Software Product Owner / Software Engineer

AMERICAN SYSTEMS is an employee-owned federal government contractor supporting national priority programs through our strategic solutions in the areas of Information Technology, Test & Evaluation, Program Mission Support, Engineering & Analysis, and Training.

Product Vision and Strategy: Define and communicate the product vision, strategy, and roadmap for assigned software products or features, aligning with specific DoD mission objectives, operational requirements, and relevant regulations.
• Stakeholder Management: Engage and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including military personnel, government civilians, and other contractors, to understand their needs, gather requirements, manage expectations, and ensure alignment with mission goals.
• Product Backlog Management: Own and prioritize the product backlog, ensuring it reflects user stories, technical requirements driven by DoD specifications, and mission value. Maintain traceability to operational needs and system requirements.
• Technical Understanding: Possess a strong understanding of software development processes, technologies relevant to DoD systems (e.g., cybersecurity protocols, data handling requirements, specific platforms), and system architectures often employed within the defense sector.
• User Focus: Deeply understand the unique needs and operational context of military and government users through direct interaction, requirements documentation, and understanding of military doctrine and procedures.
• Agile Leadership: Act as the primary point of contact for the development team, providing clear guidance, making timely decisions within the constraints of government processes, and fostering a collaborative agile environment.
• Sprint Planning and Execution: Actively participate in sprint planning, backlog refinement, sprint reviews, and retrospectives, ensuring alignment with project timelines and DoD milestones.
• Acceptance Criteria: Define clear and concise acceptance criteria that align with DoD standards, security requirements, and operational use cases. Ensure delivered features meet these stringent criteria.
• Performance Monitoring: Track and analyze product performance metrics relevant to DoD operations, identify areas for improvement, and iterate on the product based on data and feedback from users and stakeholders.
• Compliance and Security: Maintain a strong understanding of and adherence to relevant DoD policies, security regulations (e.g., NIST 800-53), and compliance requirements throughout the product lifecycle.
• Documentation: Contribute to the creation and maintenance of necessary documentation in accordance with DoD standards and contractual obligations.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Must possess an active Top Secret/SCI security clearance.

• U.S. Citizenship Required for the purposes of obtaining/holding a U.S. security clearance.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience working as a Product Owner or in a similar product management role within a software development environment, with significant experience working on projects for the Department of Defense or other government agencies.
• Proven track record of successfully defining, launching, and iterating on software products within the constraints of government contracting and regulations.
• Strong understanding of agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and their application in a DoD context.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical and programmatic information to both technical and non-technical DoD stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and build strong relationships with cross-functional teams, including government personnel and other contractors.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions while considering the unique operational needs of the DoD.
• Experience using product management and collaboration tools (e.g., GitLab, Confluence, GitLab DevOps).
• Preferred: Certified in at least one Agile SAFe certifications