Associate Director - Product Engineering

Marsh; Pune District; Hybrid; INR 3,000,000 - 4,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Marsh in Pune is seeking a skilled Squad Leader to guide one or more squads and deliver high-quality software in a hybrid work model requiring three days in the office each week. You will champion Agile, Scrum and Lean practices, remove impediments, and drive rapid value delivery across products and AI-enhanced solutions.

You will lead multiple squads and collaborate with stakeholders to optimize processes.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of total experience in software delivery and Agile environments.
• Experience delivering in regulated, complex multi-product landscapes.
• Broad technical understanding from architecture to DevOps, security and testing.
• Strong stakeholder management and ability to coach senior executives in Agile.

Responsibilities

• Run software delivery for your Squad(s) with efficient end-to-end processes.
• Identify and remove blockers to ensure on-time, quality delivery.
• Lead 2 squads (5–9 people) and foster collaboration and ownership.
• Plan product releases and oversee Agile governance and ceremonies.
• Provide coaching and support to squads and act as line manager when needed.
• Drive continuous improvement and cross-functional benefits across streams.

Skills

Agile leadership

Scrum / Kanban

Communication

Coaching

Team management

Software development basics

Education

Bachelors in technology

Tools

AI solutions familiarity

Job description

Company: Marsh

Description:

We are seeking a talented individual to join our IT team at Marsh. This role will be based in Pune. This is a hybrid role that has a requirement of working at least three days a week in the office.

Our scaled Agile Delivery Methodology is transforming our IT teams in cohorts of Pods and Squads. If a Squad is defined as the smallest number of people required to deliver product functionality to market then a Pod is the smallest number of Squads required to deliver a complex product or collection of integrated products to market. Pods exist to create Products and services that deliver on business focused Missions. We in Product Delivery Engineering are on a mission: to transform the way our Mercer business and IT teams work together to unlock the benefits of rapid delivery of quality, secure software to market by empowered teams. We will do this by rolling out our Agile at Scale Delivery model. You will guide one or more Squads and will be responsible for their delivery of working software through production.

We are looking for a highly motivated, experienced Squad Leader with an enthusiasm for all aspects of product development who knows how to work with a team of highly skilled engineers. Our goal is to create an environment where continuous improvement of the development process is in focus and where everyone's common goal is to deliver outstanding software as fast as possible. You will be a proven expert in using the Agile / Scrum / Lean software development methodologies, a guardian of the delivery team's development processes and driven by delivering value. The Squad Lead will be an excellent communicator and facilitator, and not afraid to raise issues and drive change to remove impediments from the delivery team. You will have some familiarity with leading squads that incorporate AI solutions into their product(s).

We will count on you to:

• Run the software delivery for your Squad ensuring there are smooth and efficient processes for getting software through from requirements to working in production
• Identify and work to eliminate blockers
• Responsible for ensuring your Squad is motivated, collaborative, efficient and empowered
• e2e Delivery of working software for 1 or more products or solutions into production
• You will generally be responsible for 2 squads of between 5-9 people
• You will have an Enterprise mind-set able to foster collaboration, break down silos, identify and work to remove blockers
• You will be a recognized Agile Expert intimately familiar with the processes and practices required for successful and sustainable delivery. Our main delivery methodologies are Scrum and Kanban
• You will be proficient at creating highly performing teams and take a hands on approach where required
• Hands on experience of a range of squad-based roles is an advantage
• Solid understanding of Software Development, Architecture, Test Engineering and Security best practice in an Agile environment
• Pods support the full lifecycle of a product, and we operate on the philosophy that the work comes to the team. You will need to consider tech debt, obsolescence, security and modernization
• Ensure our Agile governance and ceremonies are in place and effective
• Plan product releases
• You will be familiar with acting as Scrum Master for teams developing or receiving AI solutions
• Our standard metrics are visible and actively being used to drive making choices
• Own the Continuous Improvement backlog for your squad. This is the key mechanism by which we deliver improvements for the following; time to market, efficiency and quality
• You will provide coaching and support to your squad ensuring that they operate well as a team and foster o culture of ownership and respect
• You may be asked to be a line manager to 1 or more other squad leads
• In addition to your day to day activities you will be assigned 1 or more workstreams leadership opportunities that will deliver cross-functional benefits to our organisation

What you need to have:

• Bachelors in a technology related discipline, or a combination of work experience, education and training equivalent to a five-year college in a technology related discipline.
• 12+ years of total experience
• Experience and track record of successful delivery in a regulated, complex, multi-product technological landscape. We also have significant security processes and legislative requirements to protect our customers and their data
• You will be expected to have a broad technical understanding to support your Agile credentials from software architecture through test, DevOps practices, security and operational run
• A metrics driven approach to delivery evaluation and drive out systems and processes that help define and report on the metrics we believe to be important
• Excellent stakeholder management skills. As we work to transform the Mercer IT and Business into a truly Agile organisation you will need to influence and coach senior executives, many of whom will be new to Agile

Ideal