Custom Software Systems, Inc. (CSS) is seeking a Senior Product Manager to lead the strategy and development of a cloud-based research computing platform supporting economic research. The ideal candidate brings strong technical product management experience, hands-on knowledge of cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, or GCP), and a proven ability to translate complex user needs into secure, scalable platform solutions. This is a technical Product Management role, not a Project or Program Management position. U.S. Citizenship is required.
Responsibilities
- Lead one or more multi-disciplinary agile delivery teams to deliver excellent new products and/or iterations to existing products to meet user needs.
- Gather user requirements based on a communicable understanding of diverse audience groups.
- Create effective, prioritized product descriptions and delivery plans to meet user needs cost-effectively.
- Manage a product roadmap for a set of features from inception through implementation; collect requirements, establish key performance metrics, craft the user experience, and drive execution.
- Manage the end-to-end product strategy and roadmap for a cloud-based platform to
support economic research.
- Partner closely with researchers across our economic divisions to gather requirements and translate them into clear product specifications and priorities
- Deeply understand user needs and pain points across different use cases and use that
insight to drive prioritization and solutioning.
- Partner with architecture, cloud engineering, enterprise data platform, security, and the
platform delivery team to design and develop a platform that meets the needs of
researchers while ensuring proper data governance and security.
- Lead discovery efforts including user research, journey mapping, and workflow design to ensure solutions are usable and aligned with real-world processes
- Demonstrate ownership, operate with high agency, and hold teams accountable to ensure cross-team alignment and timely delivery of outcomes and deliverables.
- Balance short-term delivery with long-term platform strategy to support scalable
solutions.
- Define success metrics and continuously measure, iterate, and improve the product based on usage data and user feedback.
- Manage stakeholder expectations and implement processes for sharing relevant
information and project updates with business stakeholders in a clear and consistent
manner.
- Communicate product vision, progress, and tradeoffs clearly to technical, non-technical, and executive stakeholders.
Citizenship
· US Citizenship
Required Qualifications
- Minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience.
- Minimum of six (6) years of technical product management experience, with at least four (4) years of experience working directly with cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP) in a product or engineering capacity. Candidates with only project or program management experience need not apply.
- At least six (6) years in product management, engineering, and/or management consulting.
- At least three (3) years of product management, product design, agile delivery, business analysis, data science, or software engineering.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Experience managing the delivery, ongoing success, and continuous improvement of one or more digital products and/or platforms.
- Deep understanding of cloud infrastructure and services, including compute, storage,
networking, security, containers, orchestration, etc.
- Hands-on experience with system design for cloud-based applications and systems.
- Proficiency in platform engineering principles like CI/CD pipelines, IaC, observability
and monitoring.
- Strong understanding of modern AI-based development workflows.
- Proven track record of shipping successful enterprise or research and development
focused products from conception to launch
- Experience collaborating closely with security and compliance teams, including
navigating data governance, access controls, and risk review processes.
- Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally across engineering, security, data, and
business/end-user stakeholders.
- Demonstrated experience defining strategy and roadmaps for enterprise platforms.
- Excellent communication skills, ability to engage effectively with business, technical, and executive stakeholders
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in business, computer science or related fields.
Certifications
- At least one of the following or its equivalent:
- ITIL 4 Foundation certifications
- Certified Product Manager
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with academic research-based workflows is a huge plus.
Compensation & Benefits[1][2]
- Wage Range: Negotiable
- General Benefits: Custom Software Systems, Inc. offers our employees a competitive benefits package that may include:
- Health insurance plans
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
[1] Compensation range must be coordinated with and approved by the CSS Chief Operating Officer (COO).
[2] Compensation & Benefits information is required for all Maryland Employers effective October 1, 2024.
Skills Required
- U.S. citizenship
- At least 10 years of professional experience
- At least 6 years of technical product management experience
- At least 4 years working directly with cloud infrastructure such as AWS, Azure, or GCP in a product or engineering capacity
- At least 6 years of experience in product management, engineering, and/or management consulting
- At least 3 years of experience in product management, product design, agile delivery, business analysis, data science, or software engineering
- Experience managing digital products or platforms through delivery, ongoing success, and continuous improvement
- Deep understanding of cloud infrastructure and services, including compute, storage, networking, security, containers, and orchestration
- Hands-on experience with system design for cloud-based applications and systems
- Proficiency in CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code, observability, and monitoring
- Understanding of modern AI-based development workflows
- Experience shipping enterprise or research and development-focused products from conception to launch
- Experience collaborating with security and compliance teams on data governance, access controls, and risk reviews
- Experience defining strategy and roadmaps for enterprise platforms
- Bachelor's degree in business, computer science, or a related field
- At least one ITIL 4 Foundation certification, Certified Product Manager certification, or equivalent
- Experience with academic research-based workflows
What We Do
Welcome To Custom Software Systems, Inc. About Custom Software Systems, Inc.: Headquartered in Leesburg, Virginia, Custom Software Systems, Inc. (CSS) is a certified Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) and certified HUBZone Business. Built on a foundation of trusted client partnerships, CSS has fostered a “stakeholder-centric”, yet disciplined approach to IT solutions development. This ensures our ability to consistently deliver on time and within budget and to meet or exceed our customers’ expectations. Core Expertise: CSS specializes in developing and implementing Custom Software Solutions and Support Services which deliver high value to our customers. Our skilled team of consultants helps our clients/partners integrate technology that fits their business needs. We provide our clients with a full array of services, including: - Project Management & Oversight (PMP certified Project Managers) - Database and Data Management (Certified DBA’s) - Data Architecture (DAMA and TDWI member) - Middleware Support (Oracle Fusion Middleware) - Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) - Oracle Fusion Middleware Support - Business Intelligence Support (WebFOCUS, Business Objects, Tableau) - Full Lifecycle Application Development (Agile, RUP, Waterfall) - Identity Management - Operations and Maintenance Core Values: CSS was founded on a set of guiding principles that include good old fashioned hard work, ethics, teamwork, and innovation. We establish relationships with our customers that are based on direct and honest communication and perseverance to get the job done which in turn fosters respect and trust. We expect our associates, at every level, to conduct themselves with integrity, honesty and strong ethics in all relationships with customers and employees.
