Senior Systems Engineer - Product Owner with Security Clearance

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer/Product Owner to support a premier Air Traffic Management program in Gaithersburg, MD. This is a HYBRID role, three days on-site, two days remote. This position will support the development of a next-generation automation platform leveraging hybrid cloud architecture and Agile delivery methodologies in a highly regulated, safety-critical environment.

Location: Gaithersburg, MD Hybrid Schedule: 3 days onsite / 2 days remote Responsibilities of the Senior Systems Engineer/Product Owner:

• Own and prioritize the Agile team backlog, ensuring delivery aligns with stakeholder needs, program priorities, and dependencies
• Translate system requirements, FAA standards, and mission needs into testable features, user stories, and acceptance criteria
• Maintain traceability between requirements, development activities, and verification outcomes
• Lead PI Planning activities, backlog refinement sessions, scope management, and acceptance of completed work
• Collaborate with Product Management, Systems Engineering, DevSecOps, Test & Evaluation, and customer stakeholders to support successful program delivery

Qualifications for the Senior Systems Engineer/Product Owner:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field with 8+ years of relevant experience; Master's degree with 6+ years of experience may be substituted
• Experience serving as an Agile Product Owner, including backlog ownership, prioritization, user story development, and work acceptance
• Experience working within SAFe Agile environments, including PI Planning and cross-functional team coordination
• Experience decomposing complex technical requirements into testable work items with measurable acceptance criteria
• Experience with cloud-based system design and software development lifecycle practices
• Strong customer engagement, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust
• Successful completion of government-required background investigations

Compensation for the Senior Systems Engineer/Product Owner:

• Salary Range: $150,000 - $175,000
• Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), PTO, Paid Holidays, and additional company-sponsored benefits

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