GovCIO

SME Systems Engineer (Governance Analytics)

GovCIO$135K — $172K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of relevant experience or a comparable combination of education and experience.
  • IAT Level II or higher certification required (e.g., Security+ CE, CySA+).
  • Strong knowledge of federated identity protocols like SAML, OAuth, and OIDC.
  • Hands-on experience with Smart Card authentication and PKI certificate validation.
  • Experience in implementing federal Zero Trust identity guidelines (NIST SP 800-207).

Responsibilities

  • Lead the modernization of legacy access controls into secure ICAM solutions.
  • Manage enterprise authentication, authorization, and federation protocols.
  • Architect identity lifecycles and user provisioning workflows.
  • Design and implement Zero Trust identity principles across networks.
  • Configure and oversee enterprise-grade PKI systems and authenticators.
  • Build federated identity services for secure interoperability.
  • Conduct technical root cause analysis and privilege audits.
  • Develop custom technical interfaces and compliance documentation.
  • Architect an enterprise ICAM reporting solution using Power BI.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work environment in Alexandria, VA.
  • Opportunity to support U.S. Coast Guard ICAM modernization activities.
  • Potential for substantial professional growth in access governance and data analytics.
  • Access to advanced tools and technologies for identity management.
Full Job Description
Overview

GovCIO is currently hiring a highly experienced SME Systems Engineer specializing in Access Governance (AG) with a primary focus on Governance, Reporting, and Data Analytics. This technical role supports critical Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) modernization activities for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). This position focuses on designing, engineering, and executing secure, identity-centric access control frameworks across legacy and modern enterprise architectures. This position will be located in Alexandria, VA, and will be a hybrid position.

ResponsibilitiesThe SME Systems Engineer / ICAM Engineer will serve as a primary technical authority for the enterprise identity management and access control framework. Core responsibilities include:
  • Lead Modernize legacy access controls into robust, secure ICAM solutions.
  • Manage enterprise directories, federation, authentication, authorization, and SSO protocols.
  • Architect identity lifecycles, user provisioning workflows, and privilege management controls.
  • Design and deploy strict Zero Trust identity principles (NIST SP 800-207) across network hubs.
  • Configure and manage enterprise-grade PKI systems, credentials, and authenticators.
  • Implement logical and physical access control systems, including MFA, SSO, and PAM.
  • Build federated identity services to enable secure interoperability with mission partners.
  • Conduct technical root cause analysis, privilege audits, and system performance tuning.
  • Develop custom technical interfaces, architectures, data flows, and compliance documentation.
  • Provide advanced engineering and architecture ownership across the following specialization:
    • Governance, Reporting & Analytics (Primary Product Area: Access Governance (AG)): Architect and build the enterprise ICAM reporting solution using Power BI and other data sources. Engineer the data integrations required to provide comprehensive dashboards on service health, compliance, and access patterns. Develop advanced KQL queries and analytics to support audits and proactive threat hunting.
Qualifications

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 vendor-specific identity certifications).
  • Deep technical understanding of federated identity concepts, including SAML, OAuth, OIDC, and Active Directory / LDAP architecture.
  • Hands-on engineering experience managing Smart Card / Common Access Card (CAC) authentication and PKI certificate validation.
  • Proven experience designing and applying federal Zero Trust identity guidelines (NIST SP 800-207) within enterprise networks.

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) identity management programs.
  • Familiarity with integrating data governance frameworks with ICAM solutions to enforce data-level access controls.
  • Direct experience with enterprise identity tools such as SailPoint, Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, Ping Identity, DigiCert, or Power BI.
  • Advanced knowledge of RESTful API authorization protocols, secure gateways, and data schema security standards.
Posted Salary RangeUSD $135,000.00 - USD $172,000.00 /Yr.

About GovCIO

GovCIO is a technology and consulting firm that provides IT solutions to government agencies. The company specializes in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. GovCIO's mission is to help government agencies improve their IT infrastructure and enhance their services to the public. The company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Washington, DC.
Learn more about GovCIO
Size
50 employees
Industry
Founded
2015

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