Product Owner - Telecoms

Zinkworks partners with leading Telecommunications and Financial Services organizations to modernize legacy systems, migrate mission-critical platforms to the cloud, and engineer AI-driven automation. From OSS transformation to rApp development and network intelligence, our teams simplify complexity and turn it into competitive advantage. Based in Ireland and operating across the EU, UK, and US, Zinkworks combines deep domain expertise with delivery excellence to help clients modernize faster and operate smarter.

Zinkworks is looking for an experienced Telecoms Product Owner to support the delivery of a major Digital Twin platform for a telecoms network engineering environment.

This is not a standard digital product role. You will work closely with Core Transmission Design, Core Fibre Design and wider network teams to understand complex engineering workflows, legacy systems and design processes, then translate them into a clear, prioritised backlog for software, data, AI and UX teams.

The platform will replace manual and legacy design processes, including vendor management systems and Visio-based network design records. It will support critical decisions across fibre, transmission, capacity and customer circuit design.

We need someone who can confidently operate between two worlds: telecoms network engineering and modern software delivery.

• Own and manage the product backlog for the Digital Twin programme.

• Lead discovery with Core Fibre, Core Transmission, Capacity Planning, Operations, Access and Technical Pre-Sales teams.

• Turn use cases into clear user stories, acceptance criteria, data requirements and integration needs.

• Prioritise work based on value, technical dependencies and delivery sequencing.

• Work with architects, engineers, data teams, AI specialists and UX designers to shape deliverable solutions.

• Translate complex telecoms concepts into requirements software teams can build.

• Support sprint planning, refinement, reviews, demos and feedback sessions.

• Manage scope and challenge requests that do not support the long-term platform direction.

• Track delivery outcomes including design cycle time reduction, capacity release, cost savings and CAPEX avoidance.

• 5+ years’ experience as a Product Owner, Product Manager or similar role in a software delivery environment.

• Strong knowledge of the telecoms or network engineering domain is essential.

• Experience working with network engineering, OSS/BSS, inventory, planning or design systems.

• Good understanding of transmission, DWDM, ROADM, optical channels, ODF, OTDR, splice schematics, dark fibre, access and core networks.

• Proven experience writing user stories, managing backlogs and delivering software through Agile teams.

• Experience working on data-heavy products involving legacy systems, integrations, data quality or reconciliation.

• Ability to work confidently with software engineers, architects, data engineers and technical specialists.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage with senior engineering and programme stakeholders.

• Comfortable balancing Agile delivery with enterprise governance, architecture, security and change control.

• Experience with tools such as TNMS, NCS / Navigator, Planner Plus, IQGeo or similar network design and inventory platforms.

• Previous involvement in a network inventory, OSS/BSS replacement or network transformation programme.

• Exposure to AI-enabled products, LLMs, RAG, agent-based systems or workflow automation.

• Familiarity with GCP or cloud-native delivery environments.

• Experience working with telecoms operators, network vendors or systems integrators.

You are a strong Product Owner who can bring structure to complex technical problems.

You are comfortable working with senior network engineers, challenging assumptions, clarifying requirements and helping delivery teams move from ambiguity to working software.

You do not need to be a network designer or a software engineer, but you do need to understand both groups well enough to earn their trust and keep delivery moving in the right direction.

This is a key role in a strategic Digital Twin programme that will modernise how critical telecoms network design decisions are made.

At Zinkworks, we are deeply committed to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We believe that our strength lies in the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of our team members. By embracing an inclusive environment, we empower innovation and collaboration across all levels of our organisation. Based in Ireland, we are proud to support and engage with our local communities through meaningful initiatives that promote equity and opportunity. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, as we actively contribute to creating a more inclusive and connected society for all.