Job Details

Job Title: IT – Product Owner, Principal (Head of Product – Mobile Application)

Location: Oakland, CA (Hybrid – ~2 days/month onsite; open to remote)

Duration: 12 Months (Potential for conversion)

Rate: $90–$130/hr (W2)

About the Role

We are seeking a Principal Product Owner / Head of Product to lead a transformational initiative within a leading utility organization. This role will drive the vision, strategy, and delivery of a first-of-its-kind, consumer-grade mobile application, redefining how customers interact with energy services.

You will operate at both strategic and execution levels, influencing executive stakeholders while remaining hands-on in product delivery. This is a high-impact leadership role within a fast-paced innovation team focused on building the future of the energy grid.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and drive the end-to-end product vision, strategy, and roadmap for a flagship mobile application.
• Lead development of a consumer-centric digital experience, setting new standards for usability and design excellence.
• Make critical decisions on prioritization, scope, and investment trade-offs based on business impact, risk, and customer value.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, design, data, operations, and business teams to deliver product outcomes.
• Partner with stakeholders across IT, customer experience, innovation, legal, cybersecurity, and finance
• Influence and align executive leadership and regulatory stakeholders on product direction and strategy.
• Guide and mentor development teams, ensuring high performance and delivery excellence.
• Contribute to broader grid-edge and digital energy strategies (e.g., AMI, distributed energy resources).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Computer Science, or related field.
• 12+ years of experience building and scaling consumer digital products
• 5+ years in senior product leadership roles
• Proven experience leading end-to-end mobile product development
• Strong ability to influence executives and drive alignment across complex organizations.
• Experience working in complex, regulated, or systems-heavy environments
• Solid understanding of product design principles and user experience excellence
• Technical fluency to engage in architecture and feasibility discussions

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in energy, utilities, or regulated industries
• Knowledge of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) or energy consumer products.
• Experience building first-to-market or innovative digital products
• Exposure to hardware-software integrated systems or grid technologies.

Key Traits for Success

• Strategic thinker with a bias for action and execution
• Strong communicator with executive presence
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and priorities
• Customer-obsessed with a focus on delivering impactful user experiences
• Comfortable operating in ambiguous, fast-paced environments

What Success Looks Like

• Successful launch of a high-quality, customer-centric mobile application
• Strong executive alignment and advocacy for the product vision
• Measurable improvement in customer experience and engagement
• Establishment of a new standard for digital product excellence within the organization