GovCIO

SME Systems Engineer (ICAM)

GovCIO$135K — $172K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of relevant experience or a high school diploma equivalent.
  • DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification (e.g., Security+ CE) or higher.
  • Comprehensive understanding of federated identity concepts such as SAML, OAuth, OIDC.
  • Hands-on experience with Smart Card/Common Access Card (CAC) authentication and PKI.
  • Experience implementing federal Zero Trust identity guidelines (NIST SP 800-207).
  • Active Secret security clearance required.

Responsibilities

  • Lead modernization of legacy access control systems into advanced ICAM solutions.
  • Analyze federation, authentication, authorization, and SSO across enterprise networks.
  • Configure and manage identity directories and authentication protocols.
  • Architect identity lifecycle workflows and automated user provisioning solutions.
  • Implement Zero Trust identity principles across all network hubs.
  • Develop integration patterns for identity compliance tracking.
  • Conduct root cause analysis and system performance tuning on identity management nodes.
  • Identify and address security risks during identity migrations.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work arrangement, allowing flexibility in work location.
  • Opportunity to work on critical modernization projects for the U.S. Coast Guard.
  • Engage with advanced identity management technologies and frameworks.
  • Chance to contribute to the security of national infrastructure.
Full Job Description
Overview

GovCIO is currently hiring a highly experienced SME Systems Engineer to supportcritical Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) modernization activities for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). This technical role 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.

Responsibilities

The 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 the comprehensive engineering, technical planning, and execution of modernizing legacy access controls into robust ICAM solutions.
  • Analyze and address all federation, authentication, authorization, and single sign-on (SSO) implications across enterprise networks.
  • Configure, optimize, and manage enterprise-grade identity directories, authentication protocols, and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) systems.
  • Architect and implement secure identity lifecycle workflows, privilege management controls, and automated user provisioning frameworks.
  • Design and deploy strict Zero Trust identity principles across all primary network hubs to eliminate unauthorized access paths.
  • Develop custom technical interfaces and integration patterns required for identity compliance tracking across data tools.
  • Conduct technical root cause analysis, privilege audits, and system performance tuning on active identity management nodes.
  • Proactively identify security risks during identity platform migrations and design targeted engineering workarounds.
  • Develop and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, architecture definitions, and detailed ICAM data flows.
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, or Ping Identity.
  • 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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