Job Description

Mid/Senior Product Owner / Subject Matter Expert

Location: Newport News, VA – Full-time onsite

Clearance: U.S. citizenship and active Secret clearance

Job Description

We are seeking a Product Owner / Subject Matter Expert (SME) to serve as the technical and operational lead for capabilities within a complex defense command-and-control system. This role combines Product Ownership responsibilities with deep expertise across DoD C2 ecosystems.

Key Responsibilities

• Define, communicate, and maintain product vision, roadmap, and backlog.
• Align backlog priorities with the strategic vision set by the Chief Engineer and Architect.
• Work with customers and stakeholders to capture, refine, and prioritize user stories.
• Conduct weekly backlog grooming to achieve a Definition of Ready.
• Adjust backlog priorities each Sprint as needed.
• Accept or reject work at the end of each Sprint; establish and enforce the Definition of Done.
• Participate in Sprint Reviews, Process Reviews, Design Reviews, and related customer and program meetings.
• Provide clear acceptance criteria and ensure quality control.
• Serve as the primary liaison between development teams, and program management
• Facilitate product meetings; support external customer and product status meetings.
• Work with Program Management to meet delivery schedules.
• Provide input into budgetary estimates for development activities.
• Provide input for schedule milestones, status reports, and development progress.
• Act as the authority on technical issues for assigned products.
• Monitor performer progress, provide direction, and analyze metrics for management.
• Continuously engage end users to understand needs and validate solutions.
• Incorporate user centered design principles throughout development.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM).
• 5+ years of experience in Agile/Scrum product development, including enterprise-level product backlog ownership.
• Strong understanding of product development architecture, user-centered design, analytical and systems-thinking.
• Working knowledge of system architecture and data integration principles.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level briefings.
• Ability to work effectively with large, cross-functional teams (users, engineers, program management, govt customer).
• Ability to work fulltime in the Newport News, VA office.
• U.S. Citizen with an active Secret clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) or equivalent certification with demonstrated teamlead experience.
• Experience with GCCS-J, Joint C2 systems, or enterprise COP platforms, and integrating intelligence/imagery data.
• Knowledge of data flows, sensor integration, system architecture, data integration principles.
• Experience operating within defense agency or Combatant Command environments.
• Active Top Secret / SCI clearance.