Product Owner - GPQSS Digital & Service

The opportunity

We are looking for a proactive and customer-focused Product Owner for R&D Service Projects to drive the definition, delivery, and continuous improvement of service-related digital and technical solutions. The role acts as the key interface between business stakeholders, service organizations, customers, and development teams to ensure that service products and solutions deliver measurable value across the lifecycle.
You will be part of Service & Digital organization, working in a global, cross-functional environment and reporting to the relevant R&D leadership in Grid & Power Quality Solutions and Service. This is a visible role with strong influence on service innovation, operational excellence, and digital transformation at scale, living and exercising Hitachi Energy's core values of safety and integrity.

How you'll make an impact:

• You will own and manage the product backlog for digital service-related projects, translating service needs, customer requirements, and strategic objectives into clear, prioritized user stories and features. You will act as the project manager for relevant projects, and you will work closely with global service organizations, other R&D project managers, digital, quality, cybersecurity functions, and operations teams to ensure alignment between product vision, service delivery, and execution.
• You will be responsible for defining release plans for service solutions, ensuring value-driven prioritization and timely delivery. You will actively engage with stakeholders to gather, clarify, and validate requirements, balancing business value, technical feasibility, risk, and compliance considerations. You will support agile execution by participating in sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives, providing timely clarifications and acceptance of delivered functionality.
• You will ensure traceability of requirements, KPIs, and outcomes across the service lifecycle, including development, deployment, operation, and continuous improvement. You will proactively monitor progress, dependencies, and risks, and take corrective actions in collaboration with project managers and delivery teams when deviations occur.
• You will provide regular status updates on development activities to stakeholders and ensure they remain well-informed. You will ensure the post-release transition of the solution to the product team.
• You will contribute to the definition and continuous improvement of service processes, digital workflows, and project management practices to increase efficiency and scalability. You will ensure that service solutions comply with applicable internal and external regulations, quality standards, cybersecurity requirements, and governance frameworks.
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable external and internal regulations, procedures, and guidelines.
• Living Hitachi Energy's core values safety and integrity, which means taking responsibility for your own actions while caring for your colleagues and the business.

• Required bachelor's or master's degree in engineering (Computer Science, IT, Electrical, or related field). Relevant experience in software development or digital engineering projects.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and engineering best practices. Ability to work in an agile and collaborative team environment. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills. Proven ability to take ownership and deliver tasks independently.
• You have several years of experience working as a Product Owner, Project Manager, or similar role, with a strong focus on digital solutions development. Experience working with digitally enabled service-oriented products, lifecycle management, and continuous improvement in domains such as grid, power electronics, industrial automation, or digital transformation is highly valued.
• Technical literacy in software architectures, APIs, cloud platforms, data flows, security, and integration constraints, in supporting informed decision-making. Strong understanding of product ownership within agile or hybrid delivery models, including backlog management, user stories, prioritization techniques, and acceptance criteria.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional and geographically distributed teams, including R&D, service, operations, quality, cybersecurity, and business stakeholders. Familiarity with service delivery processes, SLAs, KPIs, and value measurement for service and digital solutions.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution, translating high-level objectives into actionable deliverables. Experience working with governance frameworks, quality gates, and compliance requirements within product or service development organizations. You work in a structured way, applying relevant methods, tools, and documentation practices to ensure clarity and transparency. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain complex topics in a clear and pragmatic way. A strong sense of ownership, accountability, and customer focus, with the ability to influence without formal authority.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English. Experience in using tools/applications such as Azure DevOps, Microsoft Office, MS Project, and SAP for day-to-day activities.
• Good communication skills with the ability to interact with global stakeholders.