Release Train Engineer

Job Title: Release Train Engineer (RTE)

Job Profile Summary

The Release Train Engineer (RTE) serves as the servant leader and chief facilitator for the Agile Release Train (ART) enabling the coordination alignment and execution of work across multiple Agile teams. The RTE ensures delivery of business value by managing Product Line-level planning execution cadence dependencies risks and continuous improvement.

The role operates at the Product Line level bridging business strategy and technical execution to drive well-coordinated and predictable delivery outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

1. Product/Program Planning & Alignment

• Drive successful Product/Program Increment (PI) Planning and related readiness activities
• Align teams to business priorities OKRs and roadmap commitments
• Ensure features are prioritized and ready for execution

2. Execution & Delivery Management

• Orchestrate execution across multiple Agile teams within the ART
• Monitor progress against PI objectives and delivery commitments
• Maintain program-level cadence (ART sync system demos Inspect & Adapt)

3. Dependency & Risk Management

• Identify track and resolve cross-team dependencies
• Proactively manage risks impediments and escalations
• Ensure timely resolution of blockers impacting delivery

4. Agile Coaching & Governance

• Act as a servant leader and coach to Scrum Masters and teams
• Drive adoption of Agile and SAFe best practices
• Enforce Definition of Ready (DoR) and Definition of Done (DoD) standards
• Promote continuous improvement through Inspect & Adapt practices

5. Stakeholder Communication & Transparency

• Provide visibility into program status risks and outcomes
• Act as liaison between Product Management Engineering and Business stakeholders
• Communicate progress and risks to senior leadership

Inputs (What the role works with)

• Strategic roadmap OKRs and business priorities
• Prioritized features and backlog (Product Management / Product Owners)
• Team capacity velocity and delivery metrics
• Dependency maps and architecture inputs
• Risk registers and program-level issues

Outputs (What the role delivers)

• PI Plans and committed objectives
• Integrated cross-team delivery plan
• Dependency and risk tracking artifacts
• Program-level performance metrics (predictability throughput flow)
• Continuous improvement actions and outcomes

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Technology Engineering Business or related field
• 8 years of experience in Agile delivery program management or engineering leadership
• 3 years of experience in Scaled Agile (SAFe) or equivalent frameworks
• Proven experience managing multi-team Agile programs

Preferred Qualifications

• SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) certification
• Scrum Master (CSM/SAFe) certification
• Experience with enterprise Agile tools (e.g. Jira Rally ADO)
• Experience in large-scale complex technology environments

Key Skills & Competencies

• Agile leadership and servant leadership mindset
• Strong facilitation and conflict resolution skills
• Program-level planning and execution management
• Dependency and risk management
• Stakeholder communication and influence
• Data-driven decision making and continuous improvement

Success Measures (Performance Outcomes)

• PI predictability (planned vs delivered outcomes)
• Reduction in cross-team dependency delays
• % features meeting Definition of Ready prior to PI Planning
• Improvement in ART flow metrics (cycle time throughput)
• Reduction in delivery risks and escalations
• Increased team maturity and Agile adoption

Role Scope & Impact

• Operates across multiple Agile teams (ART level)
• Influences Product Management Engineering and Architecture
• Drives alignment across strategy planning and execution
• Enables delivery of large-scale cross-functional initiatives

Reporting Relationship

• Works closely with:
  • Product Managers
  • Product Owners
  • Scrum Masters
  • Engineering Managers
  • Architects

Donato Technologies Inc. is a trusted IT staffing consulting and software development partner headquartered in Dallas Texas. We support clients across industries by understanding their unique business needs and delivering tailored technology and workforce solutions. Our focus is on connecting the right talent with the right opportunity-ensuring clients receive dependable skilled professionals and candidates receive meaningful career growth and support. We work closely with small to mid-sized organizations to provide flexible high-quality services that drive performance innovation and long-term success.