Kevin Hoiland

Quality Assurance & Test Engineering Leader

KevinAndrewHoiland@gmail.com | 858.692.6451 | www.kevinhoiland.com | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinhoiland/

Results-driven QA and Test Engineering Leader with 15+ years of experience managing large scale quality assurance operations across gaming, software, and IoT industries. Adept at building and scaling QA organizations, leading diverse global teams, and implementing automation strategies that drive efficiency and product quality. Combines strategic leadership with deep hands-on testing expertise, delivering robust test planning, cross-functional collaboration, and live service support for AAA titles and enterprise platforms.

Summary of Qualifications

  • QA Leadership & Strategy: Build and lead scalable QA organizations, defining and executing test strategies for high-profile product launches and live service operations across gaming and non-gaming platforms.

  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Hire, mentor, and manage teams ranging from small agile groups to 400+ professionals, including QA managers, engineers, and testers, while fostering strong cross-functional collaboration.

  • Automation & Process Optimization: Drive automation initiatives and process improvements that enhance efficiency, reduce live defects, and support continuous delivery across diverse technical environments.

  • End-to-End Testing Expertise: Over 15 years of hands-on experience testing mobile, web, console, backend systems, APIs, SDKs, payment terminals, and connected devices, bringing deep technical insight to strategic decision making.

Experience

Blizzard Entertainment – Irvine, CA      

Quality Director | February 2022 – Current

Leads QA operations for multiple AAA projects, including Diablo II Resurrected, Diablo III, Diablo Immortal, Diablo IV, and unannounced titles, ensuring best-in-class quality and live service performance.

  • Global Team Leadership: Oversees a global QA organization of 100+ full-time employees and 350+ total staff, including outsourced partners. Experienced in scaling headcount strategically to meet evolving project demands across multiple development phases.

  • AAA Game Launches & Expansions: Directed QA strategy and execution for the launches of Diablo Immortal (iOS/Android/PC) and Diablo IV (PlayStation/Xbox/PC), including major post-launch expansions, ensuring smooth transitions to live services and sustained quality across regular updates.

  • Strategic Test Planning: Design and implement QA strategies and best practices that streamline testing workflows, accelerate defect resolutions, and strengthen cross-functional alignment between QA and development teams.

Hogarth Worldwide – Sunnyvale, CA

Head of QA | September 2019 – February 2022

Directed QA for Apple’s global retail, web, and partner applications, ensuring product stability and customer experience excellence.

  • Leadership & Scaling: Led 8 QA Managers and 150+ indirect reports, including Leads, SDETs, Engineers, and Testers.

  • Budget & Resource Management: Managed QA budgets, cost projections, automation roadmaps, and client relationships to optimize operations and maintain cost-effectiveness.

  • Process Optimization: Implemented test strategies and automation initiatives that reduced defect rates, improved release cycles, and enhanced team performance.

Electric Imp, Twilio – Mountain View, CA

Head of QA | February 2015 – September 2019

Oversaw QA operations for a global IoT platform supporting millions of connected devices and enterprise customers.

  • Test Automation Innovation: Designed and implemented a domain-specific test language, enabling thousands of automated test cases and improving long-term test maintainability.

  • Cross-Platform Testing: Led testing efforts across APIs, SDKs, firmware, mobile, web applications, and physical IoT devices, ensuring end-to-end coverage and platform stability.

  • Team & Process Leadership: Mentored QA team members, coordinated department goals, and improved defect resolution workflows through automation and proactive quality strategies.

Disney Interactive (Walt Disney Company) – San Diego, CA

Head of QA, Metaplace Studio | August 2012 – February 2015

Led QA strategy and execution for a game development engine and live-service games across mobile and web platforms, ensuring product stability and operational excellence.

  • Enterprise QA Standardization: Established QA methodologies across Disney’s global game development divisions, improving consistency, reporting, and collaboration.

  • Test Automation & Tools Development: Directed teams in building automation frameworks and internal QA tools to support scalable testing and faster release cycles.

  • Mobile MMO Launch: Oversaw platform QA for Club Penguin’s mobile development, launch, and live updates on iOS and Android, ensuring quality across client and backend systems.

International Gum Inc – San Diego, CA

President & Founder | August 2010 – November 2014

Founded and managed a social web application and storefront focused on innovative gum products, overseeing all aspects of product development, engineering, and business operations.

  • Product Development: Led product and software development while defining the company’s vision and long-term strategy.

  • Technology & Engineering: Designed software architecture and developed all backend and frontend systems.

  • Business Operations: Directed marketing, sales, and partnerships, scaling the business from concept to execution.

Semtek, VeriFone – San Diego, CA

Senior QA Engineer | September 2009 – August 2012

Led testing strategies, automation integration, and QA process improvements for secure enterprise payment systems.

  • Test Strategy Expansion: Implemented white-box and black-box testing methodologies to improve coverage and testing depth.

  • Process Development: Collaborated with engineering and product teams to define workflows and automation plans.

  • Team Growth & Development: Supported hiring and training of QA engineers to strengthen team capabilities.

COMSYS, ManpowerGroup, Experis Game Solutions

QA Development Consultant | September 2009 – February 2010

Provided expert consulting on testing strategies, automation frameworks, and QA processes for software gaming projects.

  • Contract Strategy Success: Helped secure a long-term outsourced QA contract with Microsoft through proposal support.

  • Process Documentation: Created test plans and proposal materials to support client deliverables and bidding efforts.

  • Competitive QA Evaluation: Led product testing cycles during high-stakes competitive evaluation phases.

CommerceTel, Mobivity – San Diego, CA

Director of Quality Assurance | October 2007 – September 2009

Led QA strategy, automation, and testing frameworks for a mobile campaign management platform.

  • End-to-End QA Strategy: Defined test plans, automation strategies, and environments for large-scale mobile solutions.

  • Cross-Platform Testing: Managed testing across global teams, devices, carriers, and regional configurations.

  • Documentation & Training: Created QA docs, training materials, and client-facing product guides and demos.

Sony Interactive Entertainment – San Diego, CA

QA Test Supervisor | August 2006 – October 2007

QA Lead | November 2003 – August 2006

QA Analyst via Nelson Staffing Solutions | May 2002 – October 2003

Managed QA testing and process standardization for multiple AAA game releases on PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS3.

  • Global QA Leadership: Represented Sony’s cross-region QA exchange program, aligning U.S. and European testing practices.

  • Operational Efficiency: Designed QA benchmarking processes, reducing testing costs and optimizing resource allocation.

  • Process Optimization: Created test plans and reporting systems to improve test coverage and milestone tracking.

Education

Willamette University, Oregon

Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science