Job#: 2079748
Job Description:
Job Title: Scrum Master (SAFe/Agile Coach)
Location: Hybrid - 2 days/week onsite in Greater Lansing, MI area
Job Summary
We are seeking a highly skilled Scrum Master who embodies servant leadership and Agile coaching principles. This role supports multiple teams in adopting and maturing Lean-Agile practices, with a focus on SAFe at both the team and enterprise levels. The ideal candidate is an exceptional communicator with experience leading software development and product teams, including those using Kanban.
Primary Responsibilities
- Serve as Scrum Master for 2–4 Agile teams.
- Conduct Agile maturity assessments at the team or Agile Release Train (ART) level.
- Develop, lead, and enhance internal Agile training programs.
- Facilitate cross-team communication through coach sync meetings and other collaborative forums.
- Track and maintain relevant Agile metrics to monitor team performance and progress.
- Contribute to the Scrum Master Community of Practice (CoP) and help define annual objectives.
- Demonstrate strong servant leadership through facilitation, coaching, and continuous improvement.
- Foster healthy team dynamics, resolve interpersonal conflicts, and support team growth and development.
- Facilitate Scrum ceremonies, remove impediments, shield teams from distractions, and ensure adherence to Agile principles.
- Prepare teams for PI Planning by calculating capacity and coaching on WSJF (Weighted Shortest Job First) prioritization.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
- Minimum of 5 years of IT experience, including 5 years leading projects or teams.
- At least 3 years of experience as a Scrum Master.
- Preferred certifications: SAFe Practitioner (SP), SAFe Scrum Master (SSM), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), SAFe Program Consultant (SPC), SAFe Advanced Scrum Master (SASM).
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Deep understanding of Agile methodologies and service-oriented environments.
- Familiarity with Agile techniques such as ATDD, TDD, Continuous Integration, Continuous Testing, Pair Programming, and Automated Testing.
- Proven ability to manage large, complex projects and guide teams in writing user stories, identifying dependencies, and designing optimal solutions.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence and build consensus among stakeholders.
- Prior hands-on software development experience is a plus.
- Experience publishing Agile-related content (e.g., blogs, articles, conference talks) is highly desirable.
EEO Employer
Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law.
Apex Systems is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing® in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work® in the United Kingdom and Mexico.
Apex Benefits Overview: Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our ‘Welcome Packet’ as well, which an Apex team member can provide
