Have you ever wondered how successful tech companies manage to deliver so much so fast? It has nothing to do with luck, that’s for sure.
The secret is simple: They break down complex projects into smaller and achievable tasks and find new and innovative ways for continuous improvement.
But to do that, you have to improve your organizational structure first. And this is where Release Train Engineers (RTEs) come into play. They help facilitate the Agile Release Train (ART) events and processes and manage risks to ensure that the company can continuously improve and deliver.
If you are new to the software development world, this may sound complex. So to ensure that you understand the nuances of a Release Train Engineer’s role, we have broken down every critical component to help you gain clarity. Let’s start with the basics first.
The foundation of a Release Train Engineer’s role starts with facilitating ART. So it is critical to know what an ART is first.
In a nutshell, ART is a long-standing team comprising several Agile teams with all key stakeholders who plan, execute, test, deploy and ensure the release of the software. Typically ART consists of 70 to 125 people, but it changes as per the project needs. They work together with a common goal and follow SAFe practices and principles to complete large projects faster and more efficiently.
Although ART is autonomous and collaborative, they have fixed deadlines that they need to follow. And since most projects are complicated, there may be several risk factors that may impede the progress.
The role of a Release Train Engineer is to ensure that the ART team works well together and there are no impediments. They facilitate every ART event and process and apply SAFe principles to ensure maximum value delivery.
Let’s move on to top RTE roles and responsibilities.
A technical aspect of an RTE’s role involves Program Increment (PI) planning and execution. PI planning is a time-boxed event where ART meets and estimates what deliverables will be achieved in a particular cycle and its dependencies. On the other hand, PI execution is a loop of events that includes following systems to keep the trains on track.
As the facilitator of ART, an RTE takes an active part in PI planning and execution and does the following:
Besides the above events, the RTE also explores metrics to measure PI execution and examine the value streaming map to identify opportunities. The role of an RTE differs from company to company based on the goal of the ART.
RTE’s roles and responsibilities include coaching ART on improving efficiency and boosting collaboration to ensure strategy and execution alignment. They apply a combination of lean and SAFe practices into the workflow for continuous delivery.
Here’s how an RTE becomes a servant leader:
With a team having 100 members, things will be challenging. As the ART driver, you are in charge of making things as smooth as possible. It includes having oversight of all the activities, subsequent reporting, analyzing, and risk elimination.
Let’s discuss an RTE’s roles and responsibilities on how they eliminate risk and keep the value flow smooth:
If you are thinking of becoming a Release Train Engineer, it is critical to know their career scope:
Apart from software development, the demand for RTE is bound to increase across industries, such as cybersecurity, fintech, defense, retail, and manufacturing.
It is also critical to note the average salary of an RTE can vary depending on their skills, experience, and knowledge. This is why it makes sense to ace your Release Train Engineer examination and include the practical experience to make your resume stand out to potential employers.
Every prospective RTE must possess the following skillset to become successful at their workplace.
Getting RTE-certified opens a pathway to one of the most coveted jobs in the technology industry. And we are here to set you up for success.
Our RTE training course will be led by Dr. Thomas Baxter, a seasoned and accomplished senior IT leader with over 25 years of experience. This course will give you practical insights into current industry trends and technologies.
The 3-Day training program equips attendees with the knowledge to apply Agile Release Trains (ARTs) to enable end-to-end delivery.
Highlights of our RTE training program:
Also, if you register now, you get an exclusive discount of $700. So book your spot here today!
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