Product Owner

Job Title: Product Owner – Automation for Transport, Fiber & Workforce ManagementLocation: PuneRole Summary:We are seeking an accomplished Product Owner to lead the automation-first roadmap for Transport, Fiber Networks, Workforce Management, and GIS-based Planning Tools. This role will focus on planning, designing and delivering automation-driven solutions that transform planning, operations, and field force efficiency, while selecting the right partners and tools to support these initiatives.Key Responsibilities:Automation-Driven Product Ownership- Define and own the product vision, strategy, and roadmap with automation as the core enabler across Transport, Fiber, GIS, and Workforce domains.- Identify and prioritize high-impact automation opportunities to streamline processes, improve SLAs, and reduce costs.- Translate automation-focused initiatives into actionable backlogs and user stories with clear acceptance criteria.Transport & Fiber Automation:- Lead initiatives for IP, Optical, and Fiber transport technologies (DWDM, OTN, GPON, xPON, FTTH, Metro Ethernet).- Deliver automation frameworks for provisioning, traffic engineering, service activation, fault detection, and performance monitoring across transport and fiber networks.- Integrate APIs between OSS/BSS, NMS/EMS, and field systems to enable closed-loop automation.Workforce Management Automation:- Design and deliver automation solutions for field force scheduling, dispatching, and utilization for fiber rollout and maintenance.- Automate job assignment, SLA tracking, KPI reporting, and compliance for contractors and internal teams.- Enable mobile-first and self-service tools to improve first-time fix rates, reduce MTTR, and optimize partner/field resources.GIS Tools (Selection & Integration):- Evaluate and recommend GIS-based design and planning tools to support automation in network build-out and inventory management.- Integrate GIS tools with OSS/BSS, NMS/EMS, and workforce applications to create automated, location-aware workflows.- Enable spatial analytics and digital twin capabilities for predictive route planning and automated as-built updates.Partner Identification (Support Activity):- Identify and recommend automation-ready technology partners/vendors for GIS tools, fiber rollout, and workforce solutions.- Collaborate with procurement and leadership to assess partner capabilities and ensure compatibility with automation strategy.- Support onboarding and integration of selected partners to ensure smooth delivery of automation-led initiatives.Stakeholder Management- Act as the primary liaison between business, operations, engineering, and technology teams to drive automation-first initiatives.- Communicate product updates, risks, and performance metrics to senior leadership.- Ensure alignment with KPIs, regulatory standards, and customer commitments.Qualifications & Skills:- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Telecom, Computer Science, or related field (MBA preferred).- 8+ years’ hands on experience in transport and fiber networks (IP/MPLS, Optical, OTN, DWDM, GPON, xPON, Metro Ethernet).- Proven track record delivering automation frameworks across telecom domains.- Strong understanding of GIS-based planning tools and their integration with OSS/BSS and automation platforms.- Familiarity with Workforce Management Platforms (ServiceMax, Salesforce Field Service, ClickSoftware, etc.).- Experience evaluating and recommending automation-friendly technology partners/vendors.- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.Preferred Attributes:- Experience with 5G transport, SDN/NFV, cloud-native OSS/BSS, and AI/ML analytics for automation.- Ability to build business cases and ROI models for automation initiatives.- Certifications: SAFe POPM, CSPO, or equivalent.KPIs / Success Metrics:- % of processes automated in Transport, Fiber, GIS, and Workforce Management.- Reduction in build and maintenance cycle times through automation.- Increased GIS and workforce tool adoption driven by automated workflows.- Successful identification and onboarding of automation-aligned partners/vendors.- On-time delivery of roadmap features with measurable business impact.