QA Release Supervisor

University of California - Santa Cruz; Santa Cruz (CA); Remote; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California - Santa Cruz seeks a QA Release Supervisor to oversee QA and release management for the UCSC Genome Browser, coordinating QA staff, developers, and project management for high-quality, biweekly releases.

The role supervises QA workflows, implements process improvements, scripts, data wrangling, and collaborates with scientists and users to guide priorities and provide usage guidance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• In-depth knowledge of software functions and analysis.
• In-depth understanding of the design, development, and analysis of software.
• In-depth skills associated with software design, modification, testing, implementation, and analysis.
• In-depth understanding of the use of automated testing tools, including skills to perform automated QA procedures.

Responsibilities

• 40% - Supervision: prioritizes workflow, guides QA team, and manages performance.
• 25% - Communication: liaises with collaborators and travels for meetings.
• 25% - Quality Assurance: improves QA protocols, pipelines, testing, and data wrangling.
• 10% - Documentation: updates pages, tutorials, and clarifications.

Skills

Supervision

QA testing

Scripting

Communication

UNIX/shell

Project management

Data wrangling

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Automated testing tools

Release management

Job description

NO VISA SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITION

Applicants must have current work authorization when accepting a Genomics Institute staff position. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for staff.

THIS RECRUITMENT WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL FILLED

INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 10-19-2026

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Originally founded in 1997, Baskin Engineering (BE) is the first professional school at UC Santa Cruz. Over the past 25 years, Baskin Engineering has become a unique 21st-century school of engineering and technology, characterized by evolutionary growth fueled by ongoing research opportunities that open new areas of intellectual inquiry. Baskin Engineering has grown to include six academic departments, a variety of research centers and institutes, and has ambitious plans for further programmatic growth. The focus of Baskin Engineering educational programming is to instill strong basic knowledge for sound practice in science and ethical engineering for the well‑being of society, and its diverse curricula facilitate creative thinking and prepare students for productive and rewarding careers. Baskin Engineering is focused on building collaborative connections and expanding instruction and research activities for faculty and students at UC Santa Cruz, both at its Santa Cruz campus and at its campus in Silicon Valley, the international center of technological innovation.

Baskin Engineering champions new ideas and upholds the UCSC Principles of Community.

More information about Baskin Engineering can be found at: https://engineering.ucsc.edu/

The Genomics Institute (GI), an Organized Research Unit located within the Baskin School of Engineering, with faculty from several divisions on campus, leads UC Santa Cruz's efforts to unlock the world's genomic data and accelerate breakthroughs in health and evolutionary biology. With the theme of Creating a Healthier World, GI platforms, technologies, and researchers unite global communities to create and deploy data‑driven, life‑saving treatments and innovative environmental and conservation efforts, while addressing the most fundamental societal and policy questions. The Genomics Institute is committed to broadening participation in this endeavor and bringing the benefits of genomics to the widest range of world populations and ecosystems.

The Genomics Institute's operating budget is currently $31M per year, comprising $26M in sponsored funds from federal, state, and private sources and $4.7M in gifts and institutional funding, and is on a trajectory of increasing activity, partnerships, and extramural funding.

More information about the Genomics Institute can be found at: https://genomics.ucsc.edu

JOB SUMMARY

The QA Release Supervisor oversees quality assurance and release management functions for the UCSC Genome Browser, coordinating QA staff, developers, and project management to prioritize and test software changes and support a high-quality public software release every three weeks. The incumbent directly supervises QA team members and is responsible for work assignment, goal setting, performance management, staff development, and other personnel actions. The QA Release Supervisor oversees QA workflows and protocols, including implementation of process improvements, pipeline development, scripting, data wrangling, feature testing, and documentation. The incumbent also coordinates user‑facing communications and works with scientists, collaborators, and Genome Browser users to gather feedback, inform project priorities, and provide guidance on use of the tool.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $100,100 - $135,228/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.

Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility

Full benefits

Schedule Information

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification

Career appointment

Job End Date

None

Work Location

Remote

Union Representation

Non-Represented

Job Code Classification

005939 (QA RELEASE MGT SUPV 2) - Grade 24

Travel

Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

40% - Supervision

• Prioritizes workflow based on project needs.
• Works closely with developers and the project manager to prioritize bugs, features, and data wrangling into the UCSC Genome Browser weekly.
• Directly supervises QA team members, including feature testing and implementation, documentation, and goal setting.
• Coordinates testing of all code changes made to the UCSC Genome Browser between developers and QA, facilitating a high-quality public software release every 3 weeks.
• Oversees communication with users, which includes coordinating the mailing list, organizing user surveys, and presenting to collaborators when needed.
• Participates in the selection and development of personnel as needed.
• Initiates salary increases, classification reviews, and terminations.
• Conducts performance management when necessary.
• Holds financial responsibility for employee ProCard and travel expenses, ensuring all expenditures align with the department's budget and compliance policies.

25% - Communication

• Communicates with outside collaborators in order to best inform project direction and provide guidance on the use of the UCSC Genome Browser tool.
• Travels to scientific meetings and presents posters or workshops.

25% - Quality Assurance

• Implements improvements to the UCSC Genome Browser QA protocols to ensure product quality, including pipeline development, protocol updates, scripting, and data wrangling.

10% - Documentation

• Improves UCSC Genome Browser documentation, including new pages, tutorials, and clarifications.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• In-depth knowledge of software functions and analysis.
• In-depth understanding of the design, development, and analysis of software.
• In-depth skills associated with software design, modification, testing, implementation, and analysis.
• In-depth understanding of the use of automated testing tools, including skills to perform automated QA procedures.
• Interpersonal skills sufficient to work with both technical and non-technical personnel at various levels in the organization.
• Ability to elicit and communicate technical and non-technical information in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to operate an advisory level, consistently interacting with IT and line‑of‑business senior management.
• Thorough understanding of and experience with the use of automated testing tools and ability to perform automated QA procedures.
• Skills in software lifecycle management.
• Thorough understanding of and experience with the use of software testing tools and ability to perform automated QA procedures.
• Ability to create and track the release improvement process to gene sequence organization, genome maintenance, and gene expression and regulation in eukaryotes.
• Demonstrated experience working with large biographical data sets.
• Ability to elicit and communicate scientific, technical and non-technical information in English in a clear and concise manner both in verbal and written form.
• Demonstrated experience with UNIX and shell‑scripting.
• Demonstrated skill and experience in a customer service environment.
• Interpersonal skills to work with scientific, technical and lay personnel at various levels in the organization, and ability to work harmoniously in a fast‑paced team environment.
• Self‑motivated, able to learn quickly, meet deadlines, work independently and as part of a team, and demonstrate problem‑solving skills.
• Basic supervisory skills.
• Demonstrated skill in managing technical staff.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated experience in a programming language such as Python or Pert.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre‑employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• This is a fully remote position, and the selected candidate must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and be able to fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Ability to travel nationally.
• Ability to travel internationally.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.
• Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work‑related information obtained from any source on any work‑related matter is a violation of these expectations.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

• Misconduct means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti‑Discrimination Policy
  • Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) is available at: https://chancellor.ucsc.edu/annual-security-reports/.

This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. A paper copy of the ASFSR is available upon request by contacting the UCSC Police Department at 114 Carriage House Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or by calling 831-459-2231 Ext. 1.

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.