Business Analyst / Product Owner (Mortgage)

Location: Chicago, IL (Onsite) | Full-time Please do not apply unless you have Agile Product Owner experience and a mortgage or financial services background. Overview Our client is seeking a Business Analyst / Product Owner (Mortgage) to lead systems enhancement initiatives end to end for a national secondary market first mortgage purchase program. This hybrid Product Owner and Business Systems Analyst role guides the strategy, prioritization, and delivery of technology and operational enhancements across loan acquisition, servicing, risk management, and investor reporting. Responsibilities Serve as Agile Product Owner for one or more mortgage program systems supporting loan pricing and acquisition, loan custody, loan servicing, and data distribution to investors and stakeholders.Own initiatives end to end: build epics, write user stories, and manage and prioritize product backlogs, roadmaps, and sprints.Translate stakeholder needs into actionable development work, define functional requirements, and support estimation of project cost, time, and outcomes.Coordinate with external development teams, QA, business systems analysts, and the PMO to deliver increments of business value.Collaborate with IT architects and delivery teams to ensure system design meets business requirements and anticipates future needs.Manage stakeholder communication, including timing, messaging, and rollout of changes.Monitor deployments through to completion.Facilitate change management, training, knowledge management, and UAT validation activities.Identify operational, technical, and data-related changes that improve efficiency and quality.Identify risks and mitigation strategies for systems and operational initiatives.Prepare documentation and present proposals for business and technical initiatives for approval.Assist with vendor relationships as needed, including contract negotiations, support, and development initiatives.Fill gaps on the team as needed, delegating or doing the work directly. Required Qualifications 8+ years of experience managing and supporting first mortgage financial systems, process integration, data integration, and reporting8+ years of business and project implementation experience5+ years of Agile Product Owner experience with real delivery accountability10+ years of mortgage industry experience (origination, servicing, or lender-side)Strong business analysis skills and hands-on experience with Agile Scrum methods and toolsUnderstanding of capital markets and wholesale lending operations, or affordable housing financeUnderstanding of software development, product management, and process improvement fundamentalsAbility to understand technical architecture, data integration, and data management best practices, and to push back constructively on technical decisionsProficiency analyzing and presenting data related to systems and processesExpert interpersonal, stakeholder, and relationship management skills, with strong written and oral communicationAbility to prioritize and execute in a high-pressure environment, with advanced leadership skills and a customer service orientation Preferred Qualifications Experience with API functionality, including working alongside developers on API integrationsDatabricks or data engineering project experienceBanking or financial institution background beyond mortgageExperience with Microsoft Office Suite and Azure DevOps This is a full-time position, onsite in Chicago, IL. Candidates must be US Citizens, Green Card holders, or H4 EAD / L2 EAD holders. About Us Peterson Technology Partners (PTP) is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a transparent, inclusive, and human-centered hiring experience. For more than 28 years, PTP has operated as one of the top IT staffing and recruiting firms in the USA—built on trust, long-term partnerships, and technical excellence. Based in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, IL, our team of more than 500 employees and consultants is dedicated to: Helping every client make the best hiring decisions possibleMatching professionals with the right IT jobs and career opportunities As part of that commitment, we believe in providing clear information about how our hiring technologies work and how your data is used. The following section outlines our AI-assisted interview process and your rights as a candidate. AI-Assisted Interview Experience (Pete & Gabi – Rebecca): To provide a consistent, fair, and flexible experience for all candidates, we use AI-assisted tools to support parts of the interview process. This includes our proprietary AI platform Pete & Gabi, which includes AI recruiter Rebecca. These AI hiring tools help us: Conduct recorded video interviewsTranscribe interviewsSummarize candidate responsesGenerate job-related insightsStreamline communication and scheduling Please note that: The AI does NOT make hiring decisions; all decisions are made by our human recruiters, hiring managers, or client partners.The AI does not evaluate facial expressions, emotions, or physical traits; it is used only to support fairness, consistency, and efficiency. If you prefer a non-AI interview format, we will gladly provide an alternative. Technical or Case Interviews (Role-Dependent): − When applying for certain tech jobs, you may participate in: A technical interviewA coding challengeA case studyA client-specific assessment We will always explain what to expect in advance so you can prepare with confidence. Human Review & Selection: + Every candidate’s profile—including interviews, conversations, and assessments—is reviewed by experienced recruiters and hiring leaders. AI insights may assist with organization and evaluation, but final decisions are always human-driven. Your Rights as a Candidate: + At PTP, every candidate has the right to: Request a non-AI interview pathAsk how your data is being usedRequest access to transcripts or interview recordingsRequest deletion of your AI-recorded interviewReceive clear, timely communication Our goal is to ensure you feel respected, informed, and supported throughout your experience. Our Commitment: + For more than 28 years, PTP has focused on putting people first—candidates, consultants, employees, and clients. We’re committed to a hiring process that is: TransparentCompliantEquitablePowered by innovative technology that enhances—not replaces—human judgment Welcome to the future of hiring at Peterson Technology Partners. We’re excited to learn more about you. Equal Employment Opportunity: + Peterson Technology Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.