Release Train Engineer

Why this job matters

Our Data and AI vision is to reinvent BT Group as the market leader in AI-powered connectivity, solutions and services, helping businesses, public sector communities and society improve the way they live and work. We’ll do this by building foundations to strengthen our core platform, while keeping ethics and responsible delivery at the core and, by harnessing data and AI to reinvent BT Group, solve business and customer problems and drive value through innovation. Underpinning the success of the strategy are our people, using our collective expertise in Data and AI to partner with the organization and drive a data-led culture.   

The Release Train Engineer executes a range of workstreams in delivering the planning, execution and implementation of release processes across Agile teams thoroughly escalating impediments, managing risk and ensuring value delivery. 

What you’ll be doing

1. Manages the backlogs and facilitates the sequencing of work across the ART (Agile Release Train) to efficiently manage the overall development and the fixed resource utilisation.
2. Contributes towards programme level coordination, such as creating timelines, milestones, and cadence of increments and releases and contributes to the development of reports and analyses that document programme activity.
3. Facilitates quarterly alignment and planning readiness by driving cross-team synthesis of the vision, roadmap, and backlogs, and encourages collaboration across teams to help ensure strategy and execution alignment.
4. Facilitates the ART communication and coordination with stakeholders and customers during feature definition and delivery across multiple application transformation initiatives.
5. Executes coaching and provision of expertise to teams on how to break down work backlogs effectively, i.e. slicing for value, feature and capability estimation and the roll-up to Epics.
6. Contributes to a culture of continuous improvement and drives delivery and continuous improvement by utilising feedback and metrics (quality, delivery rate, etc.) to identify areas of opportunity.
7. Supports the development of working relationship between engineering and its business functions and partners.
8. Conducts analysis to gain insights into dependencies and risks between value streams and technology.

The skills you’ll need to succeed

1. Extensive Agile Knowledge: As an RTE, you should have a deep understanding of Agile methodologies, particularly the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). You should be well-versed in Agile practices and principles, including Scrum, Kanban, and Lean, and should be able to apply them effectively to facilitate the delivery of high-quality software releases; 
2. Strong Leadership Skills: As an RTE, you’ll be responsible for coordinating and facilitating the Agile Release Train (ART) and ensuring smooth delivery of software products. You should be able to lead, guide and inspire the ART team members, establish a collaborative work environment, and drive the team towards success;  
3. Excellent Communication and Collaboration: Being an effective communicator is crucial for this RTE role. You’ll need to interact with various stakeholders, including product owners, scrum masters, development teams, and business executives. The ability to clearly articulate goals, resolve conflicts, and foster collaboration is essential for an RTE's success; 
4. Strong Technical Background: While an RTE doesn't necessarily need to be a software developer, having a solid technical background is beneficial. Understanding the software development lifecycle (SDLC), technical dependencies, and the challenges involved in software delivery allows the RTE to make informed decisions, address technical issues, and provide guidance to the development teams; 
5. Problem-Solving and Adaptability: Your role won’t be stratight forward, and that’s a good thing. As an RTE, you’ll often face complex challenges related to resource management, cross-team dependencies, and release planning. You should be able to think critically, and adapt quickly to changing circumstances.  
6. Delivery is key. We want people who also think this way. We want people who are curious and who challenge the norm.  

Experience you’d be expected to have

1. Experience as an RTE or as a Technical Delivery Manager in an Agile environment (5+ years);  
2. Experience with SAFe or similar Agile frameworks. Certified would be advantageous  
3. Experience working in a Software Delivery Lifecycle environment or delivering business process change;  

Our leadership standards

Looking in:
Leading inclusively and Safely
I inspire and build trust through self-awareness, honesty and integrity.
Owning outcomes
I take the right decisions that benefit the broader organisation.

Looking out:
Delivering for the customer
I execute brilliantly on clear priorities that add value to our customers and the wider business.
Commercially savvy
I demonstrate strong commercial focus, bringing an external perspective to decision-making.

Looking to the future:
Growth mindset
I experiment and identify opportunities for growth for both myself and the organisation.
Building for the future
I build diverse future-ready teams where all individuals can be at their best.