Product Owner - Warehouse Management and Execution Systems

Job Summary

The Product Owner works closely with their software development team and business stakeholders to support the planning, prioritization, and execution of software development projects. The Product Owner is responsible for maintaining product backlogs, gathering requirements, ensuring alignment with business objectives, meeting timelines, and supporting end-users as they utilize our systems.

This role will work alongside another Product Owner on our fast-growing Warehouse Advancement development team, which is responsible for critical warehouse management system (WMS) and warehouse execution system (WES) projects. Some travel to our distribution centers throughout the United States will be required.

The Product Owner will work with other members of the Operations Support Services team; members of one or more agile development teams; stakeholders and end-users in the warehouse and other departments throughout the company; and representatives from third-party software and mechanical vendors.

Remote Work Qualifications

• Access to a reliable and secure high-speed internet connection. Cable or fiber internet connections (at least 75mbps download/10mbps upload) are preferred, as satellite connections often cannot support the technologies used to perform day-to-day tasks.
• Access to a home router and modem.
• A dedicated home office space that is noise- and distraction-free. The space should have strong wireless connection or a wired Ethernet connection (wired connection is preferred, if possible).
• A valid, physical address (apartment, suite, etc.). PO Boxes are not supported, as a physical address is required for you to receive your computer equipment.
• The desire and ability to work and communicate with other team members via chat, webcam, etc.
• Legal residents of one of the following states: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NH, NM, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, and WY).

We only accept W-2 candidates, H-1B sponsorship is not available.

Responsibilities

• Co-owning your team’s backlog in Azure DevOps (ADO) and maintaining a thorough understanding of all active work items
• Interpreting organizational and stakeholder needs and translating them into concise, yet comprehensive, work items for the development team (bugs, PBIs, features, and research spikes)
• Becoming an expert on assigned internal processes, hardware, and software tools, and proactively applying that knowledge towards system creation and improvements
• Explaining the ‘what’ and ‘why’ behind all work items to facilitate accurate refinement and sizing
• Prioritizing and organizing your team’s backlog on a continuous basis to ensure transparency and keep the most critical work items positioned for timely completion
• Utilizing the ‘minimum viable product’ concept to ensure delivery within deadlines
• Developing a quarterly roadmap to effectively communicate priorities and vision to the development team and stakeholders
• Testing completed work items to ensure quality and compliance with Acceptance Criteria, and coordinating with warehouses to ensure a smooth deployment
• Troubleshooting bugs and providing support for your team's software products via Teams channels and our shared team inbox
• Attending daily and weekly development meetings with your assigned Scrum development team, and adhering to all aspects of the team’s working agreement
• Publishing training materials, FAQ sheets, and other resources to support the usage of our systems
• Facilitating discussion as needed to gather feedback and identify opportunities
• Working effectively with other departments, development teams, and third-party vendors when software needs cross the boundaries of our team’s ownership
• Overnight travel (up to 25%) to our warehouses throughout the United States is required

Physical Requirements

• Work is performed while sitting/standing and interfacing with a personal computer.
• Requires the ability to communicate effectively using speech, vision, and hearing.
• Requires the regular use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations.
• Requires occasional bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, and reaching.
• Requires the ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull medium weights, up to 50lbs.

Qualifications

Experience

Qualified candidates are expected to demonstrate experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Prior experience as a product owner or project manager coordinating complex software integrations
• Prior experience with warehouse automation systems and software
• Prior experience as a member of an agile development team

Foundational understanding of backend systems (APIs, message queues, database structures, etc.) is a plus.

Education

This role does not require a degree. We value relevant skills and experience and alignment with our core values above all else.

Desired Traits & Skills

• Exceptional organization and time-management skills
• Professional interpersonal and communication abilities
• Advanced critical-thinking and problem-solving mindset
• Confidence in navigating grey areas and making independent decisions, while also seeking guidance for challenging or complex matters
• A proven track record of taking ownership of projects and managing them from start to finish
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams
• The ability to facilitate clear and effective communication and follow-up with internal and external stakeholders at all levels of the organization
• Adaptability to learn and grow in a fast-paced environment, with an eagerness to embrace feedback and new challenges