Job Description
Systems Engineer SME
Chantilly, VA, United States (On-site)
Job Title: Systems Engineer SME
Job Code: IT1323
Location: Chantilly, VA
Reports to: Program Manager
FLSA Status: Exempt
Supervisory: No supervisory/management authority
Prepared Date: 11/10/2026
A government contract requires that this position be restricted to U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. You must provide documentation that you are a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident to qualify.
This position requires an active TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance.
Position Summary:
Cherokee Preting is seeking a Systems Engineer to support our government client. The Systems Engineer will work with a large team of developers, software engineers and data engineers.
Compensation & Benefits:
Starting Salary Range for Systems Engineer SME: $205,000 - $250,000
Benefits That Set Us Apart
When considering your next opportunity, compensation is only part of the picture. We offer a benefits package designed to invest in your future and support your life outside of work.
Highlights include:
• Up to a 6% 401(k) company match to help you build long-term financial security
• Paid time off as part of our comprehensive benefits package, so you have the flexibility to rest, recharge, and enjoy what matters most
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus prescription drug coverage
• Basic life and AD&D insurance, with supplemental life options
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options
• Professional development, training, and certification support
• Voluntary benefits including accident, critical illness, and identity theft protection
Essential Functions, Duties & Responsibilities:
Includes the following:
Build outs, testing, maintenance, and monitoring systems:
• Requirements Decomposition
• Ensure designs are compatible with the architecture and allocated requirements to segments
• Address user requirements, procedures, and problems to automate and improve existing systems and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations
• Perform functional analysis, timeline analysis, cost estimation, requirements allocation, and interfaced definition studies to translate customer requirements into hardware and software specifications
• Identify system integrity issues and solutions for the full system lifecycles from concept to disposal
• Support the development, documentation, and execution of system policies Required Qualifications
• Support the ATO/Accreditation effort for customer systems and applications
• Provide Release Management for deployment readiness, coordination and activities
• Participation in night activities one or twice a month
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
No supervisory/management authority
Basic Qualifications:
• Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 16 years of relevant experience OR Master's Degree with a minimum of 13 years of relevant experience
• Experience with Cloud/Amazon Web Services
• Experience with SQL
Agile Methodology/Jira, Confluence; ServiceNow (ESP):
• Experience providing Linux Administration
• Familiarity with security accreditation process
• Experience with Security Tools and Processes; RMF, NIST, Accreditation Apps (Xacta; GreenLight), System Scanning, Vulnerability Scanning; Plan of Action & Milestone (POAM) tracking
• Excellent customer support and attention to detail - Tier 3 and Tier 4 level support to team and customer base
• This position requires an active TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer; may occasionally require standing or moving about the office for extended periods.
• Must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with IdAM/ICAM delivery systems, Authentication, Authorization, Attributes
• Entitlement Management and Digital Policy Management
• LDAP Experience
• SEC+
• CISSP
• Amazon Web Services certification
• Experience with BPM/BAW
• Experience with Terraform and/or Cloud Formation
• DevSecOps experience
• Experience with CLSE
Work Environment:
Work is performed primarily in a climate-controlled environment.
In accordance with Virginia's pay transparency requirements, the estimated annual salary range for this position is $205,000 - $250,000. Actual compensation is based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors.
