VP, Release Train Engineer

Job Description:

Role Summary/Purpose:

At Synchrony, we enable commerce by delivering a leading financial ecosystem that connects our partners and customers through world-class technology. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Release Train Engineer (RTE) to lead our high-impact Agile Release Train (ART), powering Synchrony’s merchant and provider platforms.

As RTE, you will collaborate with technology & product leadership to determine, communicate, and execute the strategic direction of the Agile Release Train. You’ll play a critical role in facilitating strategic and tactical conversations, guiding the translation of complex business requirements into actionable technology roadmaps, and coordinating execution across multiple delivery teams. The ideal candidate will have a strong agile and technical background, as well as a proven track record of leading critical initiatives. This position will also play a key role in fostering and shaping our team culture at the Innovation Station in Stamford.

This is an opportunity to lead and inspire technology teams within a world-class digital ecosystem, drive innovative solutions in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment, and directly contribute to Synchrony’s growth and partner success.

Our Way of Working

We’re proud to offer you choice and flexibility. At Synchrony, our way of working allows you to have the option to work from home, near one of our Hubs or come into one of our offices. Occasionally you may be required to commute to our nearest office for in person engagement activities such as business or team meetings, training and culture events.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Shape and co-own the Agile Release Train (ART) roadmap, ensuring alignment to enterprise and line of business objectives while maintaining comprehensive visibility of train-wide deliverables.

• Act as a visible leader and escalation point for critical initiatives, proactively managing cross-team workload, addressing key risks, blockers, or dependencies, and communicating effectively across functions to ensure broad alignment.

• Lead large-scale Agile initiatives using SAFe, including facilitation of Program Increment (PI) Planning events and synchronization of deliverables across multiple agile teams.

• Oversee and continuously enhance agile processes, leveraging metrics and retrospectives to drive team performance and process improvements.

• Build and nurture strong cross-functional relationships across product, technology, architecture, operations, and business teams.

• Understand and articulate both the business rationale and technical architecture for current and future deliverables, synthesizing technical and business risks and opportunities for leadership to enable informed decisions.

• Perform other duties and/or special projects as assigned.

Basic Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree and 5 years of Technology experience or equivalent leadership program experience; or High School Diploma/GED and 9 years of experience in developing and implementing information systems and project management experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in project management and/or scrum master with strong understanding of Agile.

Desired Characteristics:

• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect technology delivery to business strategy and outcomes

• Prior experience partnering directly with Product Managers and Architects to set business/technology direction and/or experience in engineering/architecture.

• Experience managing large-scale initiatives in highly regulated industries (financial services, banking preferred)

• History of hands-on leadership, stepping in to remove roadblocks and drive organizational change

• Superior communication, influencing, and ability to manage expectations of the business, clients, team members, management and external groups

• Experience with cloud platforms and digital banking technologies is a plus

• Scaled Agile (SAFe) Release Train Engineer and/or SPC certification (or equivalent) and experience managing multiple scrum teams in parallel

• Hands on, self-motivated professional style with the ability to effectively prioritize multiple initiatives

• Ability to understand technical requirements of projects and effectively manage resources, vendors and test efforts

Grade/Level: 12

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