Ground Software Engineer Level 4 Product Owner

United Launch Alliance; Centennial (CO); On-site; USD 138,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

United Launch Alliance in Denver is seeking a Ground Software Engineer Product Owner 4 to define and prioritize ground software capabilities for launch vehicle and mission operations. You will lead a crossfunctional agile team and ensure software features align with system architecture and stakeholder needs.

The role requires a Bachelor degree and at least 6 years of related experience, with strong skills in C, C++, Python, RealTime Linux, and experience with IV&V, timing-critical interfaces,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university.
• Experience with RealTime Linux-based systems and timing-critical hardware/software interactions.
• Experience authoring, executing, or reviewing IV&V plans.
• Background in object-oriented design principles.
• Working knowledge of C, C++, and Python.
• Experience with Git, CI/CD pipelines, containerization, and release deployments.
• Experience with systems engineering practices including requirement development and decomposition, interface definitions, and traceability.
• Experience collaborating across hardware, software, and systems teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead an agile scrum team, defining product vision, roadmap, and priorities for ground software products.
• Develop clear, testable, system-aligned software requirements that integrate with vehicle, pad, and mission systems.
• Ensure features fit within the broader system architecture by working with systems engineers, architects, and interface owners.
• Oversee requirement decomposition, traceability, acceptance criteria, and validation planning.
• Collaborate with system owners to ensure software behaviors and data flows match interfaces and timing constraints.
• Partner with developers to ensure implementation meets functional and system-level requirements.
• Lead backlog grooming, sprint planning, and release prioritization balancing debt and mission needs.
• Review verification results, user acceptance tests, and IV&V findings for compliance and intent.
• Drive cross-team coordination for dependencies and integration across GSW, avionics, GSE, and mission teams.
• Support documentation updates, configuration management, and compliance with ground software standards.

Skills

C

C++

Python

RealTime Linux

Git

CI/CD

Containerization

Systems engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

DOORS

Jama

JIRA

Job description

Requisition ID: 1994

Standard Weekly Hours:40.00

Location:ULA - Denver

Relocation:Yes- Relocation may be available

Travel Requirements:10%

At ULA, success comes through the efforts of a strong, united team.

Thanks for your interest in United Launch Alliance, the world's most experienced and reliable space launch company! Successfully launching more than 155 consecutive missions with 100% mission success doesn't happen by accident. It's a testament to the commitment and dedication of our team of rocket scientists and support employees combined with the systems and processes we use to pull them together. As a ULA employee, you'll have the opportunity to grow in your career while working in a team-oriented culture that combines technology, innovation, ingenuity and a commitment to the extraordinary. Whether you are in college just launching your career, or, have experience and want to come work with the best rocket team in the world, our unshakable unity yields stronger solutions and better results as we carry out our mission to save lives, explore the universe, and connect the world. Our team is excited to meet you!

Job Overview & Responsibilities

At ULA, we are expanding our ground software capabilities to support evolving launch system needs, mission operations, and enterprisewide integration.

The Ground Software Engineer Product Owner 4 is responsible for defining, prioritizing, and validating ground software capabilities that support launch vehicle, pads, and mission integration operations. In this role, you will lead a crossfunctional agile team, drive endtoend requirements development, and ensure software features align with system architecture, operational needs, and stakeholder expectations. You will collaborate daily with systems engineering, mission integration, avionics, GSE, and ground software teams to deliver highquality, missionready software that fits cohesively within the broader launch system. This role blends technical leadership, systemsengineering rigor, and product strategy to mature and deliver critical ground software capabilities.

As a Ground Software Engineer Product Owner 4, you will:

• Lead an agile scrum team, acting as the voice of the customer and defining product vision, roadmap, and feature priorities for ground software products.
• Develop clear, testable, systemaligned software requirements that reflect operational needs and integrate seamlessly with vehicle, pad, and mission systems.
• Ensure new features and capabilities fit within the broader system architecture by working closely with systems engineers, architects, and interface owners.
• Oversee requirement decomposition, traceability, acceptance criteria, and validation planning throughout the development lifecycle.
• Collaborate with system owners to ensure software behaviors, interfaces, timing constraints, and data flows correctly represent each system the software interacts with.
• Partner with software developers in design discussions to ensure implementation approaches meet functional and systemlevel requirements.
• Lead backlog grooming, sprint planning, and release prioritization-balancing technical debt, mission need, and stakeholder inputs.
• Review and approve verification results, user acceptance tests, and IV&V findings to ensure delivered software meets requirements and operational intent.
• Drive crossteam coordination to identify dependencies, integration needs, and gaps across GSW, avionics, GSE, and mission integration organizations.
• Support documentation updates, configuration management, and compliance with standards relevant to ground software systems.

Required Education

Bachelor

Required Years of Experience

Minimum of 6 years of related work experience

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field from an accredited college or university
• Experience developing, validating, or supporting RealTime Linuxbased systems
• Experience with timingcritical hardware/software interactions
• Experience authoring, executing, or reviewing IV&V plans
• Background in objectoriented design principles
• Working knowledge of C, C++, and Python
• Experience with software development best practices including:
  • Git or similar configuration management tools
  • CI/CD pipelines, Containerization, Release Deployments
• Experience with systems engineering practices such as:
  • Requirement development and decomposition
  • Interface definition and ICD interpretation
  • Traceability and acceptance criteria creation
• Experience collaborating across hardware, software, and systems teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting or defining software control systems
• Familiarity with DevSecOps pipelines and secure software practices
• Technical leadership experience in an engineering environment
• Experience presenting complex system/software architectures to internal and external stakeholders
• Experience with requirements management tools (DOORS, Jama, JIRA, etc.)
• Familiarity with chip, board, and networklevel communication protocols

Summary Salary Range (for ULA - Denver only):

$137,767.00 - $229,612.00

What makes ULA different?

Because we understand launch success comes through the collective efforts of a team, we seek the best to join us. We value ethics, ingenuity, engagement and professional development for employees at all levels.

Employee benefits

• 401(k) match plus an additional employer contribution
• Discretionary annual incentive bonus for eligible employees
• Generous paid time off
• Flexible work environments

Additionally, most salaried ULA team members work a "9/80 schedule," meaning they enjoy every other Friday off.

Benefits and work schedules may vary for union-represented hourly positions and are described in the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Security Clearance / International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR). This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR). Therefore, all applicants must be U.S. Persons as defined in ITAR 22 CFR 120.62 (e.g., U.S. Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or protected individual. See 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) and 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) for additional information.

ULA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

ULA is a participant in the federal E-Verify Program. Posters in PDF format pertaining to this program can be accessed by clicking on the links identified below. E-Verify Participation poster (English / Spanish) and Right to Work Poster (English / Spanish).

Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act requires covered employees to follow a post selection notification process. A hired candidate may opt out of this process by notifying the hiring manager in writing at the time the offer is accepted.