Software Product Owner

Primary Work Location

Remote, based in the United States. Preference will go to candidates located in either the Eastern or Central time zones.

Overview

For over 40 years, LI-COR and HOBO hardware and software products have been the trusted monitoring solution for recording accurate and reliable data supporting research initiatives, sustainability efforts and essential commercial business decisions.

We are seeking an experienced Technical Software Product Owner for our software products that interact with our line of environmental monitoring hardware. This is ideally someone who has both Software Engineering and Product Management experience. This individual should seek to learn and further develop their craft of software product ownership, and work very closely with other Product Managers at LI-COR to create software and data products. Your decisions will have a direct impact in the success of our software product lines in the cloud, mobile, and desktop space. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, marketing, and sales, to drive product success.

Position Responsibilities

Product Ownership & Requirement Translation:

• Convert requirements from Product Managers into a backlog that allows the development team to implement with clarity and speed.
• Create JIRA epics, stories, and tasks with clear definitions and acceptance criteria.
• Serve as a bridge between engineering and requirements.
• Assist in identifying new partner opportunities and in managing customer engagements.

Collaboration with Product Managers:

• Use data-driven analysis to prioritize the development of features that deliver maximum value to customers and the business.
• Collaborate with Product Managers and other stakeholders to manage the software product backlog.
• Assist on clarifying the vision for the unified software products.
• Align overall product direction expectations and execution.

Holistic View & Prioritization:

• Ensure input on different hardware product lines results in a cohesive experience for end users, accounting for cases where an end user will use multiple hardware product families.
• Maintain an overview of software product development activities.
• Act as a gatekeeper for software development, ensuring work is prioritized effectively.
• Balance maintenance/sustaining work with new product development.

Experience & Execution:

• Execute at a fast pace with efficiency and precision.
• Develop and maintain the software (cloud, mobile, desktop) product roadmap, ensuring timely delivery of features and improvements.
• Broadly understand the underlying technology stack and infrastructure of the product, helping to make informed decisions about technical trade-offs that ensure that the product is scalable, secure, and reliable.

Team Collaboration & Communication:

• Work closely with engineering, QA, and other departments to ensure smooth product development and release cycles. Act as a liaison between technical and non-technical teams.
• Collaborate with UX/UI designers to ensure that the product delivers an exceptional user experience that meets customer expectations.
• Provide input on overall software strategy and recurring revenue plans
• Manage communications with end user customers
• Create and deliver webinars and other training content to sales, tech support, customer service, and customers

Release Management:

• Coordinate product releases, including beta tests, field testing, launch planning, and post-launch activities.
• Ensure all teams and customers are aligned and prepared for product rollouts and updates.
• Monitor product performance and customer feedback to drive continuous improvement.
• Engage with customers and stakeholders to gather feedback, understand pain points, and ensure that the product solves market problems effectively.

Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. MBA or advanced degrees are a plus.
• 3+ years of experience as a Technical Product Manager or Software Product Owner in a software development environment.
• Knowledgeable in the areas of product development, forecasting and customer communications.
• Hands-on experience with SaaS products, software recurring revenue, cloud-based systems, APIs, and modern tech stacks.
• Knowledge of or interest in environmental science, atmospheric science, and/or plant science is desirable.
• Experience with mobile and desktop applications.
• Willingness to travel to trade shows and partner sites as needed.
• Familiar with Agile Product Development Methodology, including working with Scrum teams, managing backlogs, and sprint planning. Jira/Confluence experience a plus.
• Exceptional time management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and collaborate effectively across teams.