Release Train Engineer

Release Train Engineer

We're determined to make a difference and are proud to be an insurance company that goes well beyond coverages and policies. Working here means having every opportunity to achieve your goals and to help others accomplish theirs, too. Join our team as we help shape the future. We are seeking a high-caliber, self-driven Release Train Engineer to lead the end-to-end execution, governance, and flow of the Middle & Large business Product Transformation value stream. This is not a traditional "ceremony facilitator" RTE role. You will operate as the COO of the value stream, owning delivery, predictability, risk posture, budgeting alignment, dependency management, and cross-functional orchestration across engineering, product, architecture, underwriting, and shared service teams. The ideal candidate is a systems leader who brings structure, clarity, and calm execution to complex programs, while championing an engineering-centric culture grounded in flow metrics, technical excellence, and accountability. You will be trusted to manage the value stream without requiring daily oversight from the VS leader presenting information at the right altitude (CIO-ready high-level to deep operational detail) and demonstrating full control over scope, timelines, and risks. This role will have a hybrid work schedule, with the expectation of working in an office (Columbus, OH, Chicago, IL, Hartford, CT or Charlotte, NC) three days a week (Tuesday through Thursday).

Key Responsibilities

Value Stream Leadership & Execution

Strategic Program Management

Risk, Issue & Dependency Management

Engineering-Centric Delivery Culture

Clear, Audience-Appropriate Communication

Coaching & Influence

What Great Looks Like

Operates two steps ahead of risks and escalations. Manages complex dependencies calmly and intelligently. Speaks to executives with confidence and clarity. Understands architecture, engineering fundamentals, and delivery pipelines. Uses WSJF and flow metrics to drive decisions. Makes the system better without waiting for direction. Drives accountability in a respectful, people-first way. Allows the VS leader to focus on strategy, not daily program management. The VS leader does not need to get involved in day-to-day execution. CIOs and business partners consistently see clear, confident updates. Engineering feels supported, not burdened. PI planning is quiet, tight, and predictable not chaotic. Risks are surfaced early and mitigated before escalation. The value stream becomes predictable, efficient, and high-trust. The RTE becomes a true business + engineering partner, not an event facilitator.

Required Qualifications

Seven or more years of experience as RTE, Program Manager, or Senior Scrum Master in large-scale Agile environments. Proven ability to run complex ARTs/value streams across multiple products, teams, and domains. Deep experience with: flow metrics (flow time, load, efficiency, predictability), WSJF prioritization, risk and dependency management, PI Planning orchestration, executive-level communication, strong understanding of engineering processes (DevOps, CI/CD, testing, cloud, observability), exceptional facilitation, conflict resolution, and influence without authority, ability to own delivery outcomes end-to-end with minimal oversight, calm under pressure, thinks in systems, not tasks, obsessed with predictability and flow, data-driven, not opinion-driven, empathetic, but drives accountability, able to challenge product, engineering, and architecture respectfully, high integrity; gives credit to engineering, never steals spotlight.

Candidate must be authorized to work in the US without company sponsorship. The company will not support the STEM OPT I-983 Training Plan endorsement for this position.

The listed annualized base pay range is primarily based on analysis of similar positions in the external market. Actual base pay could vary and may be above or below the listed range based on factors including but not limited to performance, proficiency and demonstration of competencies required for the role. The base pay is just one component of The Hartford's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include short-term or annual bonuses, long-term incentives, and on-the-spot recognition.