Sr Product Owner (Technical)

Custom Software Systems Inc.•Washington, DC

About The Position

Custom Software Systems, Inc. (CSS) is seeking an experienced Senior Product Owner (Technical Product Owner) to support a client's Business and Technology Modernization (BTM) Program in Washington, DC. The role leads product strategy, defines technical requirements, and develops roadmaps for research collaboration platforms and tools. It works closely with business stakeholders, DevSecOps engineers, and platform architects to assess technical feasibility, prioritize enhancements, and deliver scalable solutions. The position calls for strong Agile product ownership expertise, knowledge of developer collaboration platforms, and the ability to translate complex business needs into actionable technical requirements. The Senior Product Owner defines product vision and priorities, translates business requirements into technical specifications and delivery artifacts, and maintains requirements traceability and product documentation. The role also supports Agile planning and delivery, evaluates platforms and integrations, communicates technical recommendations to business stakeholders, and coordinates priorities and deliverables across multiple teams. The position requires U.S. citizenship, at least 10 years of relevant product ownership, technical business analysis, or related experience, and at least 7 years managing IT projects and supporting quality assurance activities, including UAT. A bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent professional experience is required, along with at least one of the listed product ownership or Agile certifications. Compensation is negotiable based on qualifications and experience. CSS offers a competitive benefits package that may include health, dental, and vision insurance; an HSA; disability and life insurance; a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan; parking and commuting reimbursement; and professional training and education opportunities.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
10+ years of experience in product ownership, technical business analysis, or related technical roles.
7+ years of experience managing IT projects and supporting quality assurance activities, including user acceptance testing (UAT).
Strong knowledge of DevOps tools, processes, and Agile methodologies.
Experience developing product roadmaps, technical requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
Experience collaborating with business analysts, engineers, architects, and senior leadership.
Working knowledge of source-control platforms such as GitHub, technical authoring tools such as Overleaf, and file collaboration technologies.
Experience with Agile tracking tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Azure DevOps.
Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Ability to manage competing priorities and communicate technical concepts to nontechnical stakeholders.
Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent professional experience.
At least one of the following certifications: Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) or equivalent Product Owner certification; SAFe Agile Certification; SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM); or Certified Scrum Professional (CSP).

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting federal government programs.
Experience with DevSecOps, platform engineering, or enterprise technology modernization.
Experience supporting research collaboration, academic partnerships, or external stakeholder initiatives.
Familiarity with Scrum, Kanban, and Agile delivery frameworks.
Hands-on experience with AI-assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, or Cursor.

Responsibilities

Define product vision, priorities, and roadmaps for research collaboration platforms and tools.
Gather and translate business requirements into technical specifications, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
Prioritize product features based on business value, technical feasibility, and stakeholder needs.
Maintain requirements traceability throughout the development lifecycle.
Participate in Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, backlog refinement, and iteration planning.
Collaborate with DevSecOps engineers and platform architects to evaluate technical feasibility, system integrations, and architectural decisions.
Assess scalability, performance, and technical tradeoffs associated with product enhancements.
Evaluate source-control platforms, technical authoring tools, and file-sharing solutions.
Support integration strategies involving GitHub, Overleaf, and external collaboration platforms.
Maintain awareness of emerging research collaboration technologies and development tools.
Serve as liaison between business stakeholders, technical teams, and program leadership.
Translate technical constraints and recommendations into clear business communications.
Coordinate product priorities, timelines, and deliverables across multiple stakeholders.
Maintain product documentation, decision logs, requirements, and process workflows.
Support product planning, Agile delivery, and continuous improvement initiatives.