Position Title: Experience Modernization Team (XMT) Product Owner
Position Type: Full-time, On-Site
Location: Huntsville, AL
Clearance: Active Secret (U.S. Citizenship Required)
Position SummaryWaypoint's client is seeking an experienced
Experience Modernization Team (XMT) Product Owner to support the next generation of Air and Missile Defense capabilities. This role is responsible for defining, prioritizing, and advancing innovative product solutions that improve the warfighter experience and accelerate capability delivery into the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) program.
Working at the intersection of user research, engineering, UX/UI design, and mission operations, the Product Owner will ensure product decisions are driven by validated operational needs while guiding technical efforts through the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). This individual will serve as the primary liaison between program leadership, engineering teams, and operational stakeholders to ensure experimental capabilities are mature, suitable, and ready for transition into formal software development.
Responsibilities- Serve as the Product Owner for the Experience Modernization Team (XMT), defining and prioritizing product backlogs that support Program Increment (PI) objectives.
- Prioritize user research activities, operational studies, design evaluations, and suitability assessments in coordination with Program Management.
- Collaborate with engineers, UX/UI designers, researchers, and operational users to ensure solutions address validated warfighter needs.
- Develop and maintain product roadmaps supporting the maturation, integration, and transition of experimental capabilities into the IBCS development pipeline.
- Deliver technical briefings, demonstrations, and capability updates to senior leadership, including recommendations, Courses of Action (COAs), and impact assessments.
- Validate product readiness and coordinate transition of mature capabilities into software development teams.
- Serve as the primary interface between PAE Fires stakeholders, operational users, and the Experience Modernization Team.
- Support Agile planning activities including Program Increment (PI) Planning, backlog refinement, sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives.
- Utilize Jira and Confluence to manage product backlogs, user stories, priorities, and technical documentation.
- Work closely with software development teams to ensure delivery aligns with operational priorities and user expectations.
Required Qualifications- U.S. Citizenship.
- Active Secret Security Clearance (or ability to obtain/maintain if applicable).
- Bachelor's degree (ABET preferred) in Engineering, Mathematics, Science, or a related technical discipline.
- Minimum of 10 years of combined Government and/or DoD experience supporting systems engineering, product management, software development, or related technical programs.
- Experience serving as a Product Owner, Product Manager, Systems Engineer, or similar leadership role supporting Agile software development.
- Working knowledge of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and Agile software development methodologies.
- Experience managing product backlogs, prioritizing work, and supporting Program Increment (PI) execution.
- Proficiency with Atlassian Jira and Confluence.
- Strong Microsoft Office skills, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Teams.
- Excellent communication skills with experience presenting technical information to senior government and industry leadership.
Desired Qualifications- Experience leading User-Centered Design (UCD) initiatives.
- Experience designing and conducting user research, experiments, usability studies, and post-analysis activities.
- Familiarity with UX/UI design methodologies and human-centered engineering practices.
- Experience supporting Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (AIAMD) programs.
- Working knowledge of one or more of the following systems:
- Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS)
- PATRIOT
- THAAD
- MEADS
- C2BMC
- AEGIS
- Previous experience serving as Product Owner for an Agile software development Scrum Team.
- Experience supporting digital engineering or Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) initiatives.
Preferred Skills- Product Ownership & Product Lifecycle Management
- Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
- Agile Scrum Methodologies
- User-Centered Design (UCD)
- UX/UI Collaboration
- User Research & Suitability Assessments
- Product Roadmap Development
- Technical Planning & Integration
- Program Increment (PI) Planning
- Jira & Confluence Administration
- Technical Briefings & Executive Presentations
- Systems Engineering
- Air & Missile Defense Systems
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
- Requirements Prioritization
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Analytical Problem Solving
- Strong Written & Verbal Communication
