Agile Release Train Engineer

SMUD; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SMUD in Sacramento seeks a Project Manager I to serve as an Agile Release Train Engineer, guiding an ART and coaching teams to deliver value. You will facilitate PI planning, manage dependencies, host Scrum of Scrums, and oversee contractor Scrum masters under MATOC with IT supervision.

You will lead cross-functional project work, coordinate resources, and ensure on-budget, on-schedule delivery while maintaining clear communication with stakeholders and departments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; if no degree, seven or more years of relevant experience.
• Three+ years of progressively responsible project management work in financial/economic analysis, marketing and customer research, or engineering analysis, including at least one year in a leadership role.

Responsibilities

• Develop project plans defining scope, budget, schedule, and resources for assigned projects.
• Coordinate project resources to complete tasks within the approved plan.
• Review and approve requests for contract services or materials related to projects.
• Ensure efficient use of District resources and maintain clear communications with interfacing departments.
• Provide input to performance evaluations and monitor project status for updates.
• Interface with external agency staff and contractors to resolve conflicts.

Skills

Agile methodologies

SAFe RTE

JIRA

Confluence

Align

Stakeholder comms

Risk mgmt

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

JIRA

Align

Confluence

Job description

The role of this Project Manager I position will be an Agile Release Train Engineer (RTE). The RTE is a servant leader and coach for an Agile Release Train (ART). They are responsible to facilitate the ART events and processes and assist the teams in delivering value. RTEs communicate with stakeholders, elevate impediments, help manage risk, and drive relentless improvement.

The RTE will manage and optimize the flow of work through the ART, using various tools such as the Program Kanban, the Atlassian work management tools and other information channels. Specifically, the RTE is responsible for driving results to ensure the agile teams meet their PI Planning commitments by managing dependencies, hosting PO synch and the Scrum of Scrum ceremony. The RTE will manage the scrum master contractors under the MATOC agreement with oversight of the IT Supervisor.

Official SMUD Classification: Project Manager I

Purpose

To provide leadership skills to plan, organize, and coordinate assigned projects. Establishing and maintaining cooperation between other work groups and the project. While working in a matrix organization, assuring that project work will be completed on schedule and within approved budget. Resolving resource support issues for assigned project. Integrating contract and District work groups on a project. Resolving technical issues.

Nature and Scope

Serves as a lead position with responsibility, appropriate authority and accountability to accomplish a given scope of work which extends across department lines, within the authorized budget and schedule. The Project Manager I, by controlling project activities through a matrix organization, is responsible for all work activities performed on the project. The Project Manager I requires moderate supervisory direction.

This role typically oversees or leads smaller projects, or supports large complex projects with budgets of up to $1,000,000.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop Project Plans (PP) which define the scope, budget, schedule, and other resources of assigned projects.
• Support supervisor in obtaining Executive Management approvals of projects and assignments.
• Coordinate project resources as necessary to complete project tasks as long as total project costs do not exceed those within the approved Project Plan.
• Review and approve all requests for contract services or materials related to assigned projects.
• Ensure the proper and efficient use of District resources.
• Develop and maintain clear and concise communications and working relationships with other departments and projects that interface with the project.
• Provide input to project team members performance evaluations as a part of the annual SMUD performance evaluation process.
• Review and approve all project related contract and material invoices.
• Analyze cost/schedule trends and take appropriate corrective action when they are contrary to the Project Plan.
• Provide management with periodic updates on the status of assigned projects.
• Interface with external agency staff and contractor staff to resolve project conflicts.
• Perform related duties as required.

Required Education

• A Bachelor’s of art or science degree or related discipline from accredited college or university or equivalent experience. If no degree, seven or more (7+) years of relevant experience is required.

Required Experience Qualifications

• Three or more (3+) years of progressively responsible relevant project management work experience in one or more of the following technical areas: financial/economic analysis, marketing and customer research, technical and engineering analysis, or planning and business development to include at least one year in a responsible project leadership role.

Knowledge Of

Project management principles and practices; SMUD operations; SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOUs, and other special agreements; federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations pertinent to area of assignment; cost control, scheduling, and budgeting principles and practices; performance measurement techniques; proposal preparation techniques; contractual mechanisms and common terms and conditions; accounting fundamentals; management reporting; management control system fundamentals; total quality management philosophies, tools and techniques; practices for reviewing work assignments; safety policies, practices, and procedures; standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software; English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary standards.

Skills To

Manage, plan, and coordinate diverse functions within assigned projects; provide effective reporting to executive management including written and oral communications, presentations, and reports; evaluate and resolve complex technical or management issues within a project; develop funding for projects; maintain adherence to budget and schedule using a matrix organization; negotiate with internal management personnel; identifying multiple solutions and objectively assess advantages and disadvantages of each; provide coaching, motivation, and skills development to assigned staff; set project goals/objectives and define activities that must be performed to accomplish them; utilize a personal computer and/or computer terminal, systems and software relevant to the job; communicate effectively orally and in writing internally/externally; establish and maintain effective working relationships internally/externally.

Desirable Qualifications

• One or more (1+) years of experience facilitating and negotiating priorities and dependencies across multiple agile teams.
• One or more (1+) years of experience maintaining constant awareness of projects and clients; keeping product owners focused on short- and long-term milestones.
• One or more (1+) years of experience measuring and communicating the velocity of each agile team and providing analytical reports and presentations.
• Strong knowledge of Atlassian JIRA, Align and Confluence.
• One or more (1+) years of experience establishing new ART/Teams structure templates, queries, dashboards etc. within Atlassian JIRA, Align and Confluence.
• SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) or other Scaled Agile certifications.

Physical Requirements

Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are

As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're 'Happy, satisfied and engaged' which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers. Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities. By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all. We aspire to be a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.

An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020. This requires equal pay for employees who perform “substantially similar work,” when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification. As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.

SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.

Why Sacramento, California?

The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49er's aren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.

Hybrid Work

This position will be required to work onsite one or more days a week on a regular basis; sometimes more or less, depending on the work and, at any of our SMUD locations. SMUD takes pride in powering the Sacramento region community where we live and work. We value the strong working relationships we develop with our colleagues. Our approach to remote work will continue to evolve. Please be aware that should SMUD’s business needs change, emergencies occur, or various other reasons arise, you may be required to report onsite on a part-time or full-time basis.

CalPERS

SMUD is a CalPERS agency. As a member of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), SMUD offers eligible employees access to a defined benefit pension plan along with other valuable retirement and health benefits. This program helps provide financial security both during your career and after retirement. To learn more about CalPERS and the benefits it offers, please visit www.calpers.ca.gov.