Agile Release Train Engineer

Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 111,000 - 147,000; Full time

Job summary

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) is seeking an Agile Release Train Engineer in Sacramento, CA to serve as a servant leader and coach for an Agile Release Train (ART). The RTE will facilitate ART events, manage dependencies, and coach teams to meet PI planning commitments, while coordinating with the MATOC IT Supervisor and contractors.

This is a hybrid onsite role within SMUD’s Strategy & Governance department.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 7+ years of relevant experience.
• 3+ years of project management experience in technical areas such as financial analysis, engineering analysis, or planning.
• Desirable: SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) or similar certifications.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate ART events and processes to help teams deliver value.
• Manage dependencies, host PO synch and Scrum of Scrums to meet PI commitments.
• Provide status updates, risk management and coaching across teams.

Skills

Agile leadership

Stakeholder communication

Project coordination

Risk management

SAFe / RTE knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

JIRA

Confluence

Align

Job description

Title: Agile Release Train Engineer

Department: Strategy & Governance

Location: Sacramento, CA, US, 95827-3824

Category: Information Technology/Telecommunications

Minimum Pay Rate:$110,801.60

Maximum Pay Rate:$146,785.60

Civil Service Status:Civil Service

Apply by Date:09/28/2026

Posting Type:Open

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.

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.

SMUD provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. SMUD complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

SMUD expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SMUD employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.