Track risks and ...

Senior Release Manager

Mclean, VA · On-site +1

$100K - $160K/yr

The ideal candidate will have strong Project Management skills as well as release management experience with cloud technologies. Contributions * Negotiate, plan, and manage all release activities

Senior Release Manager

Mclean, VA · On-site +1

$100K - $160K/yr

The ideal candidate will have strong Project Management skills as well as release management experience with cloud technologies. Contributions * Negotiate, plan, and manage all release activities

Release Manager

Vienna, VA · Hybrid

$90K - $128K/yr

Oversee the Release Management Process for a Major IT Investment, * Plan releases of applications and features in accordance with mandated policies * Communicate the project-related tasks such as ...

Release Manager

Vienna, VA · On-site

$90K - $128K/yr

Oversee the Release Management Process for a Major IT Investment, * Plan releases of applications and features in accordance with mandated policies * Communicate the project-related tasks such as ...

Understanding of change management, release management, configuration management, and deployment governance practices. * Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, application deployment workflows, DevOps ...

Understanding of change management, release management, configuration management, and deployment governance practices. * Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, application deployment workflows, DevOps ...

Release Manager

Vienna, VA · On-site

$120 - $126/hr

Understanding of change management, release management, configuration management, and deployment governance practices. * Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, application deployment workflows, DevOps ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Release Management information

See Washington salary details

$5

$51

$91

How much do release management jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for release management in Washington is $51.85, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $27.21 and $70.24 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is release management?

Release management is the process of planning, scheduling, coordinating, and overseeing the deployment of software releases into production environments. It ensures that new features, updates, or fixes are delivered smoothly and reliably, minimizing risks and disruptions to users. Release management involves collaboration between development, QA, operations, and other teams to ensure that software is tested, documented, and ready for deployment. Effective release management helps organizations deliver high-quality software faster and with fewer errors.

What are the main challenges faced by professionals in release management, and how can they be effectively addressed?

Release Management professionals often encounter challenges such as coordinating among multiple development teams, managing tight deadlines, and ensuring minimal disruption during software deployment. Effective communication, strong organizational skills, and the use of automation tools like CI/CD pipelines can help mitigate these issues. Proactively identifying dependencies and maintaining clear documentation also aids in smoother releases. Building strong relationships with stakeholders across development, QA, and operations teams is essential for addressing obstacles and ensuring successful releases.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a release manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Release Manager, you need expertise in software development lifecycle management, project coordination, and a solid understanding of IT processes, often supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with release automation tools (such as Jenkins, Git, or Azure DevOps), ITIL certifications, and configuration management systems is typically required. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for coordinating cross-functional teams and ensuring successful deployments. These abilities are essential for minimizing release risks, maintaining system stability, and delivering high-quality software updates on schedule.

What is the difference between Release Management vs Software Deployment Specialist?

AspectRelease ManagementSoftware Deployment Specialist
Primary FocusOverseeing the planning, scheduling, and coordination of software releasesExecuting the deployment of software updates and releases into production
ResponsibilitiesManaging release lifecycle, risk assessment, communication between teamsInstalling, configuring, and testing software in live environments
CertificationsITIL, Agile certifications often preferredITIL, scripting, and automation tools certifications
Work EnvironmentCollaborative, cross-team coordination in IT/Software companiesTechnical, hands-on deployment tasks in data centers or cloud environments

While Release Management focuses on the overall planning and coordination of software releases, the Software Deployment Specialist handles the technical execution of deploying software updates. Both roles are essential in the software release process but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What does a release management do?

A release management professional oversees the planning, scheduling, and coordination of software releases to ensure smooth deployment and minimal disruption. They work closely with development, testing, and operations teams, often using tools like Jenkins or Git, to manage version control and deployment processes efficiently.

What skills do you need to be a release management?

Release management requires strong project management skills, knowledge of software development lifecycle, and familiarity with tools like Jenkins, Git, or Jira. Effective communication, attention to detail, and the ability to coordinate across teams are essential. Certifications such as ITIL can also enhance a release manager's qualifications.

What are the most commonly searched types of Release Management jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Release Management jobs in Washington are:

What are popular job titles related to Release Management jobs in Washington?

For Release Management jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in Washington are hiring for Release Management jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Release Management job openings:

Infographic showing various Release Management job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,857 per year, or $51.9 per hour.

Release Management Lead

Agelix Consulting

Washington, DC • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago


Job description

Position Title: Release Management Lead
Location: Washington, D.C. 20250 (Hybrid – on‑site & remote)
Employment Type: Full‑Time
Experience Level: Senior


Role Summary

The Release Management Lead will design, govern, and continuously improve the enterprise release and deployment framework across dozens of applications and services. Acting as the central point of coordination, you will partner with development, operations, security, compliance, and business stakeholders to ensure that every change—whether a minor patch or a major version upgrade—is delivered safely, predictably, and on schedule.


Key Responsibilities#Responsibility1Strategic Release Planning – Build and maintain a multi‑tier release calendar that aligns with business priorities, regulatory windows, and technology roadmaps. Forecast capacity, identify potential conflicts, and communicate plans to senior leadership.2End‑to‑End Release Execution – Oversee all phases of the release lifecycle: requirement gathering, build, test, staging, deployment, verification, and post‑release validation. Ensure each step follows documented processes and compliance controls.3Cross‑Team Coordination – Lead a Release Advisory Board (RAB) and coordinate with product owners, Scrum Masters, architects, security, QA, and infrastructure teams. Resolve inter‑application dependencies and mitigate risks before cut‑over.4Automation & Tooling – Champion the adoption and optimization of CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, Azure DevOps, GitLab) and release orchestration tools (e.g., ServiceNow, Octopus Deploy, Harness). Develop scripts and templates to automate repetitive tasks and improve deployment speed.5Risk & Change Management – Conduct rigorous impact analyses, maintain a robust change‑control database, and enforce rollback/contingency plans. Generate risk‑based release scores and present them to the Change Advisory Board (CAB).6Metrics & Continuous Improvement – Define KPIs (e.g., deployment frequency, lead time, change failure rate, MTTR). Produce regular release health dashboards and drive root‑cause analysis for incidents to improve quality and efficiency.7Compliance & Security – Ensure releases meet FedRAMP, NIST, FISMA, and internal security standards. Integrate security scanning, vulnerability assessment, and audit trails into the release pipeline.8Mentorship & Team Development – Guide a small team of Release Coordinators/Engineers. Conduct training sessions on best practices, tooling, and governance frameworks.9Stakeholder Communication – Prepare executive‑level briefs, release notes, and post‑mortem reports. Act as the primary point of contact for any release‑related escalations.10Vendor & Third‑Party Management – Manage relationships with external SaaS providers, platform vendors, and integration partners to align their release cycles with internal schedules.
Required QualificationsCategoryMinimum RequirementsEducationBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).Experience8+ years of progressive experience in release management, configuration management, or DevOps within large‑scale, enterprise environments. At least 4 years of experience leading release programs that span multiple applications with significant inter‑dependencies.Technical Skills• Deep knowledge of release methodologies (Waterfall, Agile, SAFe).
• Hands‑on experience with CI/CD platforms (Jenkins, Azure DevOps, GitLab, CircleCI).
• Proficiency in infrastructure‑as‑code (Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible).
• Strong grasp of version control (Git) and branching strategies.
• Familiarity with containerization/orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).Process & Governance• Expertise in ITIL/ITSM change management, ServiceNow or comparable ticketing tools.
• Demonstrated ability to design release governance frameworks and RAB/CAB processes.Security & CompliancePractical experience ensuring releases meet FedRAMP, NIST 800‑53, or other federal security standards.LeadershipProven track record of leading cross‑functional teams, influencing senior stakeholders, and driving cultural change toward automation and reliability.CommunicationExcellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate technical concepts for executive and non‑technical audiences.AnalyticalStrong problem‑solving aptitude with data‑driven decision‑making (KPIs, dashboards, trend analysis).
Preferred Qualifications
  • Certifications: ITIL® Foundation/Intermediate, Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), AWS/Azure/GCP Cloud Architect, Certified DevOps Engineer, or PMP.
  • Experience in federal or defense contracting environments.
  • Prior exposure to ServiceNow Release Management module.
  • Knowledge of Application Performance Monitoring tools (New Relic, Dynatrace).
  • Familiarity with SecDevOps practices (SAST/DAST, SBOM, secret scanning).

Core CompetenciesCompetencyDescriptionStrategic VisionAnticipates downstream impacts of releases across a portfolio of interrelated systems.Risk ManagementBalances speed of delivery with rigorous risk assessment and mitigation.CollaborationBridges silos; works effectively with developers, ops, security, compliance, and business owners.Automation MindsetContinuously seeks to eliminate manual steps and increase repeatability.Customer FocusPrioritizes stability and availability to meet end‑user expectations.AdaptabilityThrives in a fast‑changing environment, handling multiple concurrent release windows.