Product Owner - Cloud Security Engineering

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Kforce has a client in Phoenix, AZ that is seeking a Product Owner - Cloud Security Engineering.

Summary:
The Product Owner for the Cloud Security Engineering team acts as the connection point between business stakeholders, security leadership, and engineering teams. In this role, you will define, prioritize, and manage the product backlog for cloud-security engineers and DevSecOps/DevOps practitioners, ensuring secure, compliant, scalable cloud environments across public and private platforms.

Key Responsibilities include:
* Own and maintain the product backlog: gather requirements from stakeholders and technical teams, write user stories and acceptance criteria, and prioritize based on business value, risk reduction, dependencies, and product strategy
* Partner closely with cloud engineering, DevOps, and DevSecOps teams to embed security early in the delivery lifecycle (CI/CD, IaC, automated testing, monitoring), including implementing security controls as code
* Collaborate with Security Architecture, Cloud Platform, Compliance, and Risk/Governance teams to ensure cloud environments meet internal controls and external standards (e.g., NIST, CIS, ISO 27001/27017, SOC 2)
* Serve as the internal -voice of the customer, - translating business and security needs into actionable features and releases
* Lead Agile ceremonies such as sprint planning, backlog refinement, sprint reviews/demos, and release planning
* Define, track, and report on product metrics/KPIs (e.g., MTTR for cloud vulnerabilities, adoption of security controls, reduction of cloud risk exposure) and use insights to inform prioritization
* Communicate progress, risks, timelines, and trade-offs to leadership across security, cloud, and business units
* Support organization-wide adoption of delivered capabilities through training, documentation, rollout coordination, and impact measurement

REQUIREMENTS:
* 3-5+ years of product ownership or product management experience within a technical domain (cloud, infrastructure, or security preferred)
* Experience working within agile development teams (Scrum/Kanban), including backlog management and feature prioritization; hands-on experience with Jira and Confluence
* Proven experience managing a product lifecycle from vision and roadmap through delivery, measurement, and iterative improvement
* Strong understanding of major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform) and cloud-native security capabilities such as CSPM, DSPM, IAM, encryption, segmentation, and logging/monitoring
* Familiarity with industry security frameworks and standards including NIST CSF, CIS Benchmarks, and ISO 27000 series, as well as cloud regulatory/compliance requirements
* Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills with the ability to bridge technical and non-technical audiences, influence decision-makers, and drive adoption
* Strong analytical mindset and ability to evaluate trade-offs among business value, security/risk, and engineering effort

The pay range is the lowest to highest compensation we reasonably in good faith believe we would pay at posting for this role. We may ultimately pay more or less than this range. Employee pay is based on factors like relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, location, performance, union contract and business needs. This range may be modified in the future.

We offer comprehensive benefits including medical/dental/vision insurance, HSA, FSA, 401(k), and life, disability & ADD insurance to eligible employees. Salaried personnel receive paid time off. Hourly employees are not eligible for paid time off unless required by law. Hourly employees on a Service Contract Act project are eligible for paid sick leave.

Note: Pay is not considered compensation until it is earned, vested and determinable. The amount and availability of any compensation remains in Kforce's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified in its discretion consistent with the law.

This job is not eligible for bonuses, incentives or commissions.

Kforce is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

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