SAFe Knowledge Base » Solution Train Engineer
Solution Train Engineer
A system is never the sum of its parts; it’s the product of their interaction.
—Russell Ackoff, Paraphrased from "Towards a System of Systems Concepts" [1]
Definition: The Solution Train Engineer (STE) is a servant leader and coach who facilitates Solution Train events and processes, coordinates the work of ARTs and Suppliers, and supports ARTs in delivering value.
To succeed in the digital age, many organizations must efficiently build and evolve Large Solutions that fulfill their customers’ most critical business needs. Building such solutions can involve hundreds—sometimes thousands—of people on Solution Trains organized around complex value streams. These value streams require a dedicated role to lead associated Agile Release Trains (ARTs) and Suppliers through the efficient execution of their shared solution strategy. That is the role of the Solution Train Engineer (STE).
Details
Leading Solution Trains through the delivery of large solutions requires significant coordination of the end-to-end value stream. This is challenging because a Solution Train involves multiple ARTs and Suppliers that must operate in unison across distinct product lines and organizational boundaries. The STE is one of a trio of roles (Figure 1) that aligns people and teams to a shared solution strategy.
The roles reinforce one another. Solution Management and Solution Architects define the solution, while the STE coordinates efficient development and delivery. Together, they steer the Solution Train through the multiple plan-do-check-adjust cycles (see PI and Iterations) required to deliver large solutions in the shortest sustainable lead time.
The STE also works in close collaboration with the Agile Release Train (ARTs) and Release Train Engineers (RTEs), each of whom is responsible for coordinating the delivery of a critical aspect of the solution. Together, the STE and RTEs comprise a coordination and facilitation network that guides all teams on the Solution Train through the effective execution of the solution strategy.