Systems Engineer - API Subject Matter Expert with Security Clearance

Senior Systems Engineer – API Subject Matter Expert Location: Chantilly, VA 20151 Clearance: Active TS/SCI with CI Poly (FS Poly may satisfy where accepted by the customer) Certifications: Required; Security+ CE at minimum where applicable, or other certification aligned to the assigned DoD 8140 work role

Position Summary
The SME Systems Engineer - API will design, integrate, deploy, and sustain secure API gateway and API management capabilities within a cloud-based enterprise environment. The role requires strong API architecture, security, software integration, cloud, containerization, testing, and troubleshooting expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, configure, deploy, integrate, and sustain enterprise API gateway and API management capabilities in secure cloud environments.
• Engineer secure APIs and integration patterns using REST, GraphQL, event-driven architectures, and industry-standard protocols.
• Develop or support integration components using Java, Python, C#, and related technologies.
• Implement API security, authentication, authorization, policy enforcement, traffic management, and lifecycle governance.
• Integrate complex systems using APIs, message queues, streaming platforms, ETL pipelines, and cloud-native services.
• Troubleshoot gateway, application, network, security, and integration issues using logs and platform telemetry.
• Develop system test plans, validate interfaces and releases, and document architectures, configurations, and operating procedures.
• Work within Agile and DevSecOps practices while applying disciplined systems engineering and configuration management. Required Qualifications
• 10+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline.
• Current DoD 8140 qualification/certification appropriate to the assigned DCWF work role and proficiency level. Acceptable examples for this position may include: CompTIA Security+ CE, ISC2 CISSP, ISC2 CCSP, ISC2 CSSLP, CompTIA SecurityX (formerly CASP+), CompTIA CySA+. Final acceptability is subject to the current DoD 8140 Qualification Matrix and prime contractor/customer work-role requirements.
• Current and active TS/SCI clearance with CI Polygraph. Mandatory at time of submission.
• Expertise working with Windows platforms and COTS applications in cloud environments.
• Strong understanding of API design principles, security best practices, and industry-standard protocols.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Java, Python, or C#.
• Experience with cloud-based technologies, including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.
• Familiarity with containerization (e.g., Docker) and orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes).
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to work in an Agile development environment.
• Solid engineering rigor.
• Expert troubleshooting and solutioning skills, including investigating log files to discover root-cause for challenges.
• Experience with Cloud architecture and system design.
• Demonstrated experience with system testing and validation.
• Strong documentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced STEM degree or role-relevant technical certifications.
• API-related certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Developer, Azure API Management Certified).
• Experience with API management platforms (e.g., MuleSoft, Apigee).
• Broadcom API gateway technologies experience.
• Experience with service mesh technologies (e.g., Istio, Linkerd).
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
• Experience with Cloud solution optimization.
• Experience with ServiceNow.
• Familiarity with customer system security requirements and processes.
• Other Cloud experience (Azure, Google, Oracle, IBM).
• Integration of virtualized applications and application streaming or layering techniques.
• Assist with leading and overseeing a total system perspective including technical understanding of relationships, dependencies and requirements of cloud services, infrastructure and security domains.
• Experience designing APIs such as REST or GraphQL and event-driven systems.
• Experience with API Gateways, catalogs.
• Experience integrating complex systems using APIs, message queues, streaming platforms, and ETL pipelines. Core Competencies
• API architecture and security
• Systems integration
• Cloud-native engineering
• Troubleshooting and observability
• Agile technical leadership Work Environment

Work is performed in support of a secure U.S. Government program and may require on-site access to controlled facilities, customer systems, and classified environments. The successful candidate must maintain all required clearance, access, cybersecurity certification, and program eligibility requirements throughout the assignment.
Position 7.38 | Senior Systems Engineer – API SME