Release Train Engineer (RTE)

General Dynamics Information Technology; United States; Remote; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

General Dynamics Information Technology is seeking a Release Train Engineer to lead the Agile Release Train within the Case Management Modernization program for the AO US Courts. The RTE will coach SAFe practices, synchronize multiple Scrum teams, and drive continuous improvement across architecture, development, testing, and operations in a federal contracting environment.

You will facilitate PI planning, coordinate demos, monitor metrics, and ensure delivery of measurable business value

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive Agile delivery experience, incl. 8+ years as RTE or Senior PM on large programs.
• Deep SAFe, Lean-Agile leadership and value stream optimization knowledge.
• Experience coordinating 6–12+ Scrum teams under a single ART.
• Proven federal contracting or enterprise modernization delivery experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Agile Release Train to align with the CMM modernization roadmap.
• Plan and facilitate PI Planning, System Demos, and Inspect & Adapt events.
• Coach SAFe adoption and standardize processes across teams.
• Identify and manage program risks, dependencies, and impediments.
• Ensure cross-team coordination and visibility of milestones and objectives.
• Maintain ART metrics and report progress to leadership.
• Collaborate with PMs, Architects, and Scrum Masters on roadmap execution.
• Improve CI/CD and DevSecOps practices for reliable delivery.
• Ensure compliance with federal Agile standards and SOW requirements.
• Foster transparency, accountability, and value delivery across ARTs.

Skills

SAFe knowledge

RTE experience

Program management

Jira Align

Azure DevOps

CI/CD

Stakeholder mgmt

Cloud familiarity

DevSecOps

Flow metrics

Education

Master’s degree preferred in related field

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Information Systems

Experience may substitute education per policy

Tools

Jira Align

Azure DevOps

Rally

Confluence

Miro

Lucidchart

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

The Release Train Engineer (RTE) plays a critical leadership role in the Case Management Modernization (CMM) Program, a large-scale initiative supporting the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) in modernizing its enterprise case management systems using Agile and SAFe delivery practices. The RTE serves as the Chief Scrum Master for the Agile Release Train (ART), facilitating the flow of value across multiple Scrum teams responsible for developing, integrating, and deploying modern cloud-based solutions. This position ensures synchronization across all development and testing activities and fosters a culture of continuous improvement and transparency within a federal contracting environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the servant leader and facilitator for the Agile Release Train (ART), ensuring alignment with the CMM Dev modernization roadmap.
• Plan, organize, and facilitate Program Increment (PI) Planning, System Demos, Inspect & Adapt workshops, and Scrum of Scrums to synchronize delivery across multiple Agile teams.
• Support Agile and SAFe adoption through coaching, mentoring, and process standardization across architecture, development, testing, and operations functions.
• Proactively identify and manage program-level risks, dependencies, and impediments, escalating to stakeholders as needed.
• Ensure cross-team coordination and visibility of sprint objectives, deliverables, and milestones across ARTs supporting CMM modernization.
• Maintain and communicate ART metrics (velocity, feature completion rate, defect trends, predictability, and PI objectives) to program leadership.
• Collaborate with Product Managers, System Architects, and Scrum Masters to ensure cohesive execution of the program vision and roadmap.
• Drive continuous delivery pipeline improvement through automation, CI/CD optimization, and DevSecOps culture alignment.
• Ensure compliance with federal Agile delivery standards, documentation requirements, and performance metrics as defined in the SOW.
• Promote a culture of transparency, accountability, and servant leadership, ensuring ARTs deliver measurable business value each PI.

Deliverable Alignment:

• Program Increment (PI) Planning Artifacts: Roadmaps, PI Objectives, dependency maps, and iteration schedules.
• ART and Sprint Metrics Reports: Burndown charts, velocity trends, feature progress dashboards, and risk registers.
• Retrospective and Continuous Improvement Reports: Actionable items and improvement roadmaps aligned to CMM performance objectives.
• Cross-Team Coordination Deliverables: Consolidated status reports, integration plans, and release readiness checklists.
• Governance Documentation: SAFe process adherence records, risk logs, and compliance matrices for Agile governance audits.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in Agile software delivery environments, with 8+ years as a Release Train Engineer or Senior Agile Program Manager supporting large-scale, multi-team programs.
• Deep knowledge of SAFe principles, Lean-Agile leadership, and value stream optimization.
• Experience orchestrating multiple concurrent Scrum teams (6–12+) delivering under a single ART.
• Proven success implementing Agile at scale in federal contracting or enterprise modernization programs.
• Expertise in Agile lifecycle tools (Jira, Rally, Azure DevOps, VersionOne) for planning, tracking, and metrics reporting.
• Strong understanding of DevSecOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and Agile release management.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills with the ability to influence without authority.
• Experience with incremental delivery planning, metrics-driven execution, and continuous improvement.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related discipline (Master’s preferred).
• Experience with federal Agile transformation efforts, including SAFe implementation within secure environments.
• Familiarity with cloud-based development (AWS/Azure) and modern full-stack ecosystems (React, NodeJS).
• Understanding of FinOps, cloud cost optimization, and governance frameworks in Agile delivery.
• Hands-on experience with Agile coaching, Kanban systems, and flow metrics analysis.

Certifications:

• SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) — required.
• SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) — highly preferred.
• PMP, PMI-ACP, or Agile Certified Practitioner — preferred.
• ITIL 4 Foundation — beneficial for integration with IT service management.

Tools & Technologies:

• Jira Align, Azure DevOps, Rally, Confluence, Miro, Lucidchart.
• CI/CD orchestration: Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, GitHub Actions.
• Metrics dashboards: Power BI, Tableau, or Jira dashboards.
• Documentation and collaboration: SharePoint, MS Teams, ServiceNow Agile.

Performance Outcomes:

• >95% PI Objective Achievement Rate across ARTs.
• 100% on-time completion of PI Planning and System Demos.
• Improved velocity predictability (variance <=10% over three consecutive PIs).
• Reduction of cross-team impediments by 25%+ through improved dependency tracking.
• Sustained program transparency and stakeholder confidence through measurable ART metrics and governance reporting.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 10+ years of general experience in information systems
• 8+ years of specialized experience
• Minimum Education: MA/MS
• Experience may be considered in lieu of degree as follows: HS (16+ years), AA/AS (14+ years), BA/BS (12+ years), Doctorate Degree/Ph.D. (9+ years)

COMMUNICATION & ORGANIZATIONAL

• Excellent presentation and communication (oral and written) skills.
• Consultant mindset with the ability to work with high level customer stakeholders and build excellent customer relationship.
• Experience identifying and applying industry tools, solutions, methods best practices, and emerging technologies.
• Strong analytical skills and problem-solving skills with the ability to formulate and communicate recommendations for improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively, independently, and as part of a team.