Users are always looking for quick solutions. They expect instant delivery and a fresh daily software update for the system they bought. They won’t give you enough time to figure out the solution to any problem. They are always in a rush to get the services. Thus, with SAFe, organizations have adopted a more intelligent and effective way of working that satisfies customers and employees. 

With features like reliability, scalability, transparency, and organizational productivity, SAFe is bringing business agility to more than 20,000 organizations. Witnessing the high demand for SAFe Agile professionals, over a million people worldwide are trained with SAFe skills.

What Is SAFe?

Initially named the “Agile Enterprise Big Picture,” the SAFe framework was brought by Dean Leffingwell in 2011. 

SAFe is a thorough framework created to help companies scale their agile procedures successfully. The framework offers an organized method for synchronizing teams, planning tasks, and promoting cooperation throughout the company. At its core, SAFe adopts Agile Methodology concepts and implements them in its operations. 

The purpose of SAFe is to deliver value through centralized management that is in line with company objectives. For maximum SAFe viability, decentralized Agile development approaches are combined with an emphasis on Enterprise-Scale Agile. An organization can fulfill its market goals by using SAFe to assist a team in operating faster. 

SAFe requires that all business stakeholders clearly understand the company's strategic plan and the goals required to help it achieve its intended purpose for it to function effectively. 

The Four Levels of SAFe

The four levels of SAFe are as follows: 

Team Level

The goal of this level is to provide value at the team level. Teams operating at this level usually adhere to Scrum, Kanban, Scrumban, or XP frameworks that guarantee improved product delivery. SAFe teams employ an iterative process in which the entire project is broken down into two-week-long sprints. The key team members include developers, testers, product owners, scrum masters, business analysts, user experience professionals, and others.

Program Level

The program level is considered the most significant among all the SAFe levels. The Agile Release Train (ART) is the level's fundamental component. The ART is made up of 8 to 10 team members who are in charge of delivering value for a certain project. There are two core teams at this level: System and DevOps. This level involves collaboration between the system team, release train engineers, BA, DevOps, and the system architect. 

Value Stream Layer

It is an extra level in SAFe 4.0. This level combines the efforts of both ARTs and program teams to ensure that clients receive high-quality goods. The value stream level is essential for maintaining competitiveness with other businesses. 

Portfolio Level

At this level, the organization starts to focus on organizational agility, lean administration, investment funding, and lean portfolio management. This is used to allow best practices for lean budgeting that companies might use for funding products. At this level, the Portfolio Management Office (PMO) is in charge of implementing Lean methodologies and SAFe. 

Qualifications Required to Become a SAFe Practitioner: 15 Essential SAFe Skills 

There are several SAFe skills one needs to inculcate to become an expert SAFe practitioner. Some essential SAFe skills can not be left out if you want to build a successful career. Here are 15 essential SAFe skills for a successful SAFe practitioner. 

  1. SAFe Scrum Masters must be highly skilled in Agile concepts and the Agile approach to lead teams and companies through their Agile journeys. 
  2. SAFe Agiles must be knowledgeable about Program Increment planning since it's an essential phase in the SAFe architecture. This skill includes leading PI planning meetings, controlling connections, and integrating teams around a common goal and vision. 
  3. SAFe Scrum Masters must be adept at running Kanban boards and organizing Scrum events since they often work with groups using these frameworks. 
  4. SAFe Agiles should be able to use Agile project management technologies such as JIRA, Trello, and Azure DevOps to monitor progress, coordinate assigned tasks, and facilitate Agile events.
  5. Understanding Agile practices such as Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Assessments, and Evaluations is vital.
  6. SAFe Scrum Masters must possess strong problem-solving skills and be able to lead teams through challenges.
  7. SAFe Agiles must be proficient in training and assistance since they often have to help teams and stakeholders understand the SAFe procedures. 
  8. SAFe Agiles must be proficient in Agile product delivery and value stream management to guarantee that services and products are provided effectively and reliably. 
  9. A SAFe Scrum Master needs to be skilled with Lean-Agile concepts like Lean Budgeting, Value Stream Mapping, and the Lean-Agile Approach.
  10. A SAFe Scrum Master should comprehend the notion of servant leadership. They should set a benchmark, motivate teams, and clear roadblocks to achievement.
  11. SAFe Scrum Masters must monitor and report on essential Agile metrics like speed, lead time, and cycle duration.
  12. SAFe Agilists need to be skilled in finding trends, analyzing complicated structures, and predicting how changes affect other value stream aspects.
  13. SAFe Agilists must become adept at controlling the value flow via the Continuous Delivery Pipeline and determining when to deploy strategically.
  14. SAFe Agilists need to promote a culture that values learning as a daily activity and fosters creativity and innovation.
  15. SAFe Agilists must manage the challenges of developing large, vital systems while remaining aligned with corporate objectives, ensuring the successful delivery of large-scale solutions, and providing significant benefits for the organization.

List of SAFe Agile Job Roles

Here is a list of the SAFe Agile job roles in an organization based on the different SAFe skills.

SAFe Product Manager

SAFe Product Managers work in a more senior position than SAFe Product Owners and are in charge of the program backlog. They also define and communicate the program vision and roadmap to ensure the solution satisfies the requirements of all parties and users.

SAFe Scrum Master

An agile team member who facilitates and ensures the team follows agile concepts and practices. SAFe Scrum Masters operate within the SAFe framework to collaborate with other departments, eliminate obstacles, train team members, and lead Agile events.

SAFe Lean-Agile Leader

Lean-Agile Leaders are liable for building an Agile and Lean mindset culture. They are dedicated to the organization's ongoing development and provide a fine role model for others. 

SAFe Program Consultant (SPC)

An SPC is an impact agent supervising SAFe deployment and organizational transformation projects. In addition to coordinating the organization's procedures with the framework, they train individuals and teams on SAFe approaches.

SAFe Release Train Engineer  (RTE)

The RTE serves as a servant manager and guide for SAFe's primary value delivery construct, the Agile Release Train (ART). They push for constant program improvement, help teams create value, and organize ART events.

SAFe Solution Architect/Engineer 

The individual is responsible for setting up and conveying a uniform technical and structural vision across an Agile Release Train or Solution Train to guarantee that the developed system or solution is suitable for its stated use.

SAFe Product Owner 

The SAFe Product Owner collaborates extensively with the Agile team and the organization to define and prioritize the team backlog while ensuring that the most significant tasks are completed. They are essential in coordinating the team's efforts with the program's goals and timeline.

SAFe Portfolio Manager

The SAFe Portfolio Manager is an executive position that oversees the administration and oversight of the Lean-Agile portfolio, coordinating portfolio strategy with implementation. They set budgets, rank initiatives, and make sure that money spent on solutions yields the best value possible.

How Should I List My SAFe Skills in My CV?

To get job opportunities as a SAFe Agile expert, you need more than just the necessary SAFe skills and expertise. You must also put your best foot forward and demonstrate your potential with a CV that clearly conveys your expertise and background in SAFe Agile.

A solid SAFE Agile CV must emphasize the candidate's ability to effectively deploy the SAFe framework, highlighted by apparent gains in team cooperation, project delivery time, and insight into SAFe concepts.

Here are some of the SAFe skills one should highlight in their CV.

  • Experience with Agile methodologies like Scrum, Kanban, and Lean
  • Leadership and mentorship skills
  • Technical skills in working with SAFe tools like Jira, Agile project management software, and Confluence
  • Coding and automation frameworks skills
  • Value and timely product delivery skills

Make sure your CV is appropriate for the organization's level of Agile maturity, as different companies can have different maturity levels. Tailor your CV to highlight your experience in settings with comparable Agile maturity levels to the organization you're applying to. Emphasize your expertise working with remote Agile teams, scaling Agile methods, or transforming Agile processes.

Conclusion

As businesses grow, they need organizational agility. SAFe professionals with the appropriate SAFe skills have proven beneficial for organizations. With the right approach, they bring proper functioning and productivity to the organization. If you are an experienced professional looking to become a SAFe professional and need a quick yet comprehensive certification, you should sign up for Simplilearn’s Leading SAFe® 6 Training with SAFe Agile Certification.

FAQs

1. What is the best way to start learning about SAFe?

The best way to learn about SAFe is to join a certification course. Industry experts lead the courses and help you gain in-depth and industry-relevant knowledge.

2. What are the career opportunities for SAFe practitioners?

Following are the career opportunities for SAFe practitioners:

  • Product Manager
  • Scrum Master
  • SAFe Program Consultant
  • Release Train Engineers
  • SAFe Scrum Master
  • Agile Coach
  • SAFe Agilist 
  • SAFe Portfolio Manager

3. How does SAFe integrate with other Agile methodologies?

SAFe encourages coordination, cooperation, and delivery among numerous agile teams and offers a structured framework for expanding agile as organizations grow.

4. How can I become SAFe certified?

You can easily become SAFe certified by signing up for Simplilearn’s SAFe Certification: Leading SAFe® 6 Training with SAFe Agile Certification. This two-day training course provides the proper guidance and certification for SAFe practitioners.

Recommended Reads