Senior Systems Engineer/Product Owner

Zachary Piper, LLC; Maryland; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer/Product Owner to support a federal aviation-focused program. The role blends systems engineering with Agile product ownership to translate complex requirements into prioritized backlog items for cloud-based software solutions.

This hybrid position requires 3 days onsite and 2 days remote across Gaithersburg, MD; Eagan, MN; or Egg Harbor Township, NJ.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Product Ownership, or related technical disciplines.
• Experience serving as an Agile Product Owner, including backlog ownership, user story development, prioritization, and acceptance of completed work.
• Experience with Agile methodologies, SAFe practices, cloud-based architectures, requirements decomposition, and stakeholder engagement.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance and successfully complete government background investigations.

Responsibilities

• Own, prioritize, and maintain the Agile team backlog, ensuring alignment with stakeholder needs, program priorities, and delivery objectives.
• Translate high-level requirements into testable features and user stories with clear acceptance criteria and verification methods.
• Participate in PI Planning, backlog refinement, sprint activities, and cross-functional coordination within a SAFe Agile environment.
• Collaborate with architects, systems engineers, product management, DevSecOps, test teams, and customer stakeholders to support successful program execution.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, traceability artifacts, design decisions, risk assessments, and compliance-related deliverables.

Skills

Agile Product Owner

SAFe

Backlog Management

Requirements Analysis

User Stories

Cloud Architecture

DevSecOps

CI/CD

Systems Engineering

Software Engineering

Public Trust

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/SE/Systems Engineering

Job description

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer/Product Owner to support a company focused on developing and modernizing next-generation air traffic management and automation platforms for mission-critical federal aviation operations. This position is hybrid, requiring 3 days onsite and 2 days remote in Gaithersburg, MD; Eagan, MN; or Egg Harbor Township, NJ. The Senior Systems Engineer/Product Owner will serve as the Product Owner for an Agile development team, translating complex system requirements into prioritized backlog items while supporting the design, development, integration, and delivery of cloud-based software solutions. This is an opportunity to help shape the future of national air traffic operations by supporting the deployment of safety-critical technologies that directly impact the aviation ecosystem.

Responsibilities for the Senior Systems Engineer/Product Owner include:

• Own, prioritize, and maintain the Agile team backlog, ensuring alignment with stakeholder needs, program priorities, and delivery objectives
• Translate high-level requirements into testable features and user stories with clear acceptance criteria and verification methods
• Participate in PI Planning, backlog refinement, sprint activities, and cross-functional coordination within a SAFe Agile environment
• Collaborate with architects, systems engineers, product management, DevSecOps, test teams, and customer stakeholders to support successful program execution
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, traceability artifacts, design decisions, risk assessments, and compliance-related deliverables

Required Qualifications for the Senior Systems Engineer/Product Owner include:

• 8+ years of experience in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Product Ownership, or related technical disciplines
• Experience serving as an Agile Product Owner, including backlog ownership, user story development, prioritization, and acceptance of completed work
• Experience with Agile methodologies, SAFe practices, cloud-based architectures, requirements decomposition, and stakeholder engagement
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance and successfully complete government background investigations

Compensation for the Senior Systems Engineer/Product Owner include:

Salary Range: $150,000-$175,000

Full Benefits Package: PTO, Paid Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Tuition Reimbursement, Sick Leave as required by law

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Keywords: Senior Systems Engineer, Product Owner, Agile Product Owner, SAFe, Scaled Agile Framework, PI Planning, Backlog Management, Requirements Analysis, User Stories, Acceptance Criteria, Cloud Architecture, Hybrid Cloud, Data Mesh, DevSecOps, CI/CD, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Public Trust, FAA, Air Traffic Management, Air Traffic Control, Safety-Critical Systems, Technical Documentation, Verification & Validation, Government Programs, Java, Python, React, Federal Aviation, Mission-Critical Systems, Agile Development, Scrum, Systems Integration