Software Product Owner

The Software Product Owner is an internally focused role responsible for defining, prioritizing, and managing software requirements for systems that support manufacturing operations. Working closely with engineering, production, and program teams, the Product Owner ensures delivery teams have clear, actionable work aligned to programs, enterprise standards, and operational needs.

This role operates within Agile delivery teams while coordinating with waterfall-oriented organization. The role focuses on execution, alignment, and value realization for internal users.

Key Responsibilities:

Software Team Backlog Ownership & Delivery Readiness

Own and maintain dev team(s) product backlog for assigned internal systems or platforms.
• Ensure backlog items are well-defined, prioritized following portfolio sequencing. Ensures items are estimated and ready for development.
• Translate internal requirements, engineering specifications, change requests, and program needs into user stories and or tasks with clear acceptance criteria understanding.

Stakeholder Translation & Coordination

• Serve as the primary point of contact between Agile software teams and internal stakeholders, including:
• Software Team Supervisor(s)
• System Engineers
• Scrum Masters
• Software Project Management
• Clarify priorities, resolve conflicts, and ensure shared understanding of scope and delivery expectations.

Agile Execution

• Participate actively in Agile ceremonies (planning, refinement, reviews, retrospectives).
• Support incremental delivery while aligning to stage-gate reviews, software milestones, and program schedules.
• Work with Scrum Masters and technical leads to balance Agile practices with required documentation, approvals, and controls.

Dependency, Risk & Change Management

• Identify and manage dependencies between software delivery and physical systems including shipyard software infrastructure.
• Support change control processes common in software programs, ensuring software impacts are understood and managed.
• Escalate risks related to schedule alignment, integration, or operational readiness.

Governance, Compliance & Traceability

• Maintain traceability between software backlog items and internal requirements, regulatory needs, and program commitments.

Value Realization & Feedback

• Validate completed work with internal users to ensure it meets operational needs.
• Capture feedback from engineering and production teams and incorporate it into backlog refinement.
• Measure success using operational outcomes such as usability, adoption, efficiency gains, and reduction in rework

Required:

• Bachelor's of Science degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering or Engineering
• 5+ years of post graduate engineering experience
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance through the Department of Defense

Preferred:

• Proven ability to operate within hybrid Agile/Waterfall organizations.
• Experience supporting internal enterprise systems.
• Strong requirements definition breakdown, prioritization, and coordination skills.
• Understanding of stage-gate engineering processes and program delivery cycles.
• Experience serving in a delivery-focused role supporting Agile environments.

• Detail-oriented, with a pragmatic mindset focusing on execution and delivery.
• Ability to work effectively with technical and non-technical internal partners.