IT Release Train Engineer

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan • Detroit, MI

25d

About The Position

The Release Train Engineer (RTE) is the servant leader and coach for an Agile Release Train (ART), enabling cross-functional teams to effectively plan, execute, and continuously improve the delivery of business value. The RTE partners with Product Management, Product Owners, Scrum Masters, Business Owners, System Architects, and Agile Teams to foster alignment, remove impediments, and improve flow across the ART. This role champions the foundational principles and values of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), promoting a culture of collaboration, transparency, continuous learning, and servant leadership. While primarily focused on the flow and effectiveness of the Agile Release Train, the RTE also partners with Enterprise Agile leadership to advance Lean-Agile practices and contribute to the organization's broader delivery of value.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of experience leading Agile delivery or transformation initiatives.
• 5+ years serving as a Release Train Engineer, Senior Scrum Master, Agile Coach, or comparable leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience successfully facilitating the delivery of value within and Agile Release Trains in a large, complex organization.
• Strong facilitation, coaching, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management skills.
• Deep knowledge and experience with SAFe principles, practices, and events.
• Working knowledge of other Lean-Agile, and Product focused frameworks and methodologies.
• Proven ability to improve ART predictability, flow, and delivery through Lean-Agile leadership and relentless improvement.
• Experience supporting multiple Agile Release Trains or participating in enterprise-level Agile transformation initiatives.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with both executives and team members in complex environments.
• Exemplifies a Lean-Agile mindset in everything they do.
• SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) certification.
• Scrum Master certification.
• Skilled in successfully navigating within a highly matrixed organization with demonstratable leadership.
• Exceptional active listening capabilities that enable “reading the audience” to understand what is really being said.
• Ability to influence and manage-up to senior leadership on Agile mindset and practices.
• Excel at building relationships and collaborate with diverse leaders.
• Work as a catalyst to collaboration to build trust with others.
• Proficient in using/presenting data to “tell an accurate story.”
• Problem solving and consultation within complex environments.
• Well refined interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written to convey ideas/issues to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Dynamic public speaking capabilities in front of large groups.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and can manage the unexpected with flexibility.
• Well versed with Scaled Agile Framework’s Lean Portfolio Management methodology.
• Proficient knowledge of Agile/DevOps/Program Mgmt. Lifecycle methodologies and standards
• Experience working in a geographically distributed and culturally diverse workgroup.
• Proficient use of tools like Jira, Confluence and PowerPoint.
• Experience working in a geographically distributed and culturally diverse workgroup.

Nice To Haves

• SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) certification preferred.
• Experience within healthcare, health insurance, or another highly regulated industry preferred.
• Experience leveraging AI on an ART.

Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate Agile Release Train events, including PI Planning, WSJF prioritization, ART Syncs, System Demos, and Inspect & Adapt workshops.
• Coach Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Business Owners, and leaders in Lean-Agile and servant leadership principles.
• Facilitate the removal of organizational impediments and improve the flow of value across teams.
• Foster collaboration, transparency, and psychological safety while aligning teams around shared business outcomes.
• Apply systems thinking to resolve cross-team dependencies and improve overall ART performance.
• Use data and objective metrics to drive continuous improvement of flow and predictable delivery.
• Manage effective governance within the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and/or other agile methodology frameworks.
• Manage enterprise and large budget initiatives.
• Mentor and coach all ART members (especially Scrum Masters, agile delivery teams).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree