Staff Specialist - Release Train Engineer

HARMAN International; Bengaluru; Hybrid; INR 2,500,000 - 4,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

HARMAN FlexConnect Program

Employee discounts on Harman/Samsung

On-site facilities & wellness programs

Training via HARMAN University

Job summary

HARMAN Automotive is seeking an experienced Staff Specialist - Release Train Engineer to lead an Agile Release Train across multiple brands. You will enable aligned, predictable delivery of features spanning software, hardware, and acoustics, while embedding compliance and Lean-Agile practices.

You will coach teams, manage dependencies, and ensure timely PI objectives, demos, and program-level reporting to OEM stakeholders. This role is remote-friendly with hybrid in-office requirements.

Qualifications

• The candidate has 10+ years in complex product development, preferably automotive or consumer electronics.
• Proven experience in Lean-Agile leadership and SAFe environments including RTE or Scrum Master roles.
• Experience with multi-domain development (hardware, software, acoustics) and compliance pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Serve as chief Scrum Master for an ART spanning 5–15 teams, ensuring cadence and flow.
• Facilitate PI Planning, System Demos, and Inspect & Adapt workshops across brands.
• Define and track PI Objectives with Product Management and System Architects.
• Drive dependency management, risk visibility, and integration readiness.
• Coach teams in Lean-Agile practices and promote continuous improvement.
• Coordinate across JBL, B&W, and other brand teams to align backlogs and validation.

Skills

Agile leadership

SAFe certification

Facilitation

Stakeholder management

Cross-brand coordination

Program management

Dependency management

Lean-Agile metrics

Communication

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, CS, or Systems Engineering

Tools

DOORS

EWM

ETM

Job description

HARMAN’s engineers and designers are creative, purposeful and agile. As part of this team, you’ll combine your technical expertise with innovative ideas to help drive cutting-edge solutions in the car, enterprise and connected ecosystem. Every day, you will push the boundaries of creative design, and HARMAN is committed to providing you with the opportunities, innovative technologies and resources to build a successful career.

A Career at HARMAN

As a technology leader that is rapidly on the move, HARMAN is filled with people who are focused on making life better. Innovation, inclusivity and teamwork are a part of our DNA. When you add that to the challenges we take on and solve together, you’ll discover that at HARMAN you can grow, make a difference and be proud of the work you do everyday.

Introduction: A Career at HARMAN Automotive

We’re a global, multi-disciplinary team that’s putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. At HARMAN Automotive, we give you the keys to fast-track your career.

• Engineer audio systems and integrated technology platforms that augment the driving experience.

• Combine ingenuity, in-depth research, and a spirit of collaboration with design and engineering excellence.

• Advance in-vehicle infotainment, safety, efficiency, and enjoyment.

About the Role

The Brand Experience team develops innovative consumer experiences that enhance lives through products, services, and technologies. This role collaborates with the Brand Technical Lead and Product Manager to translate feature requirements and roadmaps into both code-based and non-code-based technical solutions.

The Staff Specialist - Release Train Engineer is the servant leader and chief facilitator of an Agile Release Train (ART) within the Car Audio organization. This role ensures alignment, synchronization, and flow across multiple cross-functional teams delivering premium brand experiences to OEM customers. The RTE is responsible for enabling consistent, high-quality, and predictable delivery of features across software, hardware, and acoustics teams while embedding compliance, innovation, and Lean-Agile principles into execution.

What you Will Do

ART Facilitation & Execution

• Serve as the chief Scrum Master for the ART, ensuring consistent cadence, alignment, and flow of 5 to 15 teams (50 to 125 people)

• Facilitate key ART ceremonies: PI Planning, ART Syncs (Scrum of Scrums & PO Sync), System Demos, Inspect & Adapt workshops.

• Work closely with Product Management, System Architects, and Brand Owners to define and track PI Objectives.

• Drive dependency management and risk visibility across brand and platform teams.

• Partner with the System Team to maintain integration readiness, continuous testing, and system demo preparation.

Lean-Agile Leadership

• Coach teams and stakeholders in Lean-Agile practices and SAFe principles.

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, flow optimization, and transparency.

• Identify bottlenecks in delivery flow and lead resolution through collaboration, not command.

• Guide ART metrics: predictability, velocity, flow efficiency, PI objective achievement, and defect trends.

Cross-Brand and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate across multiple ARTs (e.g., JBL, B&W, h/k) to align shared teams and dependencies.

• Collaborate with Cross-Brand Team Leaders and the System Architect to synchronize technical and validation deliverables.

• Ensure shared assets such as DSP frameworks, HIL/VIL platforms, and compliance pipelines are integrated across brand initiatives.

• Integrate ASPICE, ISO 26262, and cybersecurity compliance activities into ART backlogs via enabler stories.

• Support PI and Program-level reporting for OEM milestones and management reviews.

Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary communication hub between ART teams and stakeholders.

• Provide transparency through clear, data-driven reporting and visual management (Program Boards, PI Metrics).

• Align ART priorities with business goals set by Brand Owners and Portfolio Management.

Authorities

• Define Sprint and Release cadence and synchronization

Accountabilities

• PI Planning event orchestration

• Concept freeze and approval (technical sections).

• Cross-brand alignment and minimal integration delays.

• Compliance activities integrated into ART cadence without delaying delivery.

• Positive feedback from Product Management, Brand Owners, and OEM stakeholders.

Success Measures (KPIs)

• ART predictability, with PI objectives consistently met.

• Dependency resolution
• I&A improvement actions
• Flow metrics
• Improved cross-brand alignment and fewer integration delays.
• Compliance activities integrated into ART cadence without delaying delivery.
• Positive feedback from Product Management, Brand Owners, and OEM stakeholders.

What You Need to Be Successful

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or related field.

• 10+ years in complex product development (automotive or consumer electronics preferred).

• 5+ years in Agile leadership roles (Scrum Master, RTE, or Program Manager).

• SAFe certification required (SAFe RTE, SPC, or SAFe Agilist preferred).

• Proven experience with multi-domain development (hardware, software, acoustics, and compliance).

• Familiarity with IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (DOORS, EWM, ETM) or equivalent tools.

• Strong understanding of ASPICE, ISO 26262, and automotive OEM milestone processes.

• Expert in facilitation, alignment, and stakeholder management across distributed teams.

• Ability to visualize and manage dependencies in complex environments.

• Excellent understanding of Lean flow metrics and performance tracking.

• Skilled at driving continuous improvement and cultural transformation.

• Strong communication and executive reporting skills.

• ART predictability ≥ 80% and PI objectives consistently met.
• Improved cross-brand alignment and fewer integration delays.
• Compliance activities integrated into ART cadence without delaying delivery.
• Positive feedback from Product Management, Brand Owners, and OEM stakeholders.

Bonus Points if You Have

• Advanced degree in Management or Engineering Management.

• Strong recommendations from automotive industry colleagues.

• Automotive Business & Engineering Landscape Knowledge.

• Interest in acoustics and sound reproduction.

• Flexible in a challenging work environment.

• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent presentation/communication skills.

What Makes You Eligible

• Be willing to travel to one or more PI Planning events, 1 week per quarter, domestic and international travel.

What We Offer

• HARMAN FlexConnect Program, offering a flexible hybrid work environment that fosters stronger collaboration, meaningful connections, and innovation through a minimum of three in-office days per week.

• Access to employee discounts on world class HARMAN/Samsung products (BRAND, Harman Kardon, AKG etc.)

• Inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages career development opportunities.
• On-site opportunities to focus on personal well-being and development such as, onsite café, fitness center, weekly massage, fitness classes, and other onsite events promoted by our employee resource groups.

• Professional development opportunities through HARMAN University’s business and leadership academies.

• Internal talent management leadership acceleration programs.

• “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program.

• Scholarship programs for employee family members.

#LI-ST1

HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Aff… All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard torace, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.