Network Security Product Owner- Remote

Job Description

Information Technology Risk Management and Security (ITRMS) is committed to delivering innovative, high-quality cybersecurity solutions to safeguard our business, customers, and partners. As a Network Security Product Owner, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our network security products and services, driving the product vision, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful cybersecurity features at scale.

You will be responsible for ensuring that our network security capabilities are agile, resilient, and aligned with business objectives while responding to an ever-evolving threat landscape.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Vision and Roadmap:

• Own and communicate the product or service vision and delivery roadmap for network security, specifically for firewalls, IDS/IPS, secure web gateways (SWG), remote access solutions, and other key security technologies.

• Inspire and guide technology teams to deliver upon strategic product or service objectives while aligning with business goals and customer needs.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop and refine product features and capabilities that drive value and enhance the security posture of the organization.

• Articulate features and stories in tools such as Apptio Target Process or Jira.  Articulate objectives and key results (OKRs) in tools such as Apptio Target Process or Viva Goals.

• Acts as functional Subject Matter Expert (SME) for respective product or service.

Backlog Management:

• Build, maintain, and prioritize the product or service backlog, ensuring that it aligns with key business goals, objectives, and customer needs.

• Work closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Solution Architects to break down business epics and document detailed user stories, including technical debt, operational risk, and non-functional requirements (e.g., security, availability, performance).

• Lead backlog refinement sessions to ensure clear communication and understanding between the business and technical teams.

Customer and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Represent the voice of the customer, leveraging customer feedback, cybersecurity research, and data analytics to inform product decisions.

• Advocate for product benefits, personas, and value propositions across teams and ensure all stakeholders are aligned with the product roadmap and delivery timelines.

• Collaborate across cross-functional teams (engineering, operations, risk, compliance, etc.) to ensure seamless execution of the product vision.

Agile Practices:

• Actively participate in Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, retrospectives, and daily standups, to support the engineering team and ensure timely delivery of product features.

• Actively attend and facilitate applicable Agile and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Scrum or Kanban team and Agile Release Train (ART) meetings including but not limited to: Daily Standups, Sprint Planning, Agile Release Train Sync (ART Sync), System Demo, Retrospective, Backlog Refinement or Replenishment, Service Delivery Review, and Planning Interval (PI) Planning.

• Lead the prioritization of features and stories in alignment with organizational OKRs and business priorities.

• Use data-driven insights to monitor key performance metrics related to security, resilience, and product performance, ensuring that products meet defined security and operational standards.

• Uphold and demonstrate Scrum, Kanban, and SAFe values.

Collaboration & Risk Management:

• Collaborate with technical teams to deliver solutions that balance security requirements with operational efficiency and user experience.

• Identify, escalate, and mitigate product-related risks, ensuring that products meet regulatory and compliance standards.

• Provide technical guidance and act as an advisor on network security topics to product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement:

• Stay informed on emerging cybersecurity threats and innovations, using this knowledge to drive continuous improvements in product capabilities.

• Champion design thinking and a user-centric approach to ensure that products not only solve technical challenges but also deliver meaningful business value.

• Drive innovation by identifying opportunities to optimize and automate security processes, reducing technical debt and improving overall system resilience.

Position Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirement

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Engineering, Business Administration, Finance or related field.

Required Experience and Skills:

• 5+ years of experience in product management, product ownership, or network security engineering

• Proven experience in defining and prioritizing network security roadmaps, including firewalls, IDS/IPS, SWG, and remote access technologies.

• Strong understanding of security technologies, including but not limited to firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, secure web gateways, and remote access solutions.

• Experience with Agile frameworks and methodologies, particularly Scrum, Kanban, SAFe.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Certification(s) as a SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager(POPM) or Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)

• Strong understanding of product management approaches, processes, and best practices.

• Deep technical expertise in network security, with experience in both on-prem and cloud-based security architectures.

• Strong understanding of security compliance and regulations (e.g., GDPR, PCI-DSS, NIST).

• Automation and DevSecOps experience.

• Familiarity with performance monitoring tools, data analytics, and key metrics for security, resilience, and product performance.

• Ability to gather and translate business, customer, competitor and market insights into actionable plans, feature roadmaps and product strategies.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively influence and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

• Proficiency in using collaboration tools (JIRA, Apptio Target Process, Viva Goals, Confluence, Mural, Teams, etc).

• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational and time management skills.

• Strong leadership skills and ability to drive consensus across diverse stakeholders.

• Passion for technology and innovation, with a keen interest in staying up-to-date with industry trends and advancements.

Skills & Attributes:

• Technical Expertise:

  • Strong understanding of network security systems, how they are built, and how they integrate with larger enterprise ecosystems.

  • Proven ability to work closely with engineering teams to translate technical requirements into product features.

  • Experience with Zero Trust

• Collaboration & Leadership:

  • Ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, security experts, and stakeholders.

  • Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

• Problem-Solving:

  • Ability to navigate ambiguity and develop actionable solutions in complex, high-risk environments.

ITRMSCareers

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor

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U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected US salary range:

$111,400.00 - $175,300.00

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Remote

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Required Skills:

Asset Management, Benefits Management, Management System Development, Product Management, Requirements Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, System Designs

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

11/29/2024

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.