Release Train Engineer

A Career at HARMAN

As a technology leader that is rapidly on the move HARMAN is filled with people who are focused on making life better. Innovation inclusivity and teamwork are a part of our DNA. When you add that to the challenges we take on and solve together youll discover that at HARMAN you can grow make a difference and be proud of the work you do every day.

About the Role

The Brand Experience team develops innovative consumer experiences that enhance lives through products services and technologies. This role collaborates with the Brand Technical Lead and Product Manager to translate feature requirements and roadmaps into both code-based and non-code-based technical solutions.

The Release Train Engineer (RTE) is the servant leader and chief facilitator of an Agile Release Train (ART) within the Car Audio organization. This role ensures alignment synchronization and flow across multiple cross-functional teams delivering premium brand experiences to OEM customers. The RTE is responsible for enabling consistent high-quality and predictable delivery of features across software hardware and acoustics teams while embedding compliance innovation and Lean-Agile principles into execution.

Your Team

This role reports to the Cross-Brand Team Leader and has no direct reports.

What you will do:

ART Facilitation & Execution

• Serve as the chief Scrum Master for the ART ensuring consistent cadence alignment and flow of 5 to 15 teams (50 to 125 people)
• Facilitate key ART ceremonies: PI Planning ART Syncs (Scrum of Scrums & PO Sync) System Demos Inspect & Adapt workshops.
• Work closely with Product Management System Architects and Brand Owners to define and track PI Objectives.
• Drive dependency management and risk visibility across brand and platform teams.
• Partner with the System Team to maintain integration readiness continuous testing and system demo preparation.

Lean-Agile Leadership

• Coach teams and stakeholders in Lean-Agile practices and SAFe principles.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement flow optimization and transparency.
• Identify bottlenecks in delivery flow and lead resolution through collaboration not command.
• Guide ART metrics: predictability velocity flow efficiency PI objective achievement and defect trends.

Cross-Brand and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate across multiple ARTs (e.g. JBL B&W h/k) to align shared teams and dependencies.
• Collaborate with Cross-Brand Team Leaders and the System Architect to synchronize technical and validation deliverables.
• Ensure shared assets such as DSP frameworks HIL/VIL platforms and compliance pipelines are integrated across brand initiatives.

• Integrate ASPICE ISO 26262 and cybersecurity compliance activities into ART backlogs via enabler stories.
• Support PI and Program-level reporting for OEM milestones and management reviews.

Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary communication hub between ART teams and stakeholders.
• Provide transparency through clear data-driven reporting and visual management (Program Boards PI Metrics).
• Align ART priorities with business goals set by Brand Owners and Portfolio Management.

Authorities

• Define Sprint and Release cadence and synchronization

Accountabilities

• PI Planning event orchestration
• Concept freeze and approval (technical sections).
• Cross-brand alignment and minimal integration delays.
• Compliance activities integrated into ART cadence without delaying delivery.
• Positive feedback from Product Management Brand Owners and OEM stakeholders.

Success Measures (KPIs)

• ART predictability with PI objectives consistently met.
• Dependency resolution
• I&A improvement actions
• Flow metrics
• Improved cross-brand alignment and fewer integration delays.
• Compliance activities integrated into ART cadence without delaying delivery.
• Positive feedback from Product Management Brand Owners and OEM stakeholders.

What You Need

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Engineering Computer Science Systems Engineering or related field.
• 8 years in complex product development (automotive or consumer electronics preferred).
• 3 years in Agile leadership roles (Scrum Master RTE or Program Manager).
• SAFe certification required (SAFe RTE SPC or SAFe Agilist preferred).
• Proven experience with multi-domain development (hardware software acoustics and compliance).
• Familiarity with IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (DOORS EWM ETM) or equivalent tools.
• Strong understanding of ASPICE ISO 26262 and automotive OEM milestone processes.

Key Skills

• Expert in facilitation alignment and stakeholder management across distributed teams.
• Ability to visualize and manage dependencies in complex environments.
• Excellent understanding of Lean flow metrics and performance tracking.
• Skilled at driving continuous improvement and cultural transformation.
• Strong communication and executive reporting skills.

Success Indicators

• ART predictability 80% and PI objectives consistently met.
• Improved cross-brand alignment and fewer integration delays.
• Compliance activities integrated into ART cadence without delaying delivery.
• Positive feedback from Product Management Brand Owners and OEM stakeholders.

What is Nice to Have

• Advanced degree in Management or Engineering Management
• Strong recommendations from automotive industry colleagues
• Automotive Business & Engineering Landscape Knowledge
• Interest in acoustics and sound reproduction
• Flexible in a challenging work environment
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Excellent presentation/communication skills

What Makes You Eligible

• Be willing to travel to one or more PI Planning events 1 week per quarter domestic and international travel.

What We Offer

• Access to employee discounts on world class HARMAN/Samsung products (BRAND Harman Kardon AKG etc.)
• Inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages career development opportunities
• Flexible work schedule with a culture encouraging work life integration and collaboration in a global environment
• On-site opportunities to focus on personal well-being and development such as onsite café fitness center weekly massage fitness classes and other onsite events promoted by our employee resource groups
• Professional development opportunities through HARMAN Universitys business and leadership academies
• Internal talent management leadership acceleration programs
• Be Brilliant employee recognition and rewards program
• Scholarship programs for employee family members

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HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard torace religion color national origin gender (including pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions) sexual orientation gender identity gender expression age status as a protected veteran status as an individual with a disability or other applicable legally protected characteristics.