Timothy Manley

About Timothy Manley

Proven Quality ManagerA proven quality owner having shipped and run live service games for some exciting and highly successful franchises (Star Trek Fleet Command, NBA Live Mobile, Sims Mobile, PC & Console just to name a few). Experienced in running Games as a Service (GaaS) with highly active online player bases and deeply engaging Live Operations. A focused driver and designer of quality often pushing Quality Assurance into a \'shifting Left\' strategy, engaging with content and development teams earlier in the lifecycle while always championing the mantra, “everybody tests”.Team BuilderA strong team builder I thrive at being a catalyst for the success of others. I am an impassioned team builder and leader, known for balancing empathy with clear direction inspiring consistent effort and high morale across diverse and global groups.Leader and Problem SolverOften a “go-to” for solving difficult challenges. I have a deep and broad understanding of how to leverage both technology and people. I possess the vision needed to see the big picture and the next steps required to get there.

Experience

1. Senior Qa Manager

   Shrapnel

   Jan 2023 — Present · Seattle, WA, US

   At Shrapnel, a cutting-edge Web3-enabled game studio, my role extends far beyond traditional QA leadership. As a seasoned cross-functional contributor, I support the game and studio across development, operations, and narrative—helping drive quality, innovation, and execution in a fast-paced startup environment.I built the QA department from the ground up, growing it from a solo effort into a high-performing team with dedicated QA Analysts and SDETs. I oversee builds, deployments, testing priorities, and studio playtests—ensuring both stability and quality are baked into every release.I’ve led seven public playtests on the Epic Games Store and HyperPlay, managing builds, selecting release candidates, and collaborating with community leads to gather real-time feedback and resolve live issues. My role also includes managing the build pipeline (via Jenkins), directing internal QA processes, and supporting live operations.Beyond QA, I contribute to world-building and narrative design, working with the Game Director to craft compelling lore, characters, and factions. I also designed a mobile companion game (unreleased), managing outsourced development and delivery from concept to near-launch.I work closely with engineers, artists, and producers to support feature integration, mitigate development risk, and maintain high-quality standards across platforms—PC, mobile, and blockchain.Key Contributions:+ Built and scaled QA team; defined studio quality vision+ Led test strategy for PC, mobile, and blockchain systems+ Oversaw playtests and live feedback loops+ Guided automation and tooling development+ Ensured secure integration of blockchain assets+ Managed builds, releases, and live support+ Supported narrative and mobile game developmentAt Shrapnel, I’ve worn many hats, proving that strong leadership, cross-functional thinking, and a commitment to quality can drive a project forward on multiple fronts.

Education

• Western Governors University

  MBA, MBA for IT Managmenet

  2008 — 2009

• San Francisco State University

  BA, English

  1988 — 1991

Skills

• Agile Methodologies
• Management
• Software Engineering
• Active Directory
• Windows Server
• Data Center
• Network Administration
• Project Management
• Software Project Management
• Servers
• Integration
• Databases
• Program Management
• Operating Systems
• Disaster Recovery
• Sharepoint
• Testing
• Hyper-V
• Software Development Life Cycle (Sdlc)
• Software Documentation
• Sdlc
• Software Development
• Microsoft Sql Server
• Enterprise Software
• C#