Product Owner – AI/Agile Gov Programs (USDA)

CATHEXIS; Tysons (VA); On-site; USD 137,000 - 167,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance Bonuses

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Plan (Traditional and Roth)

Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&

Paid Time Off

11 Federal Holidays

Parental Leave

Commuter Benefits

Short Term & Long Term Disability

Training & Development

Wellness Program

Community Outreach Initiatives

Job summary

CATHEXIS is seeking a dynamic Product Owner to join our Tysons, VA team, collaborating with engineers to build AI applications for USDA. You will identify needs, define requirements, and drive value for government clients in a fast-paced federal environment.

You will manage the backlog, write user stories, and coordinate with CORs and internal delivery teams, ensuring compliance with federal standards and security practices.

Qualifications

• Active Secret or above clearance is required.
• 3–5 years of experience as a Product Owner, Product Manager, or equivalent.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, IT, Computer Science, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience supporting USDA and familiarity with USDA IT systems and procurement requirements.
• Experience managing a product backlog within Agile/Scrum/SAFe.
• Strong understanding of the federal procurement lifecycle (RFIs, RFPs, proposals).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to government clients and senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Define and communicate product vision, strategy, and roadmap in alignment with agency mission objectives and contract requirements.
• Own and prioritize the product backlog, writing clear user stories and acceptance criteria translating stakeholder needs into development tasks.
• Serve as the primary contact between government program stakeholders, CORs, and internal delivery teams.
• Facilitate Agile ceremonies and collaborate with Scrum Masters to remove blockers.
• Evaluate AI/ML technologies for government modernization and present recommendations to leadership and clients.
• Define success metrics and KPIs and report progress to program leadership and sponsors.
• Ensure delivered capabilities comply with federal IT standards, security requirements, and accessibility guidelines (Section 508, NIST, FedRAMP).

Skills

Agile / Scrum / SAFe

Communication

Backlog management

Stakeholder collaboration

Federal procurement knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, IT, CS or related

Job description

CATHEXIS is seeking a dynamic Product Owner to join our Tysons, VA team, collaborating with engineers to build AI applications for USDA. You will identify needs, define requirements, and drive value for government clients in a fast-paced federal environment.

You will manage the backlog, write user stories, and coordinate with CORs and internal delivery teams, ensuring compliance with federal standards and security practices.