SME Systems Engineer

GovCIO is currently hiring a highly experienced SME Systems Engineer to support critical systems modernization and software integration activities for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). This hybrid technical role focuses on designing, developing, and engineering complex enterprise architectures, bridging the gap between infrastructure design and custom software development. This position will be located in Alexandria, VA, and will be a hybrid position.

The SME Systems Engineer will serve as the core technical authority for enterprise systems design and software integration. Core responsibilities include:

• Lead the comprehensive engineering, technical planning, and execution of modernizing legacy software systems into scalable enterprise architectures.
• Architect, write, and optimize custom software solutions, APIs, and integration scripts to connect disparate mission-critical systems.
• Analyze and address all system scalability, processing bottlenecks, software dependencies, and deployment implications across hybrid environments.
• Configure, optimize, and manage modern DevSecOps pipelines, containerized environments, and cloud infrastructure platforms.
• Design and implement robust automated workflows and data integration pipelines to streamline data governance tracking.
• Develop custom software models and interface APIs required for seamless integration into enterprise data management tools.
• Conduct technical root cause analysis, code reviews, and performance tuning on active software deployments and system nodes.
• Proactively identify architectural risks during systems migration and develop targeted software engineering workarounds.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, low-level designs (LLDs), and software architecture diagrams.

High School with 10+ years (or commensurate experience)

Required Skills & Experience

• Certifications: DoD 8570 IAT Level II or higher (e.g., Security+ CE, CySA+, or software development equivalent).
• Deep technical proficiency in modern programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, C++, or Go) and full-stack software development frameworks.
• Hands-on engineering experience designing, deploying, and troubleshooting large-scale enterprise systems and cloud infrastructure.
• Proven experience managing automated CI/CD pipelines, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and configuration management tools.

Clearance Level: Must have an active Secret clearance  

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Prior experience supporting U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) software modernization programs.
• Direct experience utilizing or developing custom integrations and data connectors for the Collibra data governance platform.
• Familiarity with metadata schemas, RESTful APIs, and database structures (SQL/NoSQL) required to map enterprise data.
• Advanced knowledge of Agile/Scrum methodologies, microservices architecture, and automated software testing frameworks.