Release Train Engineer at PPS

Purpose of the Job

The Release Train Engineer (RTE) has primary purpose of supporting and coaching agile teams in an Agile Release Train (ART) by steering them to success and navigating the complexity of delivering software in large, cross-functional environments. The RTE helps resolve and escalate impediments, manages risk, helps assure value delivery, and drives programme-level continuous improvement. The RTE is accountable for the overall planning, coordination, execution, and delivery of value through the programme.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Facilitating the coordinated preparation and execution of release planning for the agile teams in the Agile Release Train (ART). This includes:
• Working with the ART team who prioritises the features to be considered in the next programme increment (PI) planning cycle.
• Facilitating the ART team’s refinement of features to be considered in the next PI planning cycle to meet the feature definition of ready
• Assisting the ART in communicating and coordinating with stakeholders and customers during feature definition and delivery
• Managing change to the ART’s PI plan and the impacts of those changes
• Providing regular and open communication across the programme and stakeholders for transparency and awareness of progress and impediments
• Driving delivery and continuous improvement by utilising feedback and metrics (quality, delivery rate, etc.) to identify areas of opportunity
• Ensuring the overall cost, schedule, and performance of the programme
• Leading project teams and providing and leadership; acting as consultant/coach to management in resolving unusually difficult problems
• Participating with management and cross-functional teams as subject matter expert to develop and improve operating policies and procedures related to Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and being an advocate for adopting Agile and SAFe best practices and processes
• Developing / modifying processes, policies, and procedures to facilitate the working relationship between Information Technology and its business functions / partners
• Coaching leaders, teams, and scrum masters in Lean-Agile practices and mindsets

Formal Qualifications

• Matric
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Science or Commerce or related discipline with an information technology focus, or equivalent.
• Required Certifications:
  • Certified SAFe Agile Scrum Master (SASM) certification or equivalent.
  • SaFe Certified Release Train Engineer certification or equivalent
• Desired Certifications
  • SAFe Program Consultant (SPC4 or SPC5) certification or equivalent
  • Certified Scrum Professional (CSP) certification or equivalent.
  • Project Management Institute – Agile Certified Professional or equivalent

Experience

• 3 - 5 years’ progressive work-related experience with demonstrated proficiency in multiple disciplines/ technologies/processes related to the position as well as 3 years managing teams and/or significant complex projects
• Proven, prior experience as Release Train Engineer for long-lived value streams and products

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated Release Train Engineer experience in organising, planning and executing large-scale projects from conception through implementation
• Experience coordinating multiple teams in a technology environment
• Able to work in multi-disciplinary teams
• Broad range of programme management and leadership skills required
• Proven ability to balance concurrent activities
• Strong knowledge and experience in software development in an Agile environment

Computer Literacy:

• Excellent IT skills and computer literacy

Competencies:

• Change Management (behavioural)
• Creative and innovative thinking
• Effective communication
• Ethics and integrity
• Improvement orientation
• Influence/persuasion
• Interpersonal effectiveness
• Planning and organising
• Quality orientation
• Teamwork
• Relationship Building 

Preference will be given to Employment Equity candidates