It pays homage to all Alien films except Alien 3 and Covenant...
... Or I didn't catch them.
shareThe black goo they were transporting off the space station was in both Prometheus and Covenant.
shareI take that as reference to Prometheus, as the OST and the final Monster, which looks like a deformed Engineer, but nothing specifically of Covenant.
shareGotcha. I was thinking more in terms of linked plot elements than thematic homages.
As far as Covenant, the closest thing that comes to mind is David with many xenomorphs eggs and transporting them for experimenting with new life-forms, and Rook with many facehuggers and transporting the goo for experimenting with new human life-forms.
And as far as Alien 3, it takes place on a planet that serves as a foundry and a prison, while Romulus is initially set in a mining colony in which its workers are essentially indentured servants for many years if not for life, so also a sort of prison.
Maybe there are better ones, but that's what I can think of for now.
I hadn't thought about the prison idea, although It is much better established here than in Alien 3.
For Alien 3 also when a xenomorph prevents the protagonist from failing in the elevator and approaches her face, a very forced moment btw.