Lead Data Product Owner

Description:
Hybrid 4 in either Pittsburgh, PA, New York, NY, Lake Mary, FL, or Washington DC

The role combines product ownership, data insights, and testing leadership for a data-intensive application within a regulated government program. The individual will translate stakeholder needs into actionable epics, stories, and acceptance criteria while interpreting complex, messy operational data to inform decisions. The position will also lead quality and release readiness by defining and validating evidence across system layers, including data pipelines and security controls. The work will be embedded with the client to drive delivery and accountability.

Due to client requirements, applicants must be willing and able to work on a w2 basis. For our w2 consultants, we offer a great benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits, 401k with company matching, and life insurance.

Rate: $85.00 to $95.00/hr. w2

Responsibilities:

• Serve as embedded product owner to write epics, user stories, and acceptance criteria grounded in data pipeline knowledge.
• Facilitate backlog grooming and requirements sessions with non-technical program stakeholders and translate needs for engineering and testing.
• Demonstrate new product features to client stakeholders and incorporate feedback into the roadmap and backlog.
• Define data requirements and dashboards that address program questions and operational outcomes.
• Produce targeted analyses using SQL, LLMs, and dashboards to surface meaningful metrics and trends.
• Identify anomalies in processing output, frame program risk, and recommend actions based on data evidence.
• Lead testing across layers by reading execution logs, authoring database assertions, and validating security test evidence.
• Establish and enforce release gates with legally meaningful evidence for regulated environments.
• Act as the single authority on production readiness and quality sign-off.

Experience Requirements:

• Proven experience operating as a product owner on data-intensive systems with hands-on story writing and acceptance criteria.
• Demonstrated ability to translate stakeholder needs into data requirements, dashboards, and test scenarios without intermediaries.
• Hands-on data analysis skills including SQL and use of AI assistance to produce actionable insights.
• Track record distinguishing meaningful metrics from vanity metrics and communicating findings to decision makers.
• Experience with messy, compliance-bound, operational data and high-volume data pipelines.
• Background leading testing in regulated environments and producing defensible release evidence packages.
• Ability to evaluate batch logs, database-level assertions, and security test results to determine true coverage.
• Experience running backlog grooming, stakeholder walkthroughs, and end-to-end quality reviews.