Account Backend Engineer

Black Canyon Consulting; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Black Canyon Consulting (BCC) is seeking an NCBI Login and MyNCBI Account Backend Engineer to support and modernize authentication and account management for NIH's NCBI. The role focuses on maintaining legacy systems while migrating to modern identity platforms and ensuring secure, scalable backend services for millions of users globally.

The engineer will work with C++, Python, Django, and SQL on Linux environments, integrating IDPs, and upholding FISMA Moderate and related security standards.

Qualifications

• BS in Computer Science or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and stabilize legacy NCBI Login and MyNCBI Account backend systems.

Skills

Backend programming

C++

Python

SQL

Linux

Authentication/Authorization

CI/CD

Git/SVN

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

Git

SVN

CI/CD tools

UNIX/Linux

Job description

Black Canyon Consulting (BCC) is searching for an NCBI Login and MyNCBI Account Backend Engineer. This role will play a critical role in supporting and modernizing the authentication and account management infrastructure for the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), part of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) at NIH. This engineer will be responsible for maintaining legacy systems, facilitating migration to modern identity platforms, and ensuring robust, secure, and scalable backend services for millions of biomedical users worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain and Stabilize Legacy Systems:
• Provide operational support for NCBI Login System, including troubleshooting, patching, and ensuring production stability during migration phases.
• Support MyNCBI Account backend services, resolving session and account linking issues, and maintaining the Backend storage databases.
• Build, deploy, and maintain backend binaries and CGI scripts across multiple environments on Almalinux and other Unix/Linux platforms.
• Integrate third-party identity providers (IDPs) and manage federated account data feeds such as the Incommon organizations.
• Develop and optimize backend services using C++, Python, Django, and SQL, with a focus on security, compliance, and performance.
• Compliance & Security:
• Ensure backend systems meet FISMA Moderate and other compliance requirements.
• Apply best practices in authentication, authorization, and IT security standards (SAML, OAuth 2.0, OIDC, JWT).
• Monitor and support ongoing user issues, collaborating with partner agencies for resolution.
• Modernization & Migration:
• Lead and participate in migration efforts from legacy authentication systems to NIH ICAM (Identity, Credential, and Access Management) standards.
• Implement integration patterns for federated login, account consolidation, and application-owned authorization.
• Support user account migration, including linking, merging, and retiring local credentials for NCBI applications.
• DevOps & CI/CD:
• Manage code and configuration repositories, build pipelines, and deployment processes for backend services.
• Troubleshoot build and deployment issues, including OS upgrades and library dependencies.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience.
• Strong proficiency in backend programming (C++, Python, SQL) and Linux environments.
• Experience with authentication and authorization protocols (OAuth, OIDC, SAML, JWT).
• Extensive experience with Microsoft SQL server and relational database design and optimization.
• Experience with version control (Git, SVN), CI/CD tools, and DevOps practices.
• Experience integrating with third-party applications and secured data sharing.
• Experience working with XML and XSLT.
• Experience with agile development processes.
• Ability to work with legacy systems and facilitate migration to modern platforms.
• Strong troubleshooting, teamwork, and communication skills; ability to work independently.

Benefits and Salary

We attract the best people in the business with our competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision coverage, 401k plan with employer contribution, paid holidays, vacation, and tuition reimbursement.

We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience and location.

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Black Canyon Consulting’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

A \"disabled veteran\" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A \"recently separated veteran\" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An \"active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran\" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An \"Armed forces service medal veteran\" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.