Sr Product Owner (Technical)

Custom Software Systems, Inc. (CSS) is seeking an experienced Senior Product Owner (Technical Product Owner) to support our client's Business and Technology Modernization (BTM) Program in Washington, DC. The ideal candidate will lead product strategy, define technical requirements, and develop roadmaps for research collaboration platforms and tools. This position requires close collaboration with business stakeholders, DevSecOps engineers, and platform architects to evaluate technical feasibility, prioritize enhancements, and deliver scalable solutions.

The successful candidate will possess strong Agile product ownership expertise, knowledge of developer collaboration platforms, and the ability to translate complex business needs into actionable technical requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Requirements

• 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.

Technical Product Ownership

• 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.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Delivery

• Serve as the 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.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship 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.
• Proven 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 (GitHub), technical authoring tools (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.

Education & Certifications

• 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)
  • Certified Scrum Professional (CSP)

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation: Negotiable, based on qualifications and experience.

Custom Software Systems, Inc. offers a competitive benefits package that may include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Basic and supplemental life insurance
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan
• Parking and commuting expense reimbursement
• Professional training and education opportunities