Release Train Engineer vs Program Manager: Top Differences

A company, depending on its size, has multiple projects running at the same time. It takes qualified experts to manage each project and coordinate teams working on various projects in order to achieve desired company goals. Two professionals taking care of this management part are release train engineers and program managers. Though there is always confusion between the job roles of these professionals, their responsibilities are different. 

A release train engineer manages every phase of the software development life cycle. They oversee the entire project to ensure premium quality standards get met. One can enroll on a Release Train Engineer course to gain proficiency in this domain. On the other hand, program managers coordinate between multiple projects without directly managing them. In this article, we will discuss release train engineer vs program manager in detail for better clarity. 

Who is a Release Train Engineer?

A release train engineer is a trainer or a servant leader who manages the agile release train. They manage the entire software development life cycle and facilitate the execution, driving continuous development. These professionals also manage risks and escalate impediments to ensure efficient project delivery. The responsibility of an RTE is to deliver value and guide each team member about the policies they should adopt to cater to the end-user requirements. 

Who is a Program Manager?

The role of a program manager is to see if the overall organizational goals are met. They oversee multiple projects and coordinate their activities, so that together they meet the ultimate goals. It is significant to note here that these professionals don’t directly manage any project at a micro level. They take an overview of the main program, putting all their attention towards the program strategy. An enthusiast can opt for the best Agile courses available online to gain proficiency in this field. 

Release Train Engineer vs Program Manager: Comparison

We have discussed the role of a release train manager and a program manager in brief. The question that arises now is the difference between a release train engineer vs a program manager? The table below gives you a comparison based on different parameters:

Parameter	Release Train Manager	Program Manager
Focus	The focus of an RTE is to micro-manage a project and add value to it.	The focus of a program manager is to oversee and coordinate multiple projects.
Job Role	The job role includes managing risks, escalate processes and budgeting.	The job role is to ensure all the projects help the company achieve its goals.
Accountability	RTS is held accountable for delayed project delivery or substandard delivery.	Program manager is held accountable for projects that do not deliver any value.
Certifications	You can find multiple certifications for RTE professionals, like SAFe RTE	You can find multiple certifications for program managers as well, like PgMP or MSP
Pre-Requisites	Detailed understanding of agile framework and an add-on certification is required to become a RTE	Strong project management skills and an add-on certification is helpful in becoming a program manager.
Technical Knowledge	A release train engineer does not need any technical expertise.	Though a program manager can do without programing knowledge, but they need technical expertise in implementing different tools.
Salary	Average salary of a RTE is $ 82000 annually.	Average salary of a program manager is $96000.

Difference Between Release Train Engineer and Program Manager

From the table above, you have an idea about RTE vs program manager. Let us discuss each parameter in detail to understand each domain. 

1. Release Train Engineer vs Program Manager: Focus 

The first parameter in release train engineer vs program manager is the focus. A release train manager focuses on each project at a micro level, overseeing every step in the process. They ensure quality is met at every level by performing frequent test runs. 

On the other hand, a program manager is a professional who oversees multiple projects and helps coordinate them with one another. They do not directly manage any project. They only get an overview to ensure every project moves closer to the company goals. 

2. Release Train Engineer vs Program Manager: Job Role

The job roles of a release train engineer include facilitating the SAFe agile release train. They have the responsibility of coordinating all the teams working on a project. Other roles they play are:

• Provide scrum, agile and SAFe guidance to team members
• Communicate with stakeholders to define the project mission.

On the other hand, a program manager fulfils the job role of organizing activities and ensuring that project goals align with company objectives. Other roles they play are:

• Coordinate activities between different projects 
• Ensuring all the project deliverables are inching towards the ultimate company goal. 

3. Release Train Engineer vs Program Manager: Accountability 

The release train engineers are held accountable for ensuring that the teams follow the SAFe processes. Additionally, these professionals have to perform test runs as they are responsible for ensuring premium project quality at every level.

On the other hand, the program managers are accountable for monitoring the project progress. They also intervene to resolve issues between the two projects, so that everything works in a smoother way. 

4. Release Train Engineer vs Program Manager: Certifications

Certifications are the right way to scale and enjoy a fruitful professional career. When you check the release train engineer vs program manager salary, you will notice that certified professionals always get valued high. For the release train engineers, there are multiple certification courses to explore. The most famous one is the SAFe release train engineer certification, which can give an instant push to your professional journey. 

For the program managers, all the project management-related certifications are apt. It trains them in tools and techniques that can help with efficient project coordination, helping them prove their worth in their company. Some of the certification programs that these professionals can opt for are:

• PgMP (Program Management Professional)
• PMP
• CSM (certified scrum master)
• Six Sigma Green Belt

5. Release Train Engineer vs Program Manager: Prerequisites

To become a release train engineer, you can start by earning a bachelor’s degree and gaining some experience in the software development domain. Moving on, you can opt for a scrum master certification to develop agile skills and be ready to fulfil the roles and responsibilities of this field. Furthermore, develop strong interpersonal skills, like communication, problem-solving and critical thinking. All this together can help you build a promising career in this domain.

To become a release train engineer, earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree and work in the software development domain for a few years. Once you have understood the basics of this field, enroll on a certification program to get highly skilled. Furthermore, as it is a higher-level managerial position, one should be proficient in communication and management skills. 

6. Release Train Engineer vs Program Manager: Technical Knowledge

Release train engineers do not require any technical or programming skills. They should understand the agile framework well, and coding is not required. 

On the other hand, a program manager should have solid technical knowledge. They would have to coordinate the implementation of tools that help add value to a project. The certification program they join trains them with sufficient technical skills. 

7. Release Train Engineer vs Program Manager: Salary

The average salary of a release train engineer is $82000. You can start from $50,000. After a few years of experience, this salary can go up to $141,000. 

Zippia

The average salary of a program manager is $96000. You can start from $60,000. After a few years of experience, this salary can go up to $133,000.