Scrum Master (Extreme Programming / XP)

HelloKindred; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 670,000 - 1,339,000; Full time

Job summary

HelloKindred in Johannesburg invites a seasoned Scrum Master/Agile Coach to guide cross‑functional software teams through Scrum and XP practices. You will coach on TDD, pair programming, and CI/CD, facilitating ceremonies while protecting delivery quality and team wellbeing.

The role blends agile coaching with technical coaching in a hybrid setup, with a 3‑month contract and potential extension. Strong Jira expertise and XP/kanban experience are essential.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in Scrum Master or Agile Coach role.
• Strong knowledge of XP, Scrum, and agile practices.
• Experience coaching on TDD, pair programming, and CI/CD.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills.
• Expert level in JIRA; CSM/PSM I/II certifications preferred.
• Experience with Kanban or Scrumban.
• Background in software development.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate all Scrum ceremonies: sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
• Remove impediments and shield the team from external disruptions.
• Coach the team on Scrum values, self-organisation, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with the Product Owner to maintain a healthy, prioritised backlog.

Skills

Scrum Master

Agile Coach

XP

TDD

Pair programming

CI/CD

Backlog management

JIRA

Facilitation

Kanban

Scrumban

Software development

Tools

JIRA

Job description

HelloKindred are specialists in staffing marketing, creative and technology roles, offering a range of talent solutions that can be delivered on-site, remotely or hybrid.

Our vision is to make work accessible and people’s lives better.We do this by disrupting traditional employment barriers –connecting ambitious talent to flexible opportunities with trusted brands.

Job Description

Anticipated Contract End Date/Length:3 months contract (with a potential to extend)
Work set up: Hybrid

Our client in the global professional services industry is looking for an experiencedScrum Master (Extreme Programming / XP) to join their team.

The successful candidate will serve as servant-leader and agile coach for one or more cross-functional software development teams, with deep expertise in combining Scrum ceremonies with Extreme Programming (XP) engineering practices. Unlike a standard Scrum Master, this role also coaches the development team on XP technical practices, bridging the gap between process facilitation and engineering excellence. Scrum.org

What you will do:
Scrum Facilitation

• Facilitate all Scrum ceremonies: sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
• Remove impediments and shield the team from external disruptions.
• Coach the team on Scrum values, self-organisation, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with the Product Owner to maintain a healthy, prioritised backlog.

XP Practice Coaching

• Champion and embed XP practices within the team, including Test-Driven Development (TDD), pair programming, continuous integration, refactoring, and collective code ownership.
• Promote Test-Driven Development as a practice for developing code that is simple, maintainable, and well-tested.
• Guide teams through short iteration cycles with a focus on delivering high-quality, working software.
• Coach on sustainable pace and help manage the tension between deadlines and developer wellbeing.

Agile Coaching & Improvement

• Provide servant leadership and mentorship to cross-functional agile teams, strengthening understanding of effective agile practices, theories, and XP ZipRecruiter.
• Facilitate continuous feedback loops between the team and stakeholders.
• Measure and communicate team velocity, quality metrics, and delivery health.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a Scrum Master or Agile Coach role within software development teams.
• Strong knowledge of Agile methodologies including Extreme Programming (XP) and Scrum, as well as experience with design patterns, refactoring, and unit testing ZipRecruiter.
• Proven ability to coach Developers on TDD, pair programming, and CI/CD practices.
• Experience working in short-cycle, iterative delivery environments.
• Strong facilitation, conflict resolution, and communication skills.
• Expert level in JIRA.
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM, PSM I/II) or equivalent.
• Certified Scrum Developer (CSD) valuable given the technical coaching dimension.
• Experience in Kanban or Scrumban.
• Background in software development (advantageous but not required).

Additional Information

Candidates must be legally authorized to live and work in the country where the position is based, without requiring employer sponsorship.

HelloKindred is committed to fair, transparent, and inclusive hiring practices. We assess candidates based on skills, experience, and role-related requirements.

We appreciate your interest in this opportunity. While we review every application carefully, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

HelloKindred is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.