Release Train Engineer

Providing for loved ones, planning rewarding retirements, saving enough for whatever lies ahead – our policyholders count on us to be there when it matters most. It’s a big ask, but it’s one that we have the power to deliver when we work together. We collaborate and innovate – pushing one another to transform not just Pacific Life, but the entire industry for the better. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do. Pacific Life is more than a job, it’s a career with purpose. It’s a career where you have the support, balance, and resources to make a positive impact on the future – including your own. 
 
We’re actively seeking a talented Release Train Engineer to join our Consumer Markets Division (CMD) Portfolio and Program Management Office (PPMO) team in Newport Beach, CA.

The Release Train Engineer (RTE) is a delivery orchestration leader responsible for coordinating execution across multiple teams, facilitating planning and alignment events, managing dependencies and risks, establishing a reliable delivery cadence, improving end-to-end delivery flow, enabling continuous improvement, and ensuring business, product, and technology teams remain synchronized in pursuit of shared outcomes.

Strategic Alignment & Roadmap Execution:

• Collaborate with leadership to translate high-level objectives into actionable, prioritized roadmaps, setting clear outcomes and value delivery expectations.
• Continually align program activities with business needs, adapting plans as necessary to maximize impact and ensure strategic relevance.

Lean-Agile Execution & Program Flow Optimization:

• Lead Lean-Agile planning and alignment events to coordinate execution across teams, maintain a predictable delivery cadence, and foster a high-performing, adaptable environment.
• Lead PI Planning preparation and execution, including alignment on objectives, program risks, dependencies, and milestones across participating teams.
• Actively remove delivery obstacles and drive continuous improvement initiatives, using flow signals to address bottlenecks, reduce delays, and maintain a consistent pace of value delivery.
• Establish and reinforce an integrated program cadence for planning, synchronization, reviews, demos, and retrospectives so teams operate with shared milestones, clear decision points, and consistent feedback loops.

Outcome-Focused Prioritization:

• Orchestrate collaboration around the program backlog with a focus on value-driven prioritization, balancing immediate needs with long-term objectives to ensure sustained impact on business goals.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to translate requirements into actionable tasks, fostering alignment on business priorities and expected outcomes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Lean Coaching:

• Partner with Technology and business units to strengthen alignment, tailoring Lean-Agile practices to meet the maturity and needs of each portfolio.
• Lead cross-team synchronization forums to align priorities, surface blockers, confirm ownership, and keep teams coordinated through delivery execution.
• Act as a mentor in Lean principles, fostering a culture of agility and responsiveness that enables teams to scale and adapt effectively.

Data-Driven Decision-Making & Value Measurement:

• Utilize tools such as Azure DevOps, Power BI, and Planview to provide real-time insights into program performance, delivery flow, dependencies, and commitments, ensuring data transparency.
• Define and track KPIs focused on outcome-based value delivery and flow, including predictability, throughput, cycle time, work in progress, and impediment aging, to guide program adjustments and continuous improvement.

Risk Management & Dependency Resolution:

• Identify and mitigate program-level risks across teams and portfolios, proactively managing cross-team dependencies, sequencing constraints, and integration points to sustain delivery momentum and quality.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex issues and unresolved dependencies, driving timely decisions, clear ownership, and solutions that support both near-term commitments and long-term strategic goals.
• Maintain transparent dependency and risk views with accountable owners, target dates, and mitigation plans; facilitate cross-team forums to surface conflicts early and confirm that critical handoffs and integration needs are reflected in delivery plans.

The experience you bring:

• Proven experience as an agile practitioner, especially in Product Management, Release Train Engineering, Portfolio Management, or Program Management.
• Expertise in using Scrum, Kanban, and the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe).
• Strong track record of implementing agile techniques in various work cultures and environments.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Ability to facilitate learning and development through individual and team coaching.
• Experience in managing projects utilizing both waterfall and agile methodologies.

What makes you stand out:

• A strong understanding of the technology development and delivery processes.
• Ability to identify and analyze organizational impacts for internal stakeholders affected by new initiatives.
• Knowledge of Annuity or Life Insurance business.
• Related industry and role experience.

You can be who you are.

We are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion that embraces the authenticity of all employees, partners and communities. We support all employees to thrive and achieve their fullest potential. What’s life like at Pacific Life? Visit Instagram.com/lifeatpacificlife