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Release Train Engineer / Leader - Lifecycle Management - Job Opportunity at Philips

Best, Netherlands
Full-time
Senior
Posted: May 24, 2025
Hybrid
EUR 85,000 - 115,000 per year. This estimate reflects the senior-level requirements, specialized medical device industry experience, SAFe certification requirements, and Netherlands market conditions. The combination of 10+ years experience, advanced degree requirements, and leadership of critical medical device platforms typically commands premium compensation in the European medical technology sector.

Benefits

Office-based collaborative work environment with minimum three days per week in-person presence, fostering stronger team dynamics and knowledge sharing compared to fully remote positions
Opportunity to work on cutting-edge healthcare technology with the Azurion 7 platform, providing exposure to advanced medical imaging systems that enhance professional portfolio
Global cross-cultural experience managing distributed teams across Netherlands, India, and China, developing valuable international leadership skills
Access to Philips' comprehensive Agile training and development programs as part of leading a major Agile Release Train
Career advancement opportunities within Philips' Image Guided Therapy Systems business unit, a key growth area in medical technology

Key Responsibilities

Lead strategic execution of the Life Cycle Management Agile Release Train supporting Philips' flagship Azurion 7 platform, directly impacting one of the world's most advanced medical imaging systems used in critical healthcare procedures
Drive predictability and risk mitigation across global distributed teams spanning three continents, ensuring seamless delivery of medical device software that affects patient outcomes worldwide
Champion continuous improvement initiatives and Agile maturity across the organization, positioning Philips at the forefront of medical device development methodologies
Facilitate critical Program Increment planning and execution, managing multi-million dollar development cycles that determine product roadmap success
Establish and maintain transparent communication channels between stakeholders, Epic Owners, and Product Management, ensuring strategic alignment on healthcare innovation priorities
Lead data quality dashboard initiatives and performance metrics that inform executive decision-making for medical device lifecycle management
Coach and mentor Agile teams, Scrum Masters, and organizational leaders on Lean-Agile practices, building organizational capability that extends beyond immediate projects
Resolve complex impediments and facilitate cross-functional collaboration in a regulated medical device environment where quality and compliance are paramount

Requirements

Education

Master's degree in Mechatronics, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline

Experience

10+ years of experience in a professional engineering environment, with a proven track record in cross-functional team leadership and Agile delivery

Required Skills

SAFe Agile certification Strong communication skills Stakeholder management Problem-solving skills DevOps experience Backlog Management tools Cross-functional team leadership Agile delivery Quality-driven mindset Improvement-driven approach Experience in regulated industries such as medical devices (IEC60601), automotive, or aerospace Cultural awareness Proactive mindset

Certifications

SAFe Agile certification
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Industry Trends

The medical device industry is experiencing unprecedented digital transformation, with AI-powered imaging systems and software-defined medical devices becoming the new standard. Release Train Engineers in this space are increasingly responsible for managing complex software-hardware integration cycles that must meet stringent FDA and CE marking requirements while maintaining rapid innovation cycles. Agile methodologies in regulated industries like medical devices are evolving beyond traditional SAFe implementations to include DevSecOps, continuous compliance monitoring, and risk-based development approaches. Organizations are seeking RTEs who can balance regulatory requirements with agile speed-to-market demands. The global shortage of skilled medical device software professionals has created a premium market for experienced Release Train Engineers who can manage distributed teams across multiple time zones while maintaining regulatory compliance. This trend is particularly acute in image-guided therapy systems where software complexity continues to increase exponentially.

Role Significance

Typically manages influence over 50-100+ professionals across multiple Agile teams, including developers, testers, product owners, and scrum masters distributed across three countries. The role involves coordination with senior leadership, Epic Owners, and Product Management, indicating responsibility for substantial organizational resources.
This is a senior leadership position with significant organizational impact, responsible for driving strategic program execution across a major product platform that generates substantial revenue for Philips. The role involves executive-level stakeholder management, global team leadership, and direct influence on product roadmap decisions that affect healthcare outcomes worldwide.

Key Projects

Leading Program Increment planning cycles for major medical device software releases that must meet FDA and international regulatory requirements Implementing continuous delivery pipelines for life-critical medical imaging software with zero-downtime deployment requirements Managing cross-cultural distributed team collaboration tools and processes that enable 24/7 development cycles across global time zones Driving digital transformation initiatives that integrate AI and machine learning capabilities into existing medical device platforms while maintaining regulatory compliance

Success Factors

Mastery of both technical medical device regulations (IEC60601) and advanced Agile scaling methodologies, enabling effective navigation of the complex intersection between innovation speed and regulatory compliance requirements that defines success in medical device development. Exceptional cross-cultural communication and stakeholder management abilities that can bridge time zones, cultural differences, and technical complexity while maintaining team cohesion and project momentum across distributed global teams. Strategic thinking capability that connects day-to-day Agile execution with broader business objectives, regulatory requirements, and market positioning in the competitive medical device landscape where product decisions have direct patient impact. Data-driven decision making skills that can interpret complex project metrics, quality dashboards, and performance indicators to identify risks and opportunities before they impact critical healthcare technology delivery timelines.

Market Demand

Very High - The intersection of medical device expertise, SAFe Agile mastery, and global team leadership represents a highly sought-after skill combination. The ongoing digital health revolution and regulatory complexity in medical devices creates sustained demand for experienced RTEs in this sector.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

SAFe Agile certification and methodology expertise is absolutely essential as this role serves as the primary driver of Agile transformation across a major medical device platform, requiring deep understanding of scaling frameworks, PI planning, and continuous delivery practices in regulated environments where traditional waterfall approaches have historically dominated. Medical device regulatory knowledge, particularly IEC60601 compliance, is critical because every software release must meet stringent safety and efficacy requirements that directly impact patient safety, and failure to understand these requirements can result in costly delays, regulatory violations, and potential patient harm. Cross-cultural leadership and global team management skills are indispensable given the distributed nature of teams across three continents with different working styles, cultural norms, and business practices that must be harmonized to achieve consistent delivery outcomes. Stakeholder management and executive communication abilities are crucial as this role serves as the primary interface between technical teams and senior leadership, requiring the ability to translate complex technical challenges into business impact terms and manage expectations across multiple organizational levels.

Beneficial Skills

DevOps and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) expertise is increasingly valuable as medical device companies adopt software-first development approaches that require automated testing, compliance validation, and deployment pipelines that can meet regulatory audit requirements while enabling rapid iteration cycles. Data analytics and dashboard development skills are becoming more important as organizations seek to leverage big data and predictive analytics to optimize development processes, predict quality issues, and make data-driven decisions about resource allocation and risk management in complex medical device development programs. Artificial intelligence and machine learning familiarity is growing in importance as medical devices increasingly incorporate AI-powered clinical decision support tools, automated image analysis, and predictive algorithms that require new approaches to validation, testing, and regulatory approval processes. Cloud computing and cybersecurity knowledge is essential as medical devices become more connected and data-driven, requiring understanding of HIPAA compliance, medical device cybersecurity frameworks, and cloud-based development and deployment strategies that maintain patient data privacy and system security.

Unique Aspects

This role offers the rare opportunity to lead Agile transformation in life-critical medical device development, where software decisions directly impact patient safety and clinical outcomes in operating rooms worldwide, providing unparalleled professional fulfillment and responsibility.
The position combines cutting-edge image-guided therapy technology with advanced Agile methodologies, creating a unique professional experience at the intersection of healthcare innovation and modern software development practices that few other roles can offer.
Working with Philips' Azurion 7 platform provides exposure to some of the most sophisticated medical imaging technology in the world, including AI-powered clinical applications and real-time 3D visualization systems that represent the future of interventional medicine.
The global scope of team leadership across Netherlands, India, and China offers exceptional cross-cultural management experience in one of the world's most regulated and technically complex industries, providing skills that are highly transferable across international markets.

Career Growth

3-5 years for progression to director-level roles, given the specialized expertise required and the strategic nature of current responsibilities. The combination of medical device industry knowledge and proven Agile leadership creates accelerated advancement opportunities in the rapidly growing digital health sector.

Potential Next Roles

Program Director or Portfolio Manager roles overseeing multiple Agile Release Trains and product lines within medical device organizations Director of Engineering or VP of Product Development positions with P&L responsibility for major medical device business units Chief Technology Officer or Head of Digital Health roles focusing on strategic technology direction for healthcare innovation companies Independent consultant or advisory positions helping medical device companies implement large-scale Agile transformations and regulatory compliance frameworks

Company Overview

Philips

Philips stands as one of the world's leading health technology companies with over 130 years of innovation heritage, generating approximately €18 billion in annual revenue with a focused portfolio spanning diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring, and health informatics. The company has successfully transformed from a diversified electronics conglomerate to a pure-play health technology leader, positioning itself at the center of the global digital health revolution.

Philips holds commanding market positions in key healthcare technology segments, ranking #1 globally in diagnostic imaging and image-guided therapy systems, with the Azurion platform representing a flagship product that competes directly with GE Healthcare and Siemens Healthineers in the premium interventional imaging market worth over $2 billion annually.
The Netherlands location represents Philips' primary European innovation hub and global headquarters for health technology development, providing access to world-class engineering talent, proximity to leading academic medical centers, and strategic positioning within the European regulatory environment that influences global medical device standards.
Philips emphasizes purpose-driven innovation with a strong focus on improving patient outcomes through technology advancement. The company culture balances rigorous engineering excellence required for life-critical medical devices with agile innovation methodologies, creating an environment where technical precision meets rapid iterative development.
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