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SME Systems Engineer

GDHAlexandria, VA🇺🇸United StatesPosted 31 Aug 2026

Why This Role Stands Out

Advance your career as a Subject Matter Expert in Identity and Access Management, driving critical modernization initiatives for government agencies with a focus on Microsoft Entra. This remote-friendly role offers a competitive hourly rate of $60-$65 and is ideal for experienced systems engineers passionate about designing and implementing secure, Zero Trust-aligned access control frameworks. Embrace this opportunity to shape the future of digital security and contribute to impactful projects.

Quick Overview

Salary
$60 - $65/hr
Seniority
Mid Senior
Work mode
Remote
Location
Alexandria, VA, United States
Posted
21 hours ago
MFAOAuthSAMLSSOActive DirectoryLDAPPKIZero Trust

Job Description

Role Summary
A senior-level SME Systems Engineer specializing in Identity Management (IdM) and Automation is sought to support critical ICAM modernization initiatives. This position involves designing, engineering, and implementing secure, identity-centric access control solutions across enterprise environments. The role requires technical expertise in federated identity, Zero Trust principles, and cloud-native automation, with an emphasis on Power Platform applications.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the primary technical authority for enterprise identity management and access control frameworks.
  • Lead the modernization of legacy access controls into secure ICAM solutions aligned with industry standards.
  • Manage enterprise directories, federation, authentication, authorization, and single sign-on (SSO) protocols.
  • Architect identity lifecycle processes, user provisioning workflows, and privilege management controls.
  • Design and deploy Zero Trust security principles based on NIST SP 800-207 across network environments.
  • Configure and oversee enterprise PKI systems, credentials, and authenticators, including smart cards and CACs.
  • Implement logical and physical access control systems, such as MFA, SSO, and Privileged Access Management (PAM).
  • Develop federated identity services enabling secure interoperability with external mission partners.
  • Conduct root cause analysis, privilege audits, and system performance optimization.
  • Oversee Power Platform solutions, migrating legacy automation to cloud-native technologies, managing architectures, and troubleshooting complex issues.

Qualifications

  • High school diploma with 10+ years of relevant experience or equivalent technical expertise.
  • Active DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification or higher (e.g., Security+ CE, CySA+).
  • Extensive knowledge of federated identity protocols including SAML, OAuth, OIDC, and directory services such as LDAP and Active Directory.
  • Hands-on experience with smart card/CAC authentication and PKI certificate validation.
  • Proven skills in designing and implementing federal Zero Trust identity frameworks following NIST SP 800-207.
  • Ability to manage enterprise identity tools such as SailPoint, Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, and Ping Identity.
  • Strong understanding of RESTful API security, secure gateways, and data schema protections.
  • This position requires eligibility for a U.S. Government security clearance. In accordance with federal law, U.S. citizenship is required. (Must possess an active Secret clearance).
  • Availability to work in a hybrid environment.

Publishing Pay Range: $60.00 - $65.00 hourly

This position offers a hybrid schedule, with time split between the office and remote work.

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