Release Train Engineer

Release train engineer (RTE) Position Summary

The RTEs responsibilities include managing and optimizing the flow of value through the ART, facilitating Program Increment (PI) planning, fostering Agile practices and mindset, and coaching leaders and teams.

• Strong understanding of software development life cycle (SDLC) to effectively manage all stages of the project, from planning to deployment.
• Excellent communication skills to clearly articulate project goals, expectations, and progress to all stakeholders, including team members, management, and customers.
• Strong interpersonal skills to foster a collaborative and efficient team environment, resolve conflicts, and build relationships across departments and teams.
• Facilitate and lead the Agile Release Train (ART) process and execution, respectively. Responsibilities include managing Sprint Demos, Sprint Planning, Scrum of Scrums, RAID meetings, Retro of Retros, and other meetings.
• Coordinate releases and ensure alignment across all stakeholders.
• Resolve and escalate impediments and schedule conflicts, manage risk, and helping drive program-level continuous improvement.
• Proactively work with other release train engineers and stakeholders to ensure smooth functioning of the ART.
• Help manage dependencies between the ART and other release trains. Assess the agility level of the ART and help them improve.
• Facilitate the planning readiness by fostering a continuously refining backlog for the next ART planning event.
• Conduct program increment (PI) planning and facilitate the coordination of the ART.
• Ensure alignment, transparency, and execution throughout the lifecycle of program increments.
• Implement and institutionalize best practices in product development, program execution, and client engagement.
• Collect metrics and feedback for the sake of improvement.
• Ensure proper management and maintenance of Azure DevOps by the ART teams.
• Foster collaboration and synchronization between the teams within the ART.
• Coach leaders, teams, and Scrum Masters in Lean-Agile practices and mindsets.
• Supporting and educating the Product Owner, especially on grooming and maintaining the product backlog.
• Providing all support to the team using a servant leadership style and leading by example.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 years of experience in software development, testing, business analysis or product.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience as a Scrum Master/RTE or managing Agile roles for organization(s), diligently applying Agile principles, practices, and theory.
• Proven work experience as a Release Train Engineer or similar role in Agile projects.
• Deep understanding of Agile frameworks, specifically Scrum and SAFe.
• Excellent skills and knowledge of servant leadership, facilitation, situational awareness, conflict resolution, continual improvement, empowerment, and increasing transparency.
• Excellent leadership and coaching skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Experience in facilitation of Agile events, such as Scrum ceremonies and PI Planning.
• Proficiency in Agile project management tools.
• Certification as a SAFe Release Train Engineer or similar will be a plus.
• Azure DevOps (ADO) experience is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering or relevant field.