Head of Software Release (ML)

SBT is the exclusive executive recruiting firm for this confidential position.CompanyThis company is an emerging leader in next-generation computing architecture, developing advanced silicon and systems purpose-built for large-scale AI workloads. The team has already delivered production silicon to customers and is rapidly expanding its hardware and platform capabilities. With a fast-paced, innovation-driven culture, the company combines deep technical expertise with the agility of a high-growth startup. They are now building out foundational roles to support the next phase of product execution and scale.Job ResponsibilitiesDefine, build, and scale software release program management frameworks spanning planning, development, validation, release readiness, and post-release execution across multiple software trains.Lead end-to-end software release programs, owning release schedules, dependency management, risk mitigation, go/no-go decision processes, and executive-level status reporting.Drive cross-functional alignment across software engineering, firmware, QA, DevOps, product management, silicon/hardware teams, and customer enablement to ensure predictable, high-quality releases.Establish and own release governance models, including milestone definitions, exit criteria, change control, escalation paths, and metricsQualifications10+ years of industry experience, including 3+ years in Release Program Management with demonstrated ownership of large-scale software release programs.Deep experience managing software release cycles for complex systems, preferably in semiconductor, silicon-adjacent, infrastructure, or platform software environments.Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in environments without established processes, building structure and execution frameworks from scratch.Excellent cross-functional leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to influence technical and executive stakeholders.