Agile Scrum Master

Job#: 3027340

Job Description:
Agile Scrum Master

Location: Chandler, Arizona (Hybrid)

Employment Type: Contract

Duration: 12 months

Role Overview

As a Scrum Master supporting Technology Infrastructure Priorities, you will facilitate an Agile team within a Scaled Agile (ART) environment to deliver technology outcomes across Database, Middleware, and Messaging platforms. You will be accountable for guiding the Scrum operating rhythm, improving delivery predictability, managing dependencies, and ensuring alignment with enterprise change management policies. This role is critical to Program Increment (PI) Planning, where you will drive readiness and ensure post-PI execution aligns with objectives and commitments.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate and improve Scrum ceremonies including Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Backlog Refinement, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives.
• Lead PI Planning preparation for the team, ensuring objectives, dependencies, and risks are clearly defined.
• Create stakeholder transparency by communicating plans, progress, and risks using Jira and concise updates.
• Proactively manage delivery risk by mapping dependencies, removing impediments, and escalating as necessary.
• Partner with the Product Owner to maintain a healthy and prioritized product backlog.
• Leverage AI tools like Copilot Chat to help formulate and decompose deliverables into epics and user stories, applying human validation for accuracy.
• Utilize Jira Software Plans (Advanced Roadmaps) to validate and communicate the team's plan, capacity, and sequencing.
• Maintain data hygiene within Jira Software Plans by resolving warnings to ensure roadmap views are trustworthy.
• Use flow and predictability metrics to coach the team and drive continuous improvement.
• Represent the team in Scrum of Scrums to surface and resolve dependencies.

Required Qualifications

Education: A bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent work experience is required.

Experience: A minimum of 10 years of delivery experience on Agile teams in complex enterprise environments is required. Candidates must have experience in a Scaled Agile (ART) model, including PI Planning and dependency management. Servant leadership and the ability to influence without direct authority are necessary.

Technical Skills:

• Mastery in Scrum facilitation and coaching.
• Proficiency with Jira, including JQL for creating actionable filters.
• Hands-on experience with Jira Software Plans (Advanced Roadmaps) for validating roadmaps and resolving plan warnings.
• Practical experience leveraging AI tools like Copilot Chat for backlog decomposition.
• Experience operating in environments with governance and change control requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced coaching techniques, such as Liberating Structures.
• Strong working knowledge of Jira Align for planning and reporting.
• Experience supporting production readiness and handoffs with Operations/SRE teams.
• Demonstrated use of AI prompt patterns for story mapping and backlog refinement.
• Experience creating and maintaining Jira Software Plans for stakeholder communication.

Work Environment

This role follows a hybrid schedule, requiring a minimum of three days per week on-site. The standard work hours are 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM MST.

This employer is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click for more details.

If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Benefits Department at or .

Apex Systems is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work in the United Kingdom and Mexico. Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click for more details.

Apex Benefits Overview: Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Apex team member can provide.