Lead Release Train Engineer

Lumen is the trusted network for the AI‑powered world, connecting people, data, and applications through our expansive fiber network and connected ecosystem. We enable secure, high‑performance connectivity across cloud, edge, and AI workloads for enterprises, governments, and communities. At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter. This is a high accountability environment where bold ideas drive real innovation for our customers, partners, and industry. The work is challenging, expectations are clear, and trust is built into how we operate. If you’re ready to take ownership, deliver meaningful impact, and help shape the future of AI‑ready connectivity, join us today. The Role The Lead Release Train Engineer (RTE) is a servant leader and coach for the Agile Release Train (ART) within Lumen’s Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). You will be responsible for facilitating ART-level execution, coordinating planning across multiple Agile teams, managing risks and dependencies, and helping teams deliver value predictably. The RTE drives the execution discipline and structured escalation by ensuring planning readiness, improving flow, removing impediments, and keeping the ART aligned to business priorities, product roadmaps, and technical delivery commitments. You will partner closely with Product Management, Product Owners, System Architects, Scrum Masters, STEs, TPMs, Engineering leaders, and stakeholders to ensure the ART executes as one coordinated delivery system. Location This is a remote opportunity open to candidates located anywhere in the U.S. The Main Responsibilities ART Planning & Execution: Facilitate PI Planning readiness, PI Planning, ART Sync, Scrum of Scrums, System Demos, Inspect & Adapt, and related ART operating-cadence ceremonies for one Agile Release Train. Cross-Team Coordination: Coordinate planning and execution across teams on the ART; ensure features are understood, stories are slotted, dependencies are visible, and teams are aligned to a credible PI plan. Risk, Dependency & Impediment Management: Identify, track, manage, and escalate ART-level risks, impediments, constraints, and dependencies before they threaten delivery commitments. Metrics, Flow & Reporting: Own ART-level metrics and reporting, including flow, velocity, predictability, feature throughput, delivery health, and commitment progress in the designated management tool. Release Readiness & Coordination: Coordinate ART release readiness, release execution, release-on-demand support, and movement of features through deploying and releasing states. Relentless Improvement: Drive continuous improvement for the ART by facilitating retrospectives and Inspect & Adapt events, ensuring improvement actions are captured, owned, and incorporated into future planning. What We Look For in a Candidate 6+ years of experience in technical program management, Agile delivery leadership, SDLC operations, release management, Scrum Master leadership, or scaled Agile execution. 2+ years operating in or directly supporting an ART-level environment preferred. ART Complexity Management: Demonstrated ability to apply Agile at Scale concepts to manage aligned features, improve flow, and support predictable delivery across an ART. Continuous Improvement Champion: Embodies an agile servant-leader mindset, participates in Communities of Practice, supports coaching for ART-level roles, and encourages collaboration across the train. Tooling & Reporting: Experience with Jira, Jira Align, Confluence, Agile dashboards, flow metrics, dependency tracking, and executive-ready delivery reporting preferred. SAFe / Agile Certification: SAFe RTE, SAFe Agilist, SAFe Scrum Master, SPC, CSM, or equivalent experience preferred. Compensation This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors. Location Based Pay Ranges $105,786 - $141,047 in these states: AL AR AZ FL GA IA ID IN KS KY LA ME MO MS MT ND NE NM OH OK PA SC SD TN UT VT WI WV WY $111,074 - $148,099 in these states: CO HI MI MN NC NH NV OR RI $116,364 - $155,152 in these states: AK CA CT DC DE IL MA MD NJ NY TX VA WA Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing. We're able to answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process. Learn more about Lumen's: Benefits Bonus Structure Requisition #: 343103 Life at Lumen Life at Lumen is human and connected, even in a fast moving, AI‑focused organization. We set clear expectations and trust people to meet them. With real support and shared accountability, teams collaborate better, move faster, and deliver meaningful outcomes. Our Lumen 8 behaviors guide how we interact, make decisions, and work together, shaping a culture built to perform and win. To learn more about Life at Lumen and how we live the Lumen 8, please visit: https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/life-at-lumen Background Screening If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. For more information on these checks, please refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page . Job-related concerns identified during the background screening may disqualify you from the new position or your current role. Background results will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Equal Employment Opportunities We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, “protected statuses”). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training. Privacy Notice Lumen is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information collected during the recruitment and hiring process. Our Applicant Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect applicant information, as well as how individuals may request access to or deletion of their personal data. To review Lumen’s Global Employment Applicant and Talent Community Privacy Notice, please visit: https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/privacy-notice Disclaimer The job responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to include a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities for this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on evolving business needs and conditions. In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information. Please be advised that Lumen does not require any form of payment from job applicants during the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings will be posted on our official website or communicated through official company email addresses. If you encounter any job offers that request payment in exchange for employment at Lumen, they are not for employment with us, but may relate to another company with a similar name.