OverviewProvides servant leadership and coaching to a program-level Agile Release Train (ART) containing multiple cross-functional Agile teams through the effective application of Agile principles, including Program Increment (PI) Planning and Scrum of Scrums. Ensures all teams within the ART are positioned to deliver value to the organization, maintains transparency into program delivery predictability and forecasting, and keeps stakeholders informed of the ART's progress.
Within Enterprise Data Technology (EDT), the Release Train Engineer (RTE) role extends beyond facilitation of Agile ceremonies. The RTE serves as the connective tissue across Product, Technology, Delivery, Architecture, Governance, and Leadership, driving alignment and execution across a complex delivery ecosystem. The role is responsible for fostering delivery predictability, proactively identifying risks and dependencies, ensuring data integrity within Jira as the system of record, supporting leadership decision-making through actionable metrics, enabling successful PI Planning, and driving continuous improvement through Inspect & Adapt practices. The RTE will help guide the organization's transition from initiative-based delivery to durable product ownership while balancing strategic transformation efforts, modernization initiatives, vendor-led engagements, and ongoing business-as-usual operations.
Primary Responsibilities- Organize and facilitate program-level communication and ceremonies, including PI Planning events, Scrum of Scrums, ART Syncs, Inspect & Adapt workshops, and retrospective ceremonies.
- Drive PI Planning readiness by ensuring work is appropriately defined, prioritized, estimated, and aligned to business and technology objectives.
- Partner closely with Product Management, Product Owners, Technology Leaders, Architecture, Governance, and Delivery stakeholders to align priorities and execution plans across the ART.
- Work closely with Senior Product Owners to facilitate intake processes, prioritize the program backlog, and ensure the effective distribution of work across ART teams.
- Maintain Jira as the single source of truth for ART planning, execution, reporting, dependencies, risks, and commitments.
- Develop and maintain program-level reporting, dashboards, forecasts, and ART metrics that provide transparency into delivery progress, capacity, predictability, and outcomes.
- Support leadership decision-making by providing accurate, data-driven insights regarding delivery health, risks, dependencies, and performance trends.
- Ensure successful delivery of business value through program-level transparency, forecasting, release planning, and execution management.
- Proactively identify, track, escalate, and mitigate risks and dependencies across teams, vendors, and organizational boundaries.
- Coordinate and align delivery activities across diverse work models, including stable product teams, platform and shared services teams, Kanban support teams, modernization initiatives, vendor-led workstreams, and enterprise integration capabilities.
- Balance strategic initiative execution, operational stability, product transformation efforts, and enterprise modernization activities within the ART.
- Lead, mentor, and coach Scrum Masters within the ART while promoting Agile principles, servant leadership, and continuous improvement.
- Influence senior leaders and coach ART participants on Agile, Lean, and product-centric delivery practices.
- Partner with other RTEs and enterprise stakeholders to improve processes, remove organizational impediments, and optimize delivery performance using key metrics and performance indicators.
- Participate in and contribute to Agile Communities of Practice to advance organizational Agile maturity and delivery excellence.
- Exercise usual authority of a manager concerning staffing, performance appraisals, promotions, salary recommendations, performance management, and terminations.
- Understand and adhere to the Company's risk and regulatory standards, policies, and controls in accordance with the Company's Risk Appetite. Design, implement, maintain, and enhance internal controls to mitigate risk on an ongoing basis. Identify risk-related issues requiring escalation to management.
- Promote an environment that supports belonging and reflects the M&T Bank brand.
- Maintain M&T internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit findings and compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Complete other related duties as assigned.
Scope of ResponsibilitiesThe Enterprise Data Technology ART consists of approximately 14 cross-functional teams operating across multiple delivery models and technology domains. The RTE is responsible for coordinating execution across this diverse ecosystem while providing visibility into progress, risks, dependencies, and outcomes. Success in the role is measured by delivery predictability, effective risk management, quality of ART planning and execution, leadership confidence in reporting and metrics, and the ART's ability to continuously improve and deliver business value.
Key Outcomes- Create delivery predictability and planning reliability across the ART.
- Make risks and dependencies visible early and drive resolution.
- Ensure Jira remains the authoritative source for planning and delivery data.
- Support leadership decision-making through reliable ART metrics and reporting.
- Drive readiness and successful execution of PI Planning events.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement through Inspect & Adapt.
- Support the organization's evolution from initiative-based delivery toward durable product ownership.
Managerial/Supervisory ResponsibilitiesThe jobholder has direct management responsibility for 4-10 Scrum Masters working on teams within the ART.
Education and Experience Required- Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 7 years' experience working at the program level across multiple cross-functional teams, with a focus on work prioritization, removal of obstacles and leading communication with stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of value for the organization, or in lieu of a degree, a combined minimum of 11 years' higher education and/or work experience, including a minimum of 7 years' experience working at the program level across multiple cross-functional teams, with a focus on work prioritization, removal of obstacles and leading communication with stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of value for the organization
- Minimum of 2 years' proven managerial, supervisory, and/or work leadership experience.
- Experience leading large-scale Agile Release Trains within complex technology organizations.
- Experience managing cross-functional dependencies spanning Product, Engineering, Architecture, Governance, and Operations.
- Demonstrated experience leveraging Agile metrics, reporting, and forecasting to support executive decision-making.
- Experience facilitating PI Planning and coordinating delivery across multiple teams and workstreams.
- Strong understanding of Jira and Agile tooling as systems of record for program execution.
Education and Experience Preferred- Minimum of 5 years' experience as a member of an Agile team.
- Minimum of 3 years' experience as a Scrum Master, Product Owner, or Release Train Engineer.
- Deep knowledge of Agile delivery frameworks, including SAFe and Lean Agile practices.
- Proven track record leading execution within a scaled Agile environment.
- Experience supporting large, complex technology organizations undergoing Agile, product, or digital transformation.
- Prior experience with program-level reporting, forecasting, and delivery metrics.
- Demonstrated success driving delivery predictability and dependency management across large portfolios.
- Prior experience fostering team self-organization, continuous improvement, and Inspect & Adapt practices.
- Experience working with product operating models and supporting the transition to durable product ownership.
- Experience managing or coordinating vendor-supported delivery programs.
- Knowledge of Agile and Lean principles and practices.
- Experience developing and managing technology or data-centric capabilities.
- Understanding of Design Thinking principles.
- Strong verbal, written, facilitation, and executive communication skills.
- Proven ability to influence and drive alignment across senior leaders and stakeholders without direct authority.
- Experience within Enterprise Data, Data Platforms, Data Engineering, Analytics, or related technology domains preferred.
M&T Bank is committed to fair, competitive, and market-informed pay for our employees. The pay range for this position is $136,000.00 - $226,600.00 Annual (USD). The successful candidate's particular combination of knowledge, skills, and experience will inform their specific compensation.
LocationWilmington, Delaware, United States of America
