Product Owner (req-295)

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

Team CATHEXIS elevates the government contracting experience through rapid response, deep skill, and thoughtful problem-solving and communication. Our core capabilities are our top-tier program and project management, data analytics, and audit services, the backbone of which is our integrated approach to operational excellence.

You worked hard to get to where you are. You strive to make every day better than the day before. So do we. Team CATHEXIS operates with an all-in mindset. We are working together to create a company that supports our shared values and individual goals. Our values are centered around leading with integrity, owning the outcome, growing together, and moving with purpose in everything we do for our employees, customers, partners, and communities. We believe success is best when we listen and lead with empathy; model high standards of ethics to provide a rewarding candidate experience; work hard, have fun, and appreciate the strengths we all bring to the team; and empower our employees to create innovative and trusted results.

We are looking for a dynamic Product Owner to join our team! TheProduct Owner will work alongside a team of highly skilled engineers in the development of AI applications supporting USDA. A motivated and qualified candidate will work closely with the customer to identify their needs and opportunities to expand and work in a team environment.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• 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 that translate stakeholder needs into actionable development tasks
• Serve as the primary point of contact between government program stakeholders, contracting officer representatives (CORs), and internal delivery teams
• Facilitate Agile ceremonies (sprint planning, backlog refinement, sprint review, retrospectives) and partner with Scrum Masters to remove delivery blockers
• Evaluate emerging technologies, including AI/ML tools, for applicability to government modernization efforts and present recommendations to leadership and clients
• Define success metrics and KPIs for product initiatives and report progress to program leadership and government sponsors
• Ensure delivered capabilities comply with applicable federal IT standards, security requirements, and accessibility guidelines (e.g., Section 508, NIST, FedRAMP as applicable)

• An active Secret or above clearance is required
• Minimum 3 to 5 years of experience as a Product Owner, Product Manager, or equivalent role, ideally within federal or other highly regulated environments
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• Demonstrated experience working directly with or supporting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), including familiarity with USDA IT systems, program stakeholders, business processes, and agency-specific procurement or compliance requirements
• Demonstrated experience managing a product backlog and working within Agile/Scrum or SAFe delivery frameworks
• Strong understanding of the federal procurement lifecycle, including RFIs, RFPs, and proposal development
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to government clients and senior leadership

CATHEXIS offers competitive compensation packages to all eligible employees. Our goal is to provide a compensation package that reflects the value you bring to our team, is competitive with national average market rates, and promotes your financial security and personal well-being. The annual salary range for this role is $137,448.00 - $167,256.00. Please note that the salary information provided is a general guideline. CATHEXIS considers various factors in its final offer, including location, qualifications, experience, and skills.

• Performance Bonuses
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Plan (Traditional and ROTH)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off
• 11 Federal Holidays
• Parental Leave
• Commuter Benefits
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Wellness Program
• Community Outreach Initiatives

CATHEXIS is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminatedagainston the basisofdisability EEO IS THE LAW.If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact the Recruiting [e-mail].