Technical Product Owner 3 at Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies
Walnut Creek, CA 94595
About the Job
Walnut Creek, CaliforniaInformation Technology – Business Applications /Exempt /HybridBerkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, Workers Compensation Division, has an opening for a high-level Technical Product Owner in its Walnut Creek Office
The TPO 3 is key in driving complex IT product development and aligning business objectives with technical capabilities
This technical professional will be responsible for managing the entire product lifecycle, from high-level vision to technical execution, while working closely with cross-functional teams, including software developers, architects, and operations
Area of Focus: Big Data, Data Science, Data Analytics, SaS, ActuaryKEY RESPONSIBILITIESPRODUCT BACKLOG OWNERSHIP & REFINEMENTOwns the product roadmap and strategy, ensuring it aligns with business objectives and technical constraints
Works with senior management and stakeholders to define the product vision, goals, and long-term direction.Makes strategic decisions regarding trade-offs between product features, technical debt, and resource allocation.TECHNICAL PRODUCT BACKLOG MANAGEMENTLeads and manages the entire product backlog, ensuring high-quality user stories, epics, and technical tasks are properly prioritized
Works closely with technical teams to write detailed, technically sound user stories, ensuring alignment with system architecture and business needs.Incorporates complex technical requirements, such as performance optimization, scalability, and security into the backlog.CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAM COLLABORATIONActs as key liaison between business, development, DevOps, security, and architecture teams to ensure alignment of product goals and technical execution.Leads technical discussions on system architecture, API design, integrations, cloud infrastructure, and DevOps pipelines.Provides technical guidance to development teams, offering solutions to challenges and ensuring technical feasibility.STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATION & REPORTINGProvides clear and regular updates to senior stakeholders on the product's technical progress, key risks, and performance metrics.Collaborates with external vendors or partners as necessary to integrate third-party solutions into the product ecosystem.Ensures that stakeholders understand the technical implications of decisions, timelines, and resource constraints
ADVANCED TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS GATHERING & ANALYSISDeeply understands and documents technical workflows, APIs, data models, and infrastructure requirements.Drives the integration of third-party systems, APIs, and microservices architecture into the product.Leads discussions on technical feasibility, scalability, and architectural design with engineers and architects
Collaborates with the engineering team to translate complex technical and system requirements into clear, actionable product features
Understands and documents technical workflows, data models, APIs, and integrations.Evaluates and recommends tools, frameworks, and technologies that support objectives
PRODUCT VISION & STRATEGY SUPPORTUnderstands the product vision and contribute to creation of short- and long-term product roadmaps.Assists in identifying key business and technical metrics for product success.Contributes to defining and refining the product vision, strategy, and roadmap, incorporating feedback from key stakeholders
Conducts market and competitive analysis to inform product decisions and identify new technical opportunities.Drive continuous improvement of the product by leveraging metrics, user feedback, and emerging technology trends
AGILE SUPPORTSupports Agile best practices, leading sprint planning, backlog refinement, stand-ups, and retrospectives
Ensures development teams follow Agile principles and deliver continuous improvements through CI/CD pipelines.Actively removes blockers and manages risks during the development process, optimizing team productivity and product delivery timelines.QUALITY ASSURANCE & PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATIONCollaborates with QA teams to ensure that testing strategies are comprehensive, covering functional, regression, and performance testing.Defines and oversees technical acceptance criteria ensuring product features meet both functional and non-functional requirements (e.g., load times, reliability, security).Continuously monitors product performance post-launch, identifying opportunities for optimization and technical improvement
PRODUCT LAUNCH & POST-LAUNCH SUPPORTCoordinates product releases, working closely with release management, DevOps, and support teams.Monitors and tracks the performance of product features post-launch and implements necessary improvements.Provides post-release support to address technical issues and feedback from users and stakeholders.ON-PREMISES, HYBRID, AND CLOUD ENVIRONMENTSWorks with business applications across various environments, including on-premises, hybrid, and cloud systems.Works with the infrastructure and cloud teams to ensure that application environments are stable, secure, and meet business performance expectations.Supports the transition of applications from the on-premises environments to cloud or hybrid architectures, working closely with senior IT leadership on cloud migration strategies
Ensures proper governance and performance monitoring for applications in all environments, proactively identifying areas for optimization.STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATIONActs as liaison between business users, IT teams, and external vendors to ensure that applications meet the needs of the organization and align with business goals.Facilitates communication between technical teams and business stakeholders, ensuring clear understanding of project timelines, deliverables, and expectations.Works closely with other IT managers and teams to ensure successful integration of business applications with other enterprise systems.RISK & COMPLIANCEEnsures that business applications comply with industry regulations and internal security standards, including SOX, PCI-DSS, and other financial sector regulations.Works with the cybersecurity team to ensure applications are secured against potential threats and vulnerabilities
Supports procedures for regular audits, risk assessments, and disaster recovery plans for critical applications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONSEDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field
Master's degree a plus.CERTIFICATIONS: Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO), or SAFe certifications highly preferred.EXPERIENCE: Required: A minimum of 7 years of experience in IT product management, with a minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience managing technical products
Strong experience with CI/CD pipelines, Dev Ops tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab, Terraform), and infrastructure automation
Hands-on experience with API design, web services, and integrating third-party systems
Experience with cloud infrastructure management, including containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and serverless architectures
Preferred: Experience with microservices architecture, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and modern cloud-native applications
TECHNICAL SKILLS/KNOWLEDGEIn-depth understanding of Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and demonstrated experience working closely with engineering teams
Extensive technical knowledge in software development, cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud), microservices, and APIs
Solid understanding of system architecture, security, database management (SQL/NoSQL), and distributed systems.Strong knowledge of automation tools, monitoring, and logging platforms
WHAT WE OFFERWork-Life BalanceWork From Home Program (up to 2 days per week upon eligibility)Modern Office SettingFree On-Site Fitness FacilityFree downtown shuttle routeTwo-minute walk from Walnut Creek BART StationThree-minute car ride from CA-24 and I-680Free On-Site Garage ParkingBENEFITSPaid Time OffPaid HolidaysRetirements Savings MatchGroup Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, and Vision)Life and AD&D InsuranceLong Term Disability InsuranceAccident and Critical Illness InsuranceFlexible Savings AccountsPaid Community Volunteer DayEmployee Assistance ProgramTuition Reimbursement ProgramEmployee Referral ProgramDiversity, Equity and Inclusion Program$155,760 - $191,390 a yearThis pay scale is an estimate of the salary range the employer reasonably expects to pay for the position based on potential employee qualifications, operational needs and other considerations consistent with applicable law
The actual salary may be above or below the range
The pay scale applies only to this position and only if it is filled in Walnut Creek, California
The pay scale may be different for other positions or in other locations.ABOUT USWith more than 50 years in business, BHHC has grown from a regional organization to a national insurance group, offering insurance products from coast to coast
Relationships are the cornerstone of our culture, and we believe in doing the right thing
That means we invest in our business in every way possible to deliver on our mission and demonstrate that people are what powers our success
Our commitment to financial strength and integrity means our customers can rest assured that we will be there when it counts.At BHHC we embrace diversity and foster an environment where our people can be their authentic selves
Our differences make us stronger and better together, which fosters a harmonious workplace—something we truly value
We’ve created an approachable and collaborative atmosphere
Here you’ll find a welcoming workplace where everyone can feel valued, supported, and inspired to do great work
Together, we raise the bar by being curious, remaining customer-focused, and operating with integrity.
The TPO 3 is key in driving complex IT product development and aligning business objectives with technical capabilities
This technical professional will be responsible for managing the entire product lifecycle, from high-level vision to technical execution, while working closely with cross-functional teams, including software developers, architects, and operations
Area of Focus: Big Data, Data Science, Data Analytics, SaS, ActuaryKEY RESPONSIBILITIESPRODUCT BACKLOG OWNERSHIP & REFINEMENTOwns the product roadmap and strategy, ensuring it aligns with business objectives and technical constraints
Works with senior management and stakeholders to define the product vision, goals, and long-term direction.Makes strategic decisions regarding trade-offs between product features, technical debt, and resource allocation.TECHNICAL PRODUCT BACKLOG MANAGEMENTLeads and manages the entire product backlog, ensuring high-quality user stories, epics, and technical tasks are properly prioritized
Works closely with technical teams to write detailed, technically sound user stories, ensuring alignment with system architecture and business needs.Incorporates complex technical requirements, such as performance optimization, scalability, and security into the backlog.CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAM COLLABORATIONActs as key liaison between business, development, DevOps, security, and architecture teams to ensure alignment of product goals and technical execution.Leads technical discussions on system architecture, API design, integrations, cloud infrastructure, and DevOps pipelines.Provides technical guidance to development teams, offering solutions to challenges and ensuring technical feasibility.STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATION & REPORTINGProvides clear and regular updates to senior stakeholders on the product's technical progress, key risks, and performance metrics.Collaborates with external vendors or partners as necessary to integrate third-party solutions into the product ecosystem.Ensures that stakeholders understand the technical implications of decisions, timelines, and resource constraints
ADVANCED TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS GATHERING & ANALYSISDeeply understands and documents technical workflows, APIs, data models, and infrastructure requirements.Drives the integration of third-party systems, APIs, and microservices architecture into the product.Leads discussions on technical feasibility, scalability, and architectural design with engineers and architects
Collaborates with the engineering team to translate complex technical and system requirements into clear, actionable product features
Understands and documents technical workflows, data models, APIs, and integrations.Evaluates and recommends tools, frameworks, and technologies that support objectives
PRODUCT VISION & STRATEGY SUPPORTUnderstands the product vision and contribute to creation of short- and long-term product roadmaps.Assists in identifying key business and technical metrics for product success.Contributes to defining and refining the product vision, strategy, and roadmap, incorporating feedback from key stakeholders
Conducts market and competitive analysis to inform product decisions and identify new technical opportunities.Drive continuous improvement of the product by leveraging metrics, user feedback, and emerging technology trends
AGILE SUPPORTSupports Agile best practices, leading sprint planning, backlog refinement, stand-ups, and retrospectives
Ensures development teams follow Agile principles and deliver continuous improvements through CI/CD pipelines.Actively removes blockers and manages risks during the development process, optimizing team productivity and product delivery timelines.QUALITY ASSURANCE & PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATIONCollaborates with QA teams to ensure that testing strategies are comprehensive, covering functional, regression, and performance testing.Defines and oversees technical acceptance criteria ensuring product features meet both functional and non-functional requirements (e.g., load times, reliability, security).Continuously monitors product performance post-launch, identifying opportunities for optimization and technical improvement
PRODUCT LAUNCH & POST-LAUNCH SUPPORTCoordinates product releases, working closely with release management, DevOps, and support teams.Monitors and tracks the performance of product features post-launch and implements necessary improvements.Provides post-release support to address technical issues and feedback from users and stakeholders.ON-PREMISES, HYBRID, AND CLOUD ENVIRONMENTSWorks with business applications across various environments, including on-premises, hybrid, and cloud systems.Works with the infrastructure and cloud teams to ensure that application environments are stable, secure, and meet business performance expectations.Supports the transition of applications from the on-premises environments to cloud or hybrid architectures, working closely with senior IT leadership on cloud migration strategies
Ensures proper governance and performance monitoring for applications in all environments, proactively identifying areas for optimization.STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATIONActs as liaison between business users, IT teams, and external vendors to ensure that applications meet the needs of the organization and align with business goals.Facilitates communication between technical teams and business stakeholders, ensuring clear understanding of project timelines, deliverables, and expectations.Works closely with other IT managers and teams to ensure successful integration of business applications with other enterprise systems.RISK & COMPLIANCEEnsures that business applications comply with industry regulations and internal security standards, including SOX, PCI-DSS, and other financial sector regulations.Works with the cybersecurity team to ensure applications are secured against potential threats and vulnerabilities
Supports procedures for regular audits, risk assessments, and disaster recovery plans for critical applications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONSEDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field
Master's degree a plus.CERTIFICATIONS: Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO), or SAFe certifications highly preferred.EXPERIENCE: Required: A minimum of 7 years of experience in IT product management, with a minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience managing technical products
Strong experience with CI/CD pipelines, Dev Ops tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab, Terraform), and infrastructure automation
Hands-on experience with API design, web services, and integrating third-party systems
Experience with cloud infrastructure management, including containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and serverless architectures
Preferred: Experience with microservices architecture, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and modern cloud-native applications
TECHNICAL SKILLS/KNOWLEDGEIn-depth understanding of Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and demonstrated experience working closely with engineering teams
Extensive technical knowledge in software development, cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud), microservices, and APIs
Solid understanding of system architecture, security, database management (SQL/NoSQL), and distributed systems.Strong knowledge of automation tools, monitoring, and logging platforms
WHAT WE OFFERWork-Life BalanceWork From Home Program (up to 2 days per week upon eligibility)Modern Office SettingFree On-Site Fitness FacilityFree downtown shuttle routeTwo-minute walk from Walnut Creek BART StationThree-minute car ride from CA-24 and I-680Free On-Site Garage ParkingBENEFITSPaid Time OffPaid HolidaysRetirements Savings MatchGroup Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, and Vision)Life and AD&D InsuranceLong Term Disability InsuranceAccident and Critical Illness InsuranceFlexible Savings AccountsPaid Community Volunteer DayEmployee Assistance ProgramTuition Reimbursement ProgramEmployee Referral ProgramDiversity, Equity and Inclusion Program$155,760 - $191,390 a yearThis pay scale is an estimate of the salary range the employer reasonably expects to pay for the position based on potential employee qualifications, operational needs and other considerations consistent with applicable law
The actual salary may be above or below the range
The pay scale applies only to this position and only if it is filled in Walnut Creek, California
The pay scale may be different for other positions or in other locations.ABOUT USWith more than 50 years in business, BHHC has grown from a regional organization to a national insurance group, offering insurance products from coast to coast
Relationships are the cornerstone of our culture, and we believe in doing the right thing
That means we invest in our business in every way possible to deliver on our mission and demonstrate that people are what powers our success
Our commitment to financial strength and integrity means our customers can rest assured that we will be there when it counts.At BHHC we embrace diversity and foster an environment where our people can be their authentic selves
Our differences make us stronger and better together, which fosters a harmonious workplace—something we truly value
We’ve created an approachable and collaborative atmosphere
Here you’ll find a welcoming workplace where everyone can feel valued, supported, and inspired to do great work
Together, we raise the bar by being curious, remaining customer-focused, and operating with integrity.