Software Product Owner (TS/SCI) {S}

ARKA; Ypsilanti (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company relocation benefits

HSA contributions

401k retirement plan

3 weeks vacation accrual

13 paid holidays

Tuition assistance

Annual bonus program

Life insurance/AD&D/Disability

Parental Leave

Employee assistance program

Job summary

ARKA Group L.P. in Michigan is seeking a Software Product Owner to lead the Enterprise team, acting as the voice of the customer and aligning business goals with technical execution.

You will own the backlog, translate features into detailed specs, and communicate with stakeholders while participating in all Agile ceremonies. Relocation benefits are offered, and flex scheduling may be available to support work/life balance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, systems engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in software development, software systems engineering, or a related technical field.
• 2-3+ years of experience as a Product Owner or similar role e.g., Scrum Master
• Proven experience working in an Agile environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams including product managers, architects, and other engineers to define, design, and ship new features
• Understanding of the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), including requirements gathering, design, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance
• Experience with a modern cloud provider such as AWS or Azure as well as understanding of standalone Kubernetes deployments
• Experience with modern front-end development using React or Angular
• Experience with Source Control tools (e.g. Git, Gitlab)
• Experience with DevSecOps and Agile Scrum software development methodology including using tools like Git, Jira and Confluence
• Ability to work in office full time
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance

Responsibilities

• Backlog Management: Own and manage the product backlog, including creating, refining, and prioritizing user stories and epics. Work closely with the chief engineer and architect in current and future epic definitions.
• Requirements Definition: Translate high-level features into detailed, actionable specifications for the engineering team. Must be able to work with engineering feature definitions and not rely on detailed requirement definitions.
• Stakeholder Communication: Act as the primary point of contact for stakeholders internal and customer facing, providing updates on product progress and gathering feedback.
• Agile Ceremonies: Actively participate in all Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
• Team Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, UX/UI, marketing, and customer support, to ensure successful product delivery.
• Acceptance Criteria: Define acceptance criteria for user stories and validate that delivered solutions meet the defined requirements.
• Technical Acumen: Use your technical background to effectively communicate with engineers, understand technical constraints, and make informed trade-off decisions.

Skills

Software development

Systems engineering

Product ownership

Agile methodologies

Communication

SDLC knowledge

Cloud (AWS/Azure)

Kubernetes

React/Angular

DevSecOps tools

Office presence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science or systems engineering

Tools

Git

Gitlab

Jira

Confluence

AWS

Azure

React

Angular

Kubernetes

Job description

ARKA Group L.P. ("ARKA") is an advanced technologies company serving the U.S. military, intelligence community, and commercial space industry delivering next-generation solutions to support the national security space enterprise. Built on more than six decades of excellence, ARKA brings modern approaches and a culture of innovation to the challenges of today.

Position Overview:

We're seeking a talented and experienced Software Product Owner to lead our Enterprise team. In this role, you'll be the voice of the customer, bridging the gap between business goals and the technical development team. This position is ideal for someone who has a strong foundation in software development or systems engineering and wants to leverage technical expertise to drive product strategy and execution.

We offer generous relocation benefits for eligible candidates.

In support of work/life balance, many positions are available for a flexible schedule within the pay period. Ask us about the opportunity for flex scheduling if that’s of interest to you.

Responsibilities:

• Backlog Management: Own and manage the product backlog, including creating, refining, and prioritizing user stories and epics. Work closely with the chief engineer and architect in current and future epic definitions.
• Requirements Definition: Translate high-level features into detailed, actionable specifications for the engineering team. Must be able to work with engineering feature definitions and not rely on detailed requirement definitions.
• Stakeholder Communication: Act as the primary point of contact for stakeholders internal and customer facing, providing updates on product progress and gathering feedback.
• Agile Ceremonies: Actively participate in all Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
• Team Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, UX/UI, marketing, and customer support, to ensure successful product delivery.
• Acceptance Criteria: Define acceptance criteria for user stories and validate that delivered solutions meet the defined requirements.
• Technical Acumen: Use your technical background to effectively communicate with engineers, understand technical constraints, and make informed trade-off decisions.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, systems engineering or related field
• 5+ years of experience in software development, software systems engineering, or a related technical field
• 2-3+ years of experience as a Product Owner or similar role e.g., Scrum Master
• Proven experience working in an Agile environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams including product managers, architects, and other engineers to define, design, and ship new features
• Understanding of the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), including requirements gathering, design, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance
• Experience with a modern cloud provider such as AWS or Azure as well as understanding of standalone Kubernetes deployments
• Experience with modern front-end development using React or Angular
• Experience with Source Control tools (e.g. Git, Gitlab)
• Experience with DevSecOps and Agile Scrum software development methodology including using tools like Git, Jira and Confluence
• Ability to work in office full time
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

• IAT Level II or III certification (i.e. Security+, CISSP, or CASP)
• Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) or Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) certification.
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance with Fully Adjudicated CI Polygraph

Ypsilanti is artistic, genuine, and original.A college town and city located on the Huron River in Washtenaw County. Ypsilanti is all about community and making families new to the area feel right at home. From educational opportunities and local museums for all ages, to accessible healthcare and transportation it’s a wonderful location.It’s well known for its historical museums, parks, and historic districts as well as home to Eastern Michigan University. The University of Michigan and Michigan State University also are great institutions! Ann Arbor is close by and has many things, including a bustling university town, culinary hotspot, and a tech hub with a walkable downtown that includes world-class arts and culture. Located in southeast Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Ann Arbor lies at the center of a greater collection of communities in Washtenaw County. With so many thriving communities nearby, Ann Arbor has become a cultural melting pot and urban oasis.

What We Offer:

• Company contributions to qualified HSA accounts
• 401k retirement plan with industry leading company contributions
• 3 weeks of vacation accrual per year plus time off for sick leave and unscheduled life events
• 13 paid holidays
• Upfront tuition assistance for approved degree programs
• Annual bonus program based on company and employee performance
• Company paid life insurance, AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance
• 4 weeks paid Parental Leave
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

This job operates in a professional office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee routinely is required to use hands to keyboard, communicate, listen to, and interpret instructions and remain stationary for extended periods of the time. This would require the ability to move around the campus and occasionally move/lift items weighing up to 25 lbs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

ITC & Security Clearance Requirements:

This position requires active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Visa Restrictions:

No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

Pre-employment Screenings:

Employment with any ARKA companies in the U.S. is contingent upon satisfactory completion of several pre-employment requirements to include a credit check, background check, and drug screen.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.