Senior Solution Train Engineer

Title: Solution Train Engineer

Location: Columbia, MD

Compensation Range: $220 -$250K

Clearance: Active TS/SCI w/ Polygraph needed to apply

Company Overview

Cornerstone Defense is the Employer of Choice within the Intelligence, Defense, and Space communities of the U.S. Government. Realizing early on that our most prized assets are our employees, we continually focus our attention on improving the overall work/life experience they have supporting the mission. Our Team is pushed every day to use their industry leading knowledge to provide end‑to‑end solutions to combat our nation’s toughest and most secure problems. If you are looking for a place to not only be professionally challenged, but encouraged and supported by a company that cares, don’t look any further than Cornerstone Defense.

Benefits Overview

• Medical, Dental and Vision Plans
• Generous PTO Policy
• 401(k)
• HSA and FSA options
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement and Training
• Perks at Work Discount Program
• Referral Program
• Leads Generation Program
• CollegeAmerica 529
• Fitness Reimbursement Program
• Travel Assistance
• Norton Lifelock Benefit Solutions
• Life Planning Financial & Legal Services

Position Description

The Solution Train Engineer (STE) leads the coordination, execution, and continuous improvement of a complex technical Solution Train within a large‑scale Agile and cyber‑centric Department of Defense environment. This role ensures synchronized delivery across multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs), manages technical dependencies, supports engineering alignment, and facilitates major planning and execution events.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on, highly engaged leader who collaborates closely with engineering teams, program leadership, vendors, and cybersecurity organizations, guiding them in Lean‑Agile and systems engineering practices while removing obstacles to successful delivery.

Core Tasks

• Facilitate Solution Train execution and large-scale organizational ceremonies, including:
  • Facilitate Solution Train execution and lead key events, including:
  • Pre‑and Post‑Program Increment (PI) Planning
  • Solution Demos
  • Inspect & Adapt events
  • Value Stream Syncs
  • Cross‑train planning and coordination sessions
• Manage and optimize value flow through the Solution Train using enterprise tools such as Jira and Confluence.
• Coordinate architectural alignment, technical interdependencies, capabilities, and integration activities across multiple ARTs and technical suppliers.
• Facilitate collaboration among engineering leads, PMO representatives, vendors, and external cybersecurity organizations.
• Identify, track, and resolve cross‑team impediments, risks, issues, and dependencies.
• Monitor Solution Train delivery performance and provide clear progress reporting, risk visibility, and dependency tracking.
• Develop and maintain documentation related to system interdependencies, requirements, architectural decisions, risks, and delivery status.
• Support alignment of technical strategy, solution intent, architecture, and implementation activities.
• Promote transparency and effective information flow across teams, suppliers, and leadership.
• Actively engage with teams to understand needs, coordinate support, and resolve issues.
• Guide, mentor, and coach RTES, Scrum Masters, technical leads, and Agile leaders in Lean‑Agile systems engineering practices.
• Drive continuous improvement by supporting retrospectives and implementing actionable improvements.
• Ensure Agile practices are appropriately adapted for a complex, cyber‑focused DoD program.
• Partner with leadership to ensure delivery aligns with contractual, technical, security, and mission objectives.
• Demonstrate familiarity with systems engineering lifecycle, baseline management, and requirements traceability.
• Support Lean‑Agile transformation and SAFe implementation activities.

Qualifications

• Minimum 18 years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree, or 15 years with a Master’s in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, or a related discipline, or 20 years of experience with a high school diploma
• Experience developing products or managing engineering activities in software, systems, or technical environments.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating complex technical programs across multiple ARTs or engineering organizations.
• Strong understanding of Agile at scale, especially SAFe, within a cyber‑centric DoD environment.
• Experience supporting DoD contracts, military programs, or government technology initiatives.
• Background in cybersecurity, cyber operations, or information assurance.
• Experience facilitating large‑scale planning, synchronization, and continuous improvement events.
• Proficiency with Jira, Confluence, and other enterprise collaboration tools.
• Strong communication, facilitation, organization, and stakeholder‑management capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively with engineering teams, PMO, leadership, vendors, and cybersecurity groups.
• Demonstrated ownership, engagement, and ability to drive issues to resolution.

Required Certifications

• Candidates must hold at least one:

1. SAFe Solution Train Engineer (STE)
2. SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE)
3. SAFe Practice Consultant (SPC)

Core Competencies

• Solution Train leadership and facilitation
• Lean‑Agile and SAFe implementation
• Systems engineering and technical integration
• Cross‑program dependency management
• Cybersecurity and DoD program execution
• Stakeholder collaboration and communication
• Risk, issue, and impediment management
• Technical documentation and reporting
• Coaching, mentoring, and organizational leadership
• Ownership, initiative, and hands‑on engagement