Systems Engineer - Product Owner

Senior Systems Engineer – Product Owner (TS/SCI Clearance Required)

LOCATION: Aurora, COJOB TYPE: Contract-to-HirePAY: $125,000 - $150,000 with full Government benefits

About the ProgramThis program supports one of the premier initiatives within a leading Air & Space Defense Systems business unit, developing next-generation ground systems solutions for space and defense missions. The Senior Systems Engineer – Product Owner will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of engineers to drive software and hardware integration, manage Agile development efforts, and oversee test execution throughout the system lifecycle.

This role combines technical leadership, Agile product ownership, and hands-on integration/test experience, making it ideal for engineers who thrive in fast-paced, mission-critical environments.

This position is 100% on-site in Aurora, CO.

Position Overview

The Product Owner will plan and execute system integration and test (SI&T) efforts for complex subsystems while leading Agile program activities. This includes maintaining the team backlog, managing sprint and PI execution, supporting verification and validation activities, and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders. The ideal candidate will bring both strong technical acumen and proven leadership skills, driving collaboration between engineering, program management, and customer teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as Product Owner, owning the team backlog, facilitating sprint/PI execution, and ensuring delivery alignment with program objectives.

• Plan and perform Systems, Integration, and Test (SI&T) activities for complex software and hardware subsystems.

• Develop and execute test architectures, baselines, and validation processes.

• Support regression testing, verification, and continuous integration across software releases.

• Oversee daily activities of the Integration and Test team, providing guidance and technical direction.

• Coordinate and communicate with internal teams, program leadership, and customer stakeholders.

• Conduct and participate in readiness reviews, design reviews, and technical presentations.

• Identify and troubleshoot technical issues during integration, collaborating with engineering peers to implement solutions.

• Operate within an Agile and DevSecOps development environment, promoting iterative delivery and automation.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM).

• Minimum 5 years of relevant systems engineering or integration/test experience.

• Experience leading technical teams or Agile development efforts.

• Experience with Integration and Test (I&T) planning and execution.

• Hands-on experience troubleshooting software systems and managing system-level testing.

• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and lifecycle processes.

• Experience working on government contracts or defense programs.

• Active and transferable U.S. government-issued security clearance (TS/SCI required prior to start).

• U.S. citizenship required.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience in Satellite Ground System development or operations (command and telemetry, mission planning, flight dynamics, launch operations).

• Familiarity with Agile, DevSecOps, and CI/CD methodologies.

• Hands-on experience with test automation tools (Cucumber, Gherkin, Zephyr).

• Software proficiency in Java, C++, or Python.

• Experience with Linux operating systems.

• Exposure to Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible, Chef, etc.).

• Experience using Jenkins, GitLab, Artifactory, or similar deployment and SCM tools.

• Proficiency with Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence) and Microsoft Office Suite.

• SAFe Agile Product Owner certification preferred.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with proven ability to collaborate in cross-functional environments.