GovCIO is looking for a Release Train Engineer (RTE) who will be responsible for guiding Agile Release Train activities within a large-scale digital modernization initiative supporting our VA Customer. The position supports an active, multi-team program and will step into an in-progress environment requiring a quick ramp-up and steady leadership. This position is fully remote and located within the United States.
ResponsibilitiesServes as the servant leader and chief facilitator for the Agile Release Train (ART), driving execution across multiple coordinated workstreams (architecture/API, identity and sign-in, UI, and application integrations). Facilitates all key Scaled Agile (SAFe) ceremonies and program events, and is accountable for the health, cadence, and predictability of the train.
- Plan, prepare, and facilitate PI Planning events, including pre-planning, the two-day event, and follow-up readouts and management reviews
- Facilitate ART ceremonies: Scrum of Scrums / cross-team syncs, ART syncs, system demos, and Inspect & Adapt
- Own and actively manage the program dependency board, capturing inbound/outbound dependencies across teams and external partners, and driving them to firm commitments
- Track, escalate, and resolve program-level risks and impediments; facilitate ROAM (Resolved, Owned, Accepted, Mitigated) at PI Planning and throughout execution
- Coordinate across multiple prime contractors and government stakeholders, aligning delivery toward a shared milestone in a heavily dependency-driven environment
- Partner with Product Management and the System/Solution Architect to maintain alignment between the program backlog, architectural runway, and sprint-level execution
- Drive teams from broad discussion toward sprint-level granularity, with explicit dependency capture and risk logging
- Surface and help navigate security, privacy, and authorization timelines (e.g., ATO bundling and approval sequencing) that affect the delivery schedule
- Track program metrics (predictability, velocity, dependency and risk burndown) and report status to program leadership and the customer
- Coach Scrum Masters, teams, and stakeholders on SAFe practices, improving ART maturity over successive PIs
- Protect the train's focus by helping distinguish committed near-term scope from future-state work
QualificationsBachelor's with 15+ years of relevant experience (or commensurate experience), including demonstrated experience as a Release Train Engineer or in a senior program-level Agile leadership role on a SAFe Agile Release Train.
- 8+ years of relevant experience as a RTE.
Required Skills and Experience- Proven experience serving as a Release Train Engineer (or equivalent ART-level facilitator) on a SAFe program
- Current SAFe Practice Consultant (SPC) certification
- Demonstrated experience planning and facilitating full PI Planning events end to end (pre-, during, and post-event)
- Strong, proven background facilitating ART ceremonies: Scrum of Scrums, ART syncs, system demos, and Inspect & Adapt
- Demonstrated experience managing cross-team and external dependencies, and driving dependency-owning teams to firm commitments
- Proven program-level risk and impediment management, including ROAM facilitation
- Experience coordinating delivery across multiple teams and/or vendors toward a fixed delivery milestone
- Hands-on proficiency with Agile program management and collaboration tooling (e.g., Jira, Mural or equivalent)
- Strong attention to detail, excellent documentation skills, and the ability to lead planning, coordination, and reporting with minimal supervision
- Strong troubleshooting, critical-thinking, and organizational skills, with the ability to drive teams from open-ended discussion to actionable specificity
- Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills across technical teams, leadership, and government customers
- Ability to obtain and maintain the clearance / suitability level required for VA program access: VA Public Trust
- Current and active U.S. Driver's License
Preferred Skills and Experience- Experience supporting VA or other federal civilian agency programs
- Familiarity with identity, authentication, or single sign-on programs (e.g., OAuth/OIDC concepts, credential service providers)
- Experience navigating federal security and authorization processes (ATO, security/privacy reviews)
- Experience standing up or maturing a new Agile Release Train
- Bachelor's or Master's in a related field
Clearance Required: Ability to obtain and maintain a Suitability/Public Trust Clearance.
Posted Salary RangeUSD $170,000.00 - USD $180,000.00 /Yr.
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