Sr Lead Release Train Engineer

Sr Lead Release Train Engineer

As the Sr. Lead Release Train Engineer, you will take ownership of the delivery, adaptability, and optimization outcomes for a director level product and engineering team while partnering with VP-level leaders to ensure strategic alignment across the portfolio. This team owns the execution and delivery of business outcomes that drive realization of Cox Automotive investments. These investments identify the high-level market problems for the release train to solve. This team will have a laser focus on executing to achieve short- and long-term business outcomes (current year and future year investments) and will take on the challenges associated with delivering value that delights Cox Automotive clients and strengthens our leadership position in the Automotive Industry.

Responsibilities:

• Apply Agile/Lean Principles at Scale - Ensure agile and lean project management practices are applied to all work delivered by the release train.
• Orchestrate Enterprise-Scale Capacity Planning - Lead capacity planning initiatives across all technology teams on the release train to ensure optimal resource allocation and utilization.
• Optimize Release Train Flow - Manage flow metrics and value stream optimization specifically for the release train leadership team identifying and removing impediments to maximize delivery throughput.
• Lead Continuous Planning Cycles - Execute continuous planning processes for the release train leadership team, maintaining strategic alignment between business objectives and technical execution.
• Facilitate Leadership-Level Inspect & Adapt - Conduct inspect and adapt ceremonies for the release train leadership team, driving systemic improvements and strategic problem-solving at the program level.
• Drive Cross-Team Change Management - Champion and implement change management strategies across all technology teams on the release train, ensuring cohesive adoption of new processes and organizational transformations.
• Guide Leadership Team Formation – When changes to the team structure occur, facilitate team structure and reformation decisions for the release train leadership team, ensuring optimal organizational design and behavioral norms for scaled delivery.

Provide Leadership & Supervision to Scrum Masters through direct supervision and mentorship of 1-3 Scrum Masters who report to the release train engineer, ensuring consistent execution of agile practices at the team level, including team capacity planning, team flow management, team reformation, team inspect & adapt ceremonies, and team backlog management.

Partner with the principal SME and thought leader for solution delivery practices and act as a go-to expert for how teams deliver solutions across the release train; build deep expertise of the skills, knowledge and strengths needed for a high performing delivery organization; stay current on new tools, methods, and industry trends to guide the organization forward; create clear standards and best practices that help teams work better; hire top talent who can strengthen delivery capabilities; coach and mentor team members to build their skills and grow the next generation of delivery leaders.

Ensure all teams follow organizational AI policies and standards. Monitor AI tool reliability across teams. Create backup plans for system failures. Maintain project delivery capabilities without AI while preserving human skills and judgment. Lead AI adoption leveraging clear messaging, benefiting the teams and connecting human / AI value. Leverage AI as a co-author to deliver complex messaging that drives decisions. Use AI insights to analyze program performance and predict capacity needs. Make evidence-based improvements that increase delivery predictability, quality, and stakeholder satisfaction.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree + 8 years relevant experience or Masters Degree + 6 years relevant experience or 12+ years experience
• Must live within a commutable distance to Atlanta or be willing to relocate
• 8+ years of relevant experience, 3+ years managing and leading employees and complex team efforts
• 3+ years of experience leading product delivery teams, or equivalent program and program management experience on large complex technical programs/programs
• 3+ years of experience operating at multiple leadership levels, including directors up to VP
• 3+ years of direct experience successfully driving adoption of enterprise wide and local continuous improvement changes with cross functional leadership teams and software development teams using Scrum or Kanban
• Mastery of the full delivery lifecycle across diverse work types - from software development teams to infrastructure automation, cybersecurity, and platform implementation & operations. Must have direct experience adapting scaled agile practices to contexts where 'working software' isn't always the deliverable
• Mastery of the Agile framework, demonstrated by expertise on how to achieve the positive outcomes associated with Agile, especially the outcomes associated with a true state of agility that enables quick response to the market and other external factors
• Mastery of a structured change management process for leading the people side of change (e.g., ADKAR, Kotter, 7-S)
• Demonstrated success resolving inter-team / intra-team conflict and building relationships in a complex team environment
• Mastery of industry standard Agile Lifecycle Management Tools (e.g. Rally, VersionOne, JIRA, TFS)
• Advanced skills writing queries and ability to interpret data (strong Excel or Power BI skills are a plus)
• Comfortable with up to 25% travel
• Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship. No OPT, CPT, STEM/OPT or visa sponsorship now or in future.

To be employed in this role, you'll need to clear a pre-employment drug test. Cox Automotive does not currently administer a pre-employment drug test for marijuana for this position. However, we are a drug-free workplace, so the possession, use or being under the influence of drugs illegal under federal or state law during work hours, on company property and/or in company vehicles is prohibited.

The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.

Cox Automotive employees are transforming the way the world buys, owns, sells – or simply uses – cars through groundbreaking technology and a commitment to stellar experiences for drivers and dealers alike. Cox employees get to work on iconic consumer brands like Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book and industry-leading dealer-facing companies like vAuto and Manheim, all while enjoying the people-centered atmosphere that is central to our life at Cox. Benefits of working at Cox may include health care insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement planning (401(k)), and paid days off (sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO). For more details on what benefits you may be offered, visit our benefits page. Cox is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer – All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual's age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law. Cox provides reasonable accommodations when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with disability, unless such accommodations would cause an undue hardship. Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship.