Kevin Hoiland

Quality Assurance & Test Engineering Leader

California | KevinAndrewHoiland@gmail.com | 858-692-6451 | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinhoiland/

Results-driven QA Leader with 15+ years of experience shaping quality strategies across startups, gaming, and enterprise software. Expert in building and scaling QA organizations from initial concept through major global launches. Skilled at leading international teams and driving automation initiatives that enhance efficiency and product quality. Combines strategic leadership with hands-on expertise to deliver robust test planning, operational stability, and live service support for AAA titles and complex systems.

Summary of Qualifications

  • QA Leadership & Strategy:  Building and scaling QA organizations from early incubation through global launches; defining comprehensive test strategies while managing multimillion-dollar budgets and operational plans.

  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Hiring and mentoring high-performing teams ranging from lean agile groups to 400+ professionals, with a focus on fostering deep collaboration across engineering, product, and operations.

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

  • Hands-on Technical Expertise: Extensive testing across mobile, web, console, SDKs, and APIs; highly proficient in SaaS/PaaS and IoT ecosystems with a working knowledge of platform compliance.

Experience

Age of Learning – Glendale, CA      

Senior Director, Quality Assurance | February 2026 – Current

Lead QA for global educational platforms, including ABCmouse and Adventure Academy. Evolving QA capabilities through advanced tooling and automation to deliver world-class learning experiences for millions of children.

Blizzard Entertainment – Irvine, CA      

Quality Director | February 2022 – February 2026

Led 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: Oversaw a global organization of 400+ total staff and multimillion-dollar annual operational budgets; optimized vendor ROI and scaled resources strategically to meet evolving demands across all projects and phases.

  • AAA Game Launches & Expansions: Executed the QA strategy for the global 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: Designed and implemented QA strategies and best practices that streamlined testing workflows, accelerated defect resolutions, and strengthened cross-functional alignment between QA, engineering, product, and design 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 as a Service (PaaS) powering millions of connected devices and enterprise customers.

  • Test Automation Innovation: Designed a domain-specific language for thousands of tests, improving long-term maintainability.

  • Cross-Platform Testing: Led end-to-end testing for APIs, SDKs, firmware, mobile, web, and IoT devices to ensure 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

Directed QA strategy and execution for a game development engine and multiple live-service titles across mobile and web platforms.

  • 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 a social e-commerce and subscription platform; personally led end-to-end development, engineering, and live 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 numerous game releases of varying scope on PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS3.

  • Global QA Alignment: Represented Sony’s cross-region QA exchange program between US and Europe, standardizing practices.

  • Operational Efficiency: Designed new reporting systems and benchmark processes that optimized allocations and reduced costs.

  • Publishing & Certification: Led QA lifecycles for numerous published titles, ensuring strict compliance with first-party standards.

Education

Willamette University, Oregon

Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science