Product Owner

About Bluestaq
At Bluestaq, we build secure data platforms that matter for space missions, national defense, healthcare systems, and commercial innovation. Founded in 2018, we've become a leader in enterprise software and secure data management by staying focused on what counts: modern architecture, operational excellence, and mission impact.
We're engineers, problem-solvers, and builders who take the mission seriously, but not ourselves. We automate the repeatable, question the status quo, and design systems that are as reliable as they are scalable. Whether we're supporting space, defense systems, or healthcare advancements, we build with the same principles: cloud-native solutions, security by design, and relentless simplicity.
Our name?
"Blue" (military shorthand for the good guys) and "staq" (as in software stack). It's who we are, mission-aligned technologists building platforms that protect the world’s most valuable data.
Recognized Excellence
We've earned national recognition as one of Inc. Magazine's Fastest-Growing Private Companies and consistently rank among Colorado's Best Workplaces. But what we're most proud of? The systems we build, the teams we develop, and the mission outcomes we enable.
Product Owner – Drive Execution Through Backlog Ownership and Delivery Alignment
Role Overview
We are seeking a detail-driven, execution-focused
Product Owner (PO)
to join our team and serve as the
voice of the product and technology at the product, program or team level
. In this role, you will own the team backlog, translate product strategy into sprint-ready work, and ensure clear, prioritized features are always available for engineering execution.
Product Owners play a critical role in bridging product strategy and delivery, ensuring that what gets built is clearly defined, properly prioritized, and aligned with customer needs. While POs do not own overall product direction (the role of Product Managers), they own the path to get there.
This role collaborates with Planning Managers, Program Managers, Engineering Managers, and Lead Engineers to maintain high standards of delivery readiness, clarity, and sprint-level alignment.
Why This Role Matters
Product success is defined not just by vision, but by execution. Product Owners turn big ideas into actionable work, translating strategy into stories, priorities, and sprint goals. In doing so, they accelerate delivery, improve quality, and ensure the work teams complete delivers customer and business value.
If you're energized by bringing structure to complexity, clarifying priorities, and helping engineers deliver with focus and confidence, this is your opportunity to bridge design to detail and directly impact delivery success.
Key Responsibilities
Backlog Ownership

• Own and continuously refine the team backlog to ensure clarity, prioritization, and delivery readiness.
• Translate product strategy and roadmaps into actionable, sprint-sized user stories with clear acceptance criteria.
• Maintain alignment between backlog items and customer outcomes, ensuring each sprint delivers meaningful value.

Sprint Planning & Execution Support

• Collaborate with engineering leadership to plan sprints, refine stories, and set clear sprint goals.
• Ensure stories are technically feasible and properly scoped with input from engineers and architects.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for feature clarification and value context during the sprint cycle.

Stakeholder Alignment

• Work closely with Planning Managers, Program Managers, and other cross-functional partners to incorporate stakeholder feedback into backlog prioritization.
• Support roadmap-to-backlog translation and help balance near-term sprint work with long-term strategic goals.
• Align backlog scope and timing with contractual, compliance, or customer delivery requirements when applicable.

Team Engagement & Leadership

• Collaborate with Engineering Managers, Team Leads, Program Managers, and Project Managers to assess team performance and delivery alignment.
• Provide quarterly and annual feedback to support team member growth, performance reviews, and role development.
• Foster a delivery culture rooted in accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Uphold Bluestaq’s core values of trust, ownership, curiosity, teamwork, mentorship, and talent development, fostering a culture where team members take initiative, support one another, and grow together.

Agile Delivery Advocacy

• Champion backlog hygiene and agile best practices within your team.
• Identify blockers or delivery risks early and escalate appropriately.
• Promote team focus on value delivery, technical quality, and sprint health.

Outcomes

• A clear, prioritized backlog that enables focused, high-quality delivery by the engineering team.
• Sprint goals that consistently reflect business value, user needs, and technical feasibility.
• Program Increments delivered with clarity, alignment, and minimal rework.
• Stakeholders aligned and informed through transparent prioritization and story development.
• Improved team velocity, backlog readiness, and execution quality across sprints.

Qualifications and Skills

• Experience working within agile teams, preferably in a government, commercial tech, or regulated environment.
• Proficient in writing user stories, defining acceptance criteria, and managing team-level backlogs.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills; able to synthesize technical and business perspectives.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to manage ambiguity and adapt to evolving priorities.
• Familiarity with agile tools and workflows (e.g., Jira, Confluence).
• Comfortable working cross-functionally across product, engineering, design, and program roles.
• Understanding of agile delivery patterns, sprint metrics, and backlog health indicators.
• Agile certification (e.g., CSPO, SAFe PO/PM) is a plus

Required Education and Experience

- Master’s degree
in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field and 0+ years of product ownership or related experience, OR
- Bachelor’s degree
in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field and 2+ years of product ownership or related experience, OR
- Associate degree
in a related field and 4+ years of product ownership or related experience, OR
- High School Diploma/GED
and 6+ years of product ownership or related experience.

Salary Range (CO): $90,000 USD - $170,000 USD
Clearance Requirement:
This position may require the ability to obtain a TS/SCI Clearance. To be eligible for a security clearance, U.S. citizenship is required, and an employee must agree to participate in a background screen and credit check. Eligibility for a TS/SCI Clearance will be assessed as part of the onboarding process or based on programmatic needs.
Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
• Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization's facilities.

Relocation:
This position does not offer relocation. Candidates must live in the immediate area or relocate at their own expense.
Bluestaq is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis age 40 and over, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by state or local law.
Bluestaq will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities and employees whose work requirements interfere with a religious belief unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to Bluestaq or a direct threat. Employees needing such accommodation are instructed to contact Human Resources immediately at contact.us@bluestaq.com.
Date the Position Closes:
Applications will be accepted for 60 days beyond the posting date, or until the position is filled, whichever comes first.