Scrum Master (Extreme Programming / XP)

Role Summary

The Scrum Master serves as a servant-leader and agile coach for one or more cross-functional software development teams, with deep expertise in combining Scrum ceremonies with Extreme Programming (XP) engineering practices. Unlike a standard Scrum Master, this role also coaches the development team on XP technical practices, bridging the gap between process facilitation and engineering excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Scrum Facilitation

• Facilitate all Scrum ceremonies: sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives

• Remove impediments and shield the team from external disruptions

• Coach the team on Scrum values, self-organisation, and continuous improvement

• Partner with the Product Owner to maintain a healthy, prioritised backlog

• XP Practice Coaching

• Champion and embed XP practices within the team, including Test-Driven Development (TDD), pair programming, continuous integration, refactoring, and collective code ownership

• Promote Test-Driven Development as a practice for developing code that is simple, maintainable, and well-tested Agilemania

• Guide teams through short iteration cycles with a focus on delivering high-quality, working software

• Coach on sustainable pace and help manage the tension between deadlines and developer well-being

• Agile Coaching Improvement

• Provide servant leadership and mentorship to cross-functional agile teams, strengthening understanding of effective agile practices, theories, and XP ZipRecruiter

• Facilitate continuous feedback loops between the team and stakeholders

• Measure and communicate team velocity, quality metrics, and delivery health

Required Skills Experience

• 5+ years in a Scrum Master or Agile Coach role within software development teams

• Strong knowledge of Agile methodologies including Extreme Programming (XP) and Scrum, as well as experience with design patterns, refactoring, and unit testing ZipRecruiter

• Proven ability to coach developers on TDD, pair programming, and CI/CD practices

• Experience working in short-cycle, iterative delivery environments

• Strong facilitation, conflict resolution, and communication skills

• Expert level in JIRA

Desirable

• Certified Scrum Master (CSM, PSM I/II) or equivalent

• Certified Scrum Developer (CSD) valuable given the technical coaching dimension

• Familiarity with Kanban, SAFe, or Scrumban as complementary frameworks

• Background in software development (advantageous but not required)

Desired Skills

• Systems Analysis
• Complex Problem Solving
• Programming/configuration
• Critical Thinking
• Time Management