W3global
July 13, 2026
Role Overview We are seeking an exceptional Subject Matter Expert (SME) to provide Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) systems engineering support to the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (DAF RCO) and other advanced acquisition and sustainment activities supporting the Department of Defense (DoD). This is a senior, hands-on advisory role for an individual with exceptional technical expertise and recognized industry leadership. The SME will provide strategic guidance, engineering oversight, and technical leadership throughout the entire system lifecycle-from concept through deployment and sustainment. The role emphasizes systems engineering, cybersecurity, cloud architecture, DevOps, and software development supporting mission-critical and highly classified environments. The ideal candidate is an experienced technical leader who communicates effectively with senior government leadership and collaborates across multidisciplinary engineering teams. Key Responsibilities Systems Engineering Lead and support highly complex technical programs from inception through completion. Provide engineering oversight for system design, integration, implementation, and sustainment. Analyze technical solutions and assess deliverables to ensure they satisfy mission requirements. Evaluate engineering trade studies involving cost, schedule, technical performance, and operational risk. Provide technical risk assessments to Government stakeholders. Apply digital engineering methodologies to capture: System functions Requirements Interfaces Services Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) Cloud, Hybrid Cloud & DevOps Provide architectural leadership for cloud-native and hybrid-cloud environments. Lead cloud computing and automation initiatives supporting highly classified systems. Develop technology frameworks and cloud architecture best practices. Design systems for: High availability Scalability Disaster recovery Support hybrid-cloud integration across multiple cloud providers and classified environments. Guide DevOps teams on architecture, automation, and cloud application development. Cybersecurity Integrate cybersecurity best practices throughout cloud and software development efforts. Support secure CI/CD pipeline implementation. Provide guidance on secure containerized application deployment. Assess cyber risks impacting: Performance Cost Schedule Apply knowledge of Blue Team and Red Team vulnerability analysis to engineering decisions. Leadership & Collaboration Provide strategic technical guidance to program leadership and engineering teams. Advise government stakeholders on technical solutions and engineering strategies. Lead and mentor multidisciplinary technical teams. Collaborate with senior leaders across the Department of Defense and Joint Services. Support additional engineering and advisory responsibilities as required. Required Qualifications Experience Minimum 15 years of relevant experience supporting the Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), or related industries. Minimum 5 years supporting SAP and/or SCI programs. At least 1 year of classified SAP/SCI experience within the past five years. Education Master’s degree (MS or ME) in: Systems Engineering Computer Science Electrical Engineering Software Engineering Cybersecurity Or a related technical discipline Clearance Active DoD Personnel Security Clearance. Technical Qualifications Recognized technical leader and Subject Matter Expert. Demonstrated ability to advise senior government leadership. Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills. Preferred Qualifications Experience designing and implementing large-scale enterprise IT systems. Expertise in cloud and hybrid-cloud architectures supporting classified environments. Strong background in: DevOps CI/CD pipelines Infrastructure automation Containerized applications Cybersecurity expertise across: Cloud platforms DevOps Software development Experience supporting DoD mission systems or weapon systems. Knowledge of Agile software development methodologies. Experience designing mission-critical systems with high availability and disaster recovery capabilities. Work Location Primary work location is at U.S. Government facilities in the National Capital Region (NCR), including Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB). Limited telework may be authorized with Government approval. Travel within the NCR is expected. Occasional CONUS and OCONUS travel may be required in support of Government missions.
