Manas Dash
Release Train Engineer
Cary,NC
Summary
Experienced Agile Release Train Engineer with a proven track record of successfully implementing Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) in diverse organizational environments. Demonstrated ability to lead and coach multiple scrum teams, facilitating agile transformation, and achieving high quality and timely project delivery. Adept at utilizing agile software engineering practices and continuous improvement techniques to drive efficiency and value for the organization. Skilled in managing cross-functional teams, establishing common release cadence, and ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
6
6
Certifications
Work History
Agile Coach
Fidelity Investments
08.2018 - Current
- Collaborated with the squad leads and product area leads of multiple squads to ensure squad objectives and KPIs were aligned with product area objectives
- Facilitated all Product area` planning and retro events, ensuring effective communication and alignment within the teams
- Coached scrum masters on conducting effective Agility Health retrospectives for their squads and reviewed progress at the domain on a regular cadence
- Coached the Cognitive Computing Platform on Objective based quarterly planning sessions, enabling them to pivot from a work-based mindset to a value-based mindset
- Setup the first SAFe implementation within PI division for AI solutions product area comprising of 2 ART's and 15 squads
- Maintained positive train team dynamics through coaching and mentoring of train scrum masters and product owners at different agile maturity levels
- Provided coaching to Mid and senior level squad and group squad leads on writing effective objectives and KPI's with clear emphasis on business value
- Coached product areas/squads/group chapter leads on Lean and Agile management practices and ideologies
- Created a safe space across the ARTs to enable health communication across vertical and horizontal channels
- Championed 'Train Office hours' AMAs on a monthly cadence
- Effectively leveraged Agility health to gauge health of Squads and Art’s
- Shared the observations with senior leadership on a quarterly cadence which was followed up with any actionable impact
- Championed Lean-Agile practices and mindsets with leaders, squads and scrum masters
- Built excellent relationships with partners within Fidelity (CKSI and AI domains) to facilitate smooth and optimal value stream delivery against the company objectives and OKPI's
- Drove Vision, RoadMap and Backlog streamlining at the domain level.
Release Train Engineer/Program Manager
IBM
03.2017 - 08.2018
- Key contributor to laying out the agile playbook for the provider division of Watson health
- Laid out the end-to-end value stream flow for the Watson health offerings, utilizing the best practices of scaled agile framework and IBM offering management process
- Coached the senior leadership (at portfolio and program levels) on the agile playbook process flow
- Facilitated offering prioritization meetings with all the stakeholders of different business groups and operations
- Coached and mentored scrum masters on the agile playbook process and best practices
- Actively fulfilled the duties of Release Train Engineer (RTE) for the provider value stream
- Piloted the first SAFe implementation in bundle payments
- Recognized by the senior leadership for bridging the gap between the 'Siloed' business departments
- Actively involved in scaling the agile transformation across the Watson health value stream
- Proactively collaborated with senior product owners to ensure alignment on the value of features, facilitate work intake funnel, prioritized the program/portfolio backlog and aligned teams in the ART as per value stream delivery
- Reported status updates and metrics to the senior leadership on the performance and efficiency of the ART's
- Conducted product area/domain level retros to inspect and adapt to the value delivery flow with optimal efficiency
- Removed impediments at the team/squad and product area/train level to ensure smooth floor of value across the ART's.
Senior Agile Project Manager/Release Train Engineer
Verscend Technologies
07.2013 - 02.2017
- Successfully lead the consolidation of all the 16 projects under 4 different Verisk health locations into 2 ART’s (Agile Release Train) value streams with overall size of 160 team members and conveyed the ART health status to the senior leadership on a weekly basis with proactive feedback cycles implementation along the way
- Championed scrum team and train-level quality practices by adhering to SAFe - Agile Software Engineering Practices for Achieving High Quality Code – including Agile architecture, continuous integration, acceptance test driven development (ATDD), and collective ownership
- Implemented train-level continuous improvement via Inspect & Adapt workshops and constant demonstration of a Kaizen mindset
- Coached and implemented the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) across all PAD and RQI product streams across Raleigh, Salt Lake City, Waltham, Richmond locations whereby enabling Agile scaling at the enterprise level
- Effectively laid out and implemented the release planning activities across both Agile Release Trains for products in PAD (Payment Accuracy) and RQI (Revenue & Quality) divisions
- Set up the first Agile COE within the organization from ground up
- Owned and drove program level continuous improvement by tracking and presenting metrics, facilitating retrospectives, performing root cause analysis with focus on value-based outcome
- Resolved conflicts in a healthy manner.
Agile Project Manager/Agile Coach
Railinc
11.2008 - 06.2013
- Successfully improved the time to market, quality and customer satisfaction for all my products under interline services by embracing agile methodologies from the ground up
- Ensured the Agile/Scrum mindset is implemented effectively across the organization and provided coaching and training at the team, department, and company levels to maximize its benefits
- Effectively played the role of product manager during the abrupt departure of the then product manager
- Ensured that none of my projects were impacted during the aforesaid time frame
- Was able to successfully apply AGILE principles to my mainframe products as well which resulted in quick and efficient turnaround for the product lifecycle
- Successfully implemented the KANBAN model for my maintenance projects
- Was able to build multiple high performing teams during my tenure
- Successfully laid out and communicated the overall program health to external stakeholders by implementing an interactive program dashboard (external facing) which depicted the accurate health of all the projects in the program (kept up to date every 3 days).
Agile Project Manager
Circuit City
05.2005 - 10.2008
- Completely transformed both my projects to SCRUM with full IT and business participation by aptly applying AGILE principles
- Increased productivity by reducing the development cycles from 3 months (waterfall) to 2 week iterations (agile)
- Created and tracked the release plans and iteration plans to gauge project performance as a whole
- Created and maintained the project backlog and coached the team members in writing user epics and stories
- Evaluated burn down charts on a daily basis to track iteration progress and successfully negotiated iteration scope with the product owner in case of uptrend in the burn down charts
- Removed impediments for the team during the iteration cycles
- Able to get the full buy-in from the upper management to articulate the value of Agile artifacts like back logs, burn down charts, release plan, iteration plan, task dashboard over traditional waterfall artifacts
- Received a 93% engagement index score from team members on last survey through effective, empowering and motivating leadership
- Reduced open defects from 200+ in first year to between 50-60 in the rest of the years by successfully applying AGILE principles of continuous automation and progressively building up automation coverage of my projects.
Consultant
Intellimark
07.1999 - 05.2005
- Worked in diverse roles from being a developer to system analyst across multiple clients like department of state NC, Capital One with focus on analyzing and developing diverse business systems.
Education
Master of Science - Computer Science
University of North Bengal
India 05.2001 -
Skills
Proficiency in scaling agile practices at the enterprise level using Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
Proficient in Lean/Agile/Scrum/KANBAN and waterfall project lifecycle methodologies
Deep expertise in transforming organization/teams from conventional/waterfall way of work to efficient Scaled Agile framework
Strong Agile coaching and mentoring skills for business and IT teams
Experience in managing multiple products with geographically distributed teams
Expertise in Agile Lifecycle Management tools like Rally and Jira Align
Proficient in portfolio management tools like Aha!
Strong planning, scoping, scheduling, budgeting, and delivery skills
Powerful team empowerment, motivation, and leadership skills
Crafty Mural /Miro skills
Agile Metrics Analysis
Agile Risk Management
Certification
Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) – Practice Consultant (SPC6)
Timeline
Agile Coach
Fidelity Investments
08.2018 - Current
Release Train Engineer/Program Manager
IBM
03.2017 - 08.2018
Senior Agile Project Manager/Release Train Engineer
Verscend Technologies
07.2013 - 02.2017
Agile Project Manager/Agile Coach
Railinc
11.2008 - 06.2013
Agile Project Manager
Circuit City
05.2005 - 10.2008
Master of Science - Computer Science
University of North Bengal
05.2001 -
Consultant
Intellimark
07.1999 - 05.2005