Engineering Operations & QA · Nairobi, Kenya
I build the safety net
that lets teams ship fast.
Hi, I'm Eli — Engineering Operations / QA Manager at Ello. I lead quality assurance and release processes for a mobile learning app used by kids, and I build the systems, tooling, and teams that make shipping reliable.
Guardian of the product,
custodian of quality.
I've been with Ello since before our v1 launch, and full-time since May 2022 — growing alongside the product through v1, v2, and now v3. Today I lead the QA function and engineering operations: designing how we test, release, and triage issues across a fast-moving mobile app on iOS and Android.
Before Ello, I was a Lead Field Operations Manager at Mastercard Labs in Nairobi, and later a junior analyst at a stealth venture capital firm in San Francisco, where I helped process and close 300+ early-stage investments.
I care about meticulous work and I don't give up on a hard bug. Outside of work I listen to (and used to make) music, and spend time with my family in Nairobi. My favorite kids' book is Goat Matata. 📚
Six ways I keep the ship steady.
QA Leadership & Process Design
Own the QA function end-to-end — designing testing processes, onboarding and mentoring QA analysts, and steering the team through major product transitions, including the shift to a unified AI Tutor app.
Mobile Release Coordination
Coordinate App Store and Google Play releases end to end — from release candidates and cross-timezone QA sign-off (Nairobi, SF, Brazil) to submission and go-live confirmation.
Bug Triage & Tooling
Build and maintain the workflows that keep issues from falling through the cracks — Linear triage processes, prioritization labels, and the automation behind daily QA reporting.
AI QA Tooling Evaluation
Evaluate emerging AI-driven QA tools and pilot programs to scale testing capacity, balancing experimentation with rigorous validation before rollout.
Engineering Ops & Security Hygiene
Manage the operational backbone behind engineering workflows — rotating service credentials, maintaining CI secrets, and keeping GitHub Actions and bug-reporting pipelines running cleanly.
Team Mentorship
Support career growth for QA teammates — from onboarding new testers to helping people grow into QA engineering, technical testing, or PM roles.
The road so far.
Engineering Operations / QA Manager · Ello
Leading QA and engineering operations for Ello's mobile learning app through three major product generations. Own release processes, QA team growth, triage systems, and evaluation of new QA tooling.
Junior Analyst · Stealth VC Firm, San Francisco
Helped process and close 300+ early-stage investments.
Lead Field Operations Manager · Mastercard Labs, Nairobi
Led field operations for Mastercard Labs' Nairobi team.
What's in the toolbox.
- QA Process Design
- Mobile Release Management
- iOS / Android Testing
- App Store & Google Play
- Linear
- Bug Triage & Prioritization
- Team Mentorship
- Cross-Timezone Coordination
- GitHub Actions
- AWS Secrets Manager
- AI QA Tooling
- Cross-functional Collaboration
Let's talk quality.
Want to talk QA, release engineering, or working together?
eli@ello.com →