What is a Release Train Engineer?

A Release Train Engineer, a servant leader, supervises and escalates risks and impediments, enforces program-level processes, and drives continual development by leading Agile Release Trains (ARTs), a group of teams accountable for cultivating, operating, and delivering solutions in a value stream. These teams work with stakeholders to ensure continuous development. They are the Scrum Masters of Scrum Masters, also recognized as the Chief Scrum Master in a Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). 

What is RTE in SAFe Agile?

While SAFe is designed to scale Lean and Agile Software Development practices, an RTE is appointed to ensure that all the SAFe practices are implemented in the organization flawlessly. With the exceptional support provided to Agile Release Trains and project teams, an organization executes any project perfectly.

If you are still wondering what RTE in Agile is, let us understand that a Release Train Engineer plays a crucial role in any organization because they help the ART teams deliver value, manage risk, interact with stakeholders, and eliminate all the obstacles.

Therefore these servant leaders must be aware of all the challenges and opportunities to facilitate a substantial development environment. That's because, at the end of the day, they are the ones who ensure that they are delivering value on time by coaching and encouraging teams to drive consistent developments and advances.

Before discussing the skills needed to become a Release Train Engineer, let's examine the responsibilities of an RTE. This will help us better discern SAFe RTE skills.

Release Train Engineer Roles and Responsibilities:

An RTE is typically responsible for fulfilling all these following accountabilities.

• RTEs should be equipped to utilize varied tools like the Program and Solutions Kanbans and other crucial information radiators. These tools help them to manage and optimize value while helping the ARTs and Solution Train.
• An RTE is also responsible for managing and communicating annual PI calendars and iterations and facilitating a PI planning event.
• The servant-leader is also responsible for summarizing and publishing team PIs for maximum visibility and transparency.
• They can assist the teams in tracking different features' execution capabilities.
• From economic decision-making to risk and dependency management or even escalating and tracing impediments, an RTE flawlessly handles everything.
• A SAFe RTE knows how to address crucial bottlenecks and encourages all the teams to collaborate and deliver better.
• An RTE also works with all the stakeholders, Product & Solution Management Leaders, and Product Owners and ensures alignment between strategy and execution.
• Their accountability is to improve the flow of value by utilizing the value stream. Assessment by a SAFe RTE and improvement of DevOps practices significantly contribute to it. 
• Driving the Lean User Experience innovation cycle needs excellent assistance from an RTE.
• They operate with APMO or the Agile Program Management Office to execute the program flawlessly. Operational excellence also comes under a Release Train Engineer's roles and responsibilities
• They also ensure adherence to Guardrails. An RTE should have a thorough understanding and skill in operating within a lean budget.

Learn more about: Roles and Responsibilities Of Release Train Engineer

In short, while Scrum Masters coach the entire team and Product Owners, an RTE being the Chief Scrum Master assists the Agile Release Trains (ARTs) and Product Owners. 

Handling over 15 teams is not easy. Let's discover the remarkable traits necessary to become a great Release Train Engineer.

A Great Agile mindset

Along with an excellent perception of the foundations of Agile and SAFe, a Release Train Engineer must have a great Agile mindset. They should have a clear idea about lean-agile principles, and by embracing this unique Agile mindset, they get the power to focus on these value-based principles.

Amazing Leadership Quality

An RTE is a servant leader who dictates all the teams working together. Therefore they must have excellent leadership qualities to lead the team by their action and words. They should know how to show the right path to people and make the teams work together to accomplish the final goal.

Courageous Soul

A Release Train Engineer has to handle over 15 teams at a time. In that case, they should be courageous to put their thoughts on the table and explain what is required and expected respectfully. An RTE doesn't go with the flow all the time. He should have the skill to say no if it's necessary.

Virtue

No matter what happens, an RTE should always be fair to everyone working in the team. People will start relying on them only if they are persons with integrity. This is one of the most desirable and necessary SAFe RTE skills.

Great Confidence

An RTE is a facilitator. Sometimes they have to give the presentation in front of the entire team and management. Therefore you can easily understand that confidence is the key here. Without this SAFe Release Train Engineer skill, surviving in the competitive industry will be tough.

A Brilliant Communicator

Sometimes an RTE has to deliver sensitive and tactful messages. Only a great communicator can do this tactfully without any hesitation. In that case, this one is also a must-have Release Train Engineer skill.

Teaching Skill

The teams working under an RTE should know and understand Agile principles and practices. An RTE feeds the team with expertise and experience.

Mentorship Guidance

ARTs implement various processes and approaches flawlessly. Without the guidance of an incredible leader like an RTE, receiving a better understanding of approaches will not be possible. Therefore an RTE should be a great mentor and coach.

Transparency and Honesty

Transparency and honesty are the two most valuable Release Train Engineer skills that cannot be ignored at any cost because handling teams without these two exceptional skills may end up with team issues. Along with transparency and honesty, how can we forget about emotional intelligence? An RTE has to make sure that each team member feels valued while working on a project. This is how an RTE encourages them to accomplish a common goal together.

Critical thinking power

RTEs must be competent in thinking on their feet. While quick analyzers evaluate a situation in minutes, great organizers coordinate quickly by providing the teams with perfect solutions. Always coming up with an out-of-the-box idea is only possible when they continuously learn to stay up-to-date in this evolving industry.

So, people who envision themselves as SAFe Release Train Engineers must have these skills. Are you wondering how to become a release train engineer? Let's find out.

How to become a SAFe Release Train Engineer?

Because of globalization and advanced technologies, most organizations have started adopting an Agile transformation to survive in this ever-evolving market. Therefore the demand for SAFe Release Train Engineers across top industries is higher. If you think you have all these sought-after, unique SAFe Release Train Engineer skills, it's time to keep your priorities clear to make a mark in the industry as an Agile transformation leader. In that case, who can be better than Simpliaxis, a globally recognized e-learning platform that ensures you receive outstanding training from industry leaders and qualify to become a servant leader? Join the course now and stand apart from the crowd. Grab the attention of the most in-demand employers in the industry and kick-start your career with the coveted brands. 

Also Check: Release Train Engineer (RTE) Vs Scrum Master

Conclusion:

A Release Train Engineer (RTE) is critical in guiding Agile Release Trains (ARTs) and ensuring the seamless implementation of SAFe practices within an organization. As the Chief Scrum Master, the RTE supports ART teams in delivering value, managing risks, engaging with stakeholders, and removing obstacles. The RTE's responsibilities include utilizing various tools, managing PI calendars, facilitating events, and driving operational excellence. To excel, an RTE must possess leadership, communication, mentorship, and critical thinking skills. Simpliaxis offers SAFe® 6.0 Release Train Engineer (RTE) Certification Training to help professionals achieve excellence in this vital role.