Release Train Engineer

Job Description

Overview

The Release Train Engineer (RTE) is a servant leader and coach for the Agile Release Train (ART). Although ARTs are composed of self-organizing and self-managing teams, the RTE will guide and drive the teams, facilitate the ART events and processes and assist the teams in delivering value. The RTE has a solid grasp of how to scale Lean - Agile practices and understands the unique opportunities and challenges associated with transforming and continuously aligning a large development program.

Responsibilities

JOB DUTIES

• The RTE facilitates Agile Release Train processes and execution, escalates impediments, manages risk, helps ensure value delivery, and helps drive relentless improvement
• Influence others by creating a participative, empowered and safe environment where all feedback is valued and respected
• The RTE ensures that others contribute to organization strategies by focusing them on the most critical priorities, measuring progress, and ensuring accountability against those metrics
• Identifies and emphasizes critical priorities to ensure time and energy are aligned with important organization goals despite daily distractions
• Assigns priorities and reinforces individual responsibility for each progress measure and communicates the consequences for meeting or not meeting expectations
• Identifies measures that are on track and those that are most at risk, escalating track impediments when needed
• Explains and clarifies the need for improvement or preparation required for a new opportunity and articulates the impact on the individual, team, and organization
• Provides assistance by sharing suggestions for improvement, best practices, development resources, positive models, or opportunities for experimentation
• Summarizes specific actions individuals will take, assigns clear accountability, timeline, progress measures, and follow-up date, while monitoring progress and results
• Manage and optimize the flow of value through the ART and Solution Train using various tools, such as the Program and Solution Kanbans and other information radiators
• Establish and communicate the annual calendars for Iterations and Program Increments (PIs),
• Facilitate PI Planning readiness by fostering a Continuous Exploration process which drives the synthesis of a Vision, a Roadmap, and Backlogs, and through Pre- and Post-PI Planning meetings
• Coach leaders, teams, and Scrum Masters in Lean-Agile practices and mindsets, providing additional training and development opportunities when necessary
• Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to inspire and guide individuals to gain acceptance of ideas or plans
• Continually focus on improving processes, products, and services by exploring innovative options
• Provide input on resourcing to address critical bottlenecks and inspire collaboration between team members
• Ensure strategy and execution alignment between Product and Solution Management, Product Owners, and other stakeholders
• Understand and operate within Lean Budgets and ensure adherence to Guardrails
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Conform with all company policies and procedures

Qualifications

Knowledge

• Must exhibit advanced knowledge of Agile, Scrum and Kanban techniques and demonstrate evidence of a servant leadership mindset
• Demonstrated expertise in product development process cycles
• Understanding of information systems, interlinkages and operations
• Thorough understanding of the business principles involved in strategic planning
• Demonstrated understanding of portfolio management techniques
• Thorough understanding of client’s organization mission/vision and strategic direction

Skills

• Demonstrated ability in performing multiple PI Planning sessions
• Ability to facilitate, coach and guide through influence, inspiration, collaboration and teamwork
• Advanced negotiation, leadership, and conflict resolution abilities
• Excellent people skills, with an ability to understand and respect diverse viewpoints
• Ability to listen and communicate effectively with others both verbally and in writing
• Experience with Microsoft Azure DevOps (work hierarchies) and visual platforms such as Miro, IdeaBoardz, etc

Education

• High School Diploma or equivalent required
• Bachelor’s Degree or additional equivalent work or military experience preferred

Experience

• 5-7 years experience in Scrum and/or agile release trains required