Release Train Engineer

This is a remote position.

Role: Release Train Engineer
Location: REMOTE
Duration: 6+ Months Contract

Job Description:

The Release Train Engineer (RTE) will be responsible for the management and execution of value streams to support the delivery of strategic technology products. The RTE will foster Lean-Agile principles within the organization and help balance lean-agile execution and program management activities to deliver solutions more effectively. This role will heavily leverage the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) to drive lean-agile delivery within the release train. The RTE will help define norms/agreements for the Agile Release Training (ART) and enforces the agreements as well as coordinate and facilitate ART ceremonies (e.g., Backlog Refinement, Big Room Planning (BRP), ART Sync (or PO Sync, Scrum of Scrums), System Demos, Retrospective). They will partner with the Product Owner/Project Manager to ensure the program has a healthy product/program backlog and review demand versus capacity. In addition, the RTE will facilitate dependency management/risk management/impediment removal for the ART, promote/facilitate communication and collaboration within the ART to support value delivery and Quarterly Increment (QI) commitments. The RTE is responsible for providing status updates and reporting on the ART plans/delivery/timelines/impediments to stakeholders and leadership. They ensure that execution is aligned with product strategy by working with Product Management, Product Owners, and other stakeholders. In addition, the RTE ensures enterprise change management and other policy requirements for technology solutions are met for the epics/features delivered by the ART. They enable the ART to become high performing through collaboration and relentless focus on continuous improvement. The RTE will measure ART delivery, maturity, and performance, and review the metrics with the ART to identify opportunities for improvement. They will also capture data to help determine/track product funding and capacity needs. Furthermore, the RTE will partner with Agile Coaches to guide and coach leaders, teams, and Scrum Masters in the ART on Agile practices and develop their understanding of Agile principles.

Essential Functions

• Manage and improve the flow of value through value streams by assessing and optimizing the practices utilized within the respective teams (DevOps, Product Owners, Security, Architecture, etc.). Lead multiple, dynamic value streams and foster collaboration internally and externally – including cross-functional and external consultant team members assigned to projects within a program - to ensure alignment to the ARTs strategic objectives.
  
• Facilitate Big Room Planning readiness by enabling process adherence and coaching that drives alignment of the Vision, Roadmap, Releases, and Backlogs, through Pre- and Post-Big Room Planning events.
  
• Facilitate the coordinated preparation and execution of release planning for the ART. Work with key members of the ART to prioritize and refine the features to be considered in the next Big Room Planning cycle.
  
• Ensure that the goals of each value stream are in strategic alignment with the ART-level key results following Big Room Planning sessions.
  
• Drive agility and improvement by managing ART-level risks and dependencies. Assist in the removal of impediments to ensure value is consistently being delivered.
  
• Functions as a servant leader fostering Lean-Agile Continuous Delivery, promoting and coaching Lean-Agile principles, and empowering individual teams to become self-managing.
  
• Proactively and consistently communicate with the team, business owners, and leaders to ensure all impacted stakeholders understand risks, issues, and activities related to the value stream
  
• Serve as key facilitator/gatekeeper of ART-level ceremonies, including but not limited to: Inspect and Adapt workshops, Scrum of Scrums, System Demos, and other relevant ART-level syncs and ceremonies.
  
• Contribute to strategic planning meetings and provide guidance and expertise on options, risk, cost vs. benefits, and impacts on departmental processes.
  
• Partner with the Business and other key stakeholders to ensure that strong lean business cases are developed for product funding. Oversee and drive responsible financial management throughout the ART by ensuring best practices for project cost estimates, resource management planning, and cost control measures are being utilized to minimize cost, reduce risk, and maximize desired business outcomes.
  

Additional Responsibilities

• May be asked to support one or multiple projects or projects functions, as bandwidth allows.
  
• Work to guide and coach others (scrum leaders) about the ART and Lean-Agile practices
  
• Constantly refine and stay current with emerging themes in larger Agile community
  
• Participate in Agile Portfolio and Program Management process improvement and standardization activities.
  
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to influence without authority, be an effective negotiator, and communicate with various organizational levels, including cross-functionally, at the frontline, and with senior leadership
  
• High level of interpersonal skills used to build relationships and manage conflict within the team, business unit, and cross-functionally. Well-developed capacity for emotional intelligence
  
• Experience implementing analytics, reporting metrics and dashboards that illustrate the flow of value through the ART and reporting status updates and metrics to senior leadership on the performance and efficiency of the ART
  
• Excellent at developing and delivering presentations to virtual, in-person, and ELT level audiences. Able to present information and ideas to others in a clear and impactful manner
  
• Advanced in negotiation, problem solving, critical thinking, and building effective relationships through rapport, trust and diplomacy with all levels of staff, management, stakeholders and vendors
  
• Experience measuring team delivery, maturity, and performance. Able to create reporting metrics and dashboards that illustrate the flow of value
  
• Demonstrated experience in organizing, planning and leading large-scale teams from conception through implementation. Able to lead at an ART-level of at least a 50-person team
  
• Possess excellent written and verbal skills to communicate seamlessly with agile teams, peers, and senior stakeholders
  
• Able to apply a holistic thinking approach to problem solving by leveraging whole system thinking
  
• Technically savvy with ability to quickly learn new systems and effectively assume administrator responsibilities
  
• Forging strong relationships with both the clients and project teams that will contribute to your growth and development is required
  
• 3PL, Supply Chain, Logistics, and similar industry business knowledge/practices / processes beginner preferred
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required Information Technology, Computer Science or related field of study, other majors to be considered on an individual basis
  
• Six (6) years or more Process improvement or project management with at least 4+ years as a Release Train Engineer, Program Manager, or Delivery Lead required
  
• Three (3) years or more Significant experience working in an Enterprise IT organization with multiple Agile Delivery Frameworks/Tools (e.g., Kanban, Scrum, Lean, SAFe, AzureDevOps, ServiceNow Planview, or other similar ALM tools) required
  
• Three (3) years or more Proven track record of leading agile transformations by successfully coaching and transitioning teams, programs, and portfolios at all organizational levels, including senior leadership required
  
• Other Scaled Agile Framework Certification (SAFe)
  
• Other Hold at least one SAFe/Scrum certification: SAFe Agilist (SA), SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE), or SAFe Program Consultant, Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified Scrum Professional (CSP)