Sam Ballard
About Sam Ballard
Sam Ballard is a Senior Technical Program Manager at Motional, with a background in technical project management and quality assurance across various companies, including Disney Streaming and Pocket Gems.
Current Role at Motional
Sam Ballard serves as a Senior Technical Program Manager at Motional, a position he has held since 2022. He operates within the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, where he focuses on enhancing project management processes. His responsibilities include bridging communication between test and simulation teams within the Cloud, Apps, Test, & Tooling organization. Ballard emphasizes expanding automation test coverage by integrating testing earlier in the build pipeline, which contributes to more efficient development cycles.
Previous Experience at Disney Streaming
Prior to his current role, Sam Ballard worked at Disney Streaming in various capacities. He served as a Technical Project Manager for 10 months in 2021, following a year as an Associate Technical Project Manager from 2020 to 2021. Additionally, he held the position of QA Analyst II for two years from 2018 to 2020 and worked as a QA Analyst for 8 months in 2017. His roles involved managing technical projects and ensuring quality assurance across streaming services.
Career Background in Quality Assurance and Testing
Sam Ballard has a solid background in quality assurance and testing. He worked as a QA Analyst at Pocket Gems for 8 months in 2017 and as a Test Analyst at Cryptic Studios for four years from 2013 to 2017. His experience includes developing testing protocols and ensuring product quality in gaming and streaming environments. He also contributed as a Dialog Editor at WaveGroup Sound for 4 months in 2012, further enhancing his skills in audio quality.
Educational Background in Sound Arts
Sam Ballard studied at SAE Expression College, where he earned a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Sound Arts from 2009 to 2012. His education provided him with a strong foundation in sound design and production, which he applied in various roles throughout his career. Additionally, he worked as a Private Tutor at SAE Expression College for two years, sharing his knowledge and expertise with students.