Platform Scrum Master / Release Train Engineer (RTE) Data & Analytics

Title: Platform Scrum Master / Release Train Engineer (RTE) Data & Analytics
Location: Houston, TX (Onsite)
C2C/1099

*Role Overview:*
* Looking for an experienced Platform Scrum Master / Release Train Engineer (RTE) to support a large Data & Analytics platform comprising multiple Agile teams, products and technology workstreams. This is a platform-level role requiring formal hands-on RTE experience, strong SAFe expertise and the ability to coordinate complex delivery across Data Engineering, Analytics, AI/ML, Cloud, Applications and Infrastructure teams.
* The ideal candidate should have operated as an RTE for a full Agile Release Train, rather than simply having Scrum Master or SAFe exposure.

*Key Responsibilities:*
* Facilitate Platform Events: Lead and facilitate platform-level Agile/SAFe events, including PI Planning, Scrum of Scrums, PO Sync, System Demos, Inspect & Adapt, and other Platform QPs.
* Remove Blockers: Identify and drive resolution of cross-team blockers, impediments, dependencies, and integration issues impacting Product Teams and platform delivery.
* Manage Flow: Monitor and improve the flow of work across Product Teams and the overall Platform; track team/platform performance, delivery metrics, dependencies, and bottlenecks.
* Coach & Mentor Product Teams: Coach Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and Product Teams on Agile/SAFe practices; work with Agile coaches to establish and communicate consistent processes across the Platform.
* Manage Risks: Partner with the Platform Owner and Product Owners to identify, assess, track, and mitigate delivery, dependency, capacity, and technical risks.
* Drive PI Execution: Track PI Objectives, commitments, milestones, dependencies, impediments, and delivery outcomes across multiple teams and products.
* Coordinate Cross-Functional Delivery: Facilitate collaboration across Data Engineering, Analytics, AI/ML, Applications, Cloud, Infrastructure, Security, Network, and Architecture teams.
* Manage Dependencies & Releases: Maintain visibility into cross-team dependencies and coordinate integrated platform release, environment, testing, UAT, and production readiness.
* Track Platform Performance: Establish and report platform metrics including flow, velocity, predictability, PI progress, risks, impediments, and release readiness.
* Stakeholder & Executive Communication: Provide clear platform-level status, risks, decisions, dependencies, and escalations to Product Owners, Platform leadership, and executive stakeholders.
* Continuous Improvement: Lead Inspect & Adapt activities and ensure improvement actions are translated into measurable changes in team and platform delivery.
* Coach at Scale: Promote a common Agile/SAFe delivery framework across multiple Product Teams while adapting practices appropriately to individual team needs.

*Required Qualifications:*
* 8 10+ years of Agile delivery experience, with significant experience operating as a Platform Scrum Master and/or formal SAFe RTE.
* Proven hands-on/formal RTE experience managing an Agile Release Train, including multiple Agile teams, products and cross-team dependencies.
* Strong, practical experience with SAFe, including PI Planning, ART Sync, Scrum of Scrums, PO Sync, System Demo and Inspect & Adapt.
* Experience supporting Data & Analytics, Data Engineering, AI/ML, enterprise data platforms or technology platforms.
* Strong understanding of dependencies across data, applications, APIs/integration, cloud, infrastructure, security and enterprise technology environments.
* Demonstrated experience managing cross-team dependencies, impediments, risks, capacity, PI objectives and release execution.
* Strong experience with Azure DevOps and/or similar enterprise Agile delivery platforms.
* Excellent facilitation, stakeholder management, conflict resolution and executive communication skills.
* SAFe RTE certification strongly preferred; SAFe Scrum Master certification alone is not sufficient for this role.