Senior DoD Contracting Subject Matter Expert

Avum Inc.; Malibu (CA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Avum, Inc. in Malibu, CA, seeks a Senior Federal Contracting Specialist (DoD Procurement Systems) with 15+ years of federal contracting experience. You will translate contracting requirements into system specifications and work with developers and government stakeholders to ensure compliant procurement workflows.

The role requires deep FAR/DFARS knowledge and hands-on use of procurement systems (PD2/SPS, CONWRITE, PIEE, WAWF). U.S. citizenship is required, and a Secret clearance is preferred.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in Federal or DoD acquisition and contracting.
• Extensive FAR/DFARS experience.
• Hands-on use of federal procurement systems (PD2/SPS, CONWRITE, PIEE, WAWF).
• Ability to translate policies into clear functional requirements.
• Experience identifying process gaps and recommending improvements.
• Citizenship and ability to obtain a Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior functional resource for Federal and DoD workflows.
• Work with government stakeholders to clarify requirements.
• Translate FAR/DFARS into functional requirements and user stories.
• Support Agile teams with requirements refinement.
• Develop and review test scenarios and user acceptance testing.
• Assist with data migration and reporting validation.
• Provide support for help desk and knowledge base content.
• Explain contracting concepts to technical teams.

Skills

FAR/DFARS knowledge

Functional requirements

Stakeholder communication

Remote collaboration

Contract lifecycle

Tools

PD2/SPS

CONWRITE

PIEE

WAWF

Job description

Position Summary

Avum is seeking a Senior Federal Contracting Specialist (DoD Procurement Systems) with at least 15 years of experience supporting Federal or Department of Defense acquisition and contracting activities.

Description

Avum is seeking a Senior Federal Contracting Specialist (DoD Procurement Systems) with at least 15 years of experience supporting Federal or Department of Defense acquisition and contracting activities.

This individual will work with software developers, business analysts, QA teams, and government stakeholders to translate contracting processes, regulations, and user needs into clear system requirements. They will also review workflows and validate system functionality to help ensure procurement systems meet the needs of contracting personnel.

The ideal candidate has extensive knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and the federal contracting lifecycle, along with practical experience using federal procurement or contract writing systems. Software development experience is not required.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior functional resource for Federal and DoD acquisition and contracting workflows, business processes, and procurement system requirements.
• Work with contracting personnel and government stakeholders to identify user needs, clarify requirements, and resolve functional questions.
• Translate FAR, DFARS, and applicable agency requirements into functional requirements, business rules, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
• Provide expertise across the contracting lifecycle, including acquisition planning, solicitations, evaluations, awards, modifications, contract administration, and closeout.
• Review system designs and proposed software functionality for alignment with contracting processes and user needs.
• Support Agile development teams through requirements refinement, sprint planning, demonstrations, and functional reviews.
• Develop and review functional test scenarios, support user acceptance testing, and validate that software features meet documented requirements.
• Assess existing procurement processes and recommend improvements through updated workflows, automation, and system enhancements.
• Support procurement data analysis, reporting requirements, and validation of system outputs.
• Provide functional support for data migration, including mapping, interpretation, and validation of contracting data.
• Assist Tier 3 service desk personnel with complex procurement system issues, workflow questions, and functional troubleshooting.
• Develop and review user guides, training materials, business process documentation, and knowledge base content.
• Explain complex contracting requirements clearly to technical teams and stakeholders with varying levels of procurement experience.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $130,000 to $160,000 annually. Actual compensation and position level will be determined based on experience, qualifications, certifications, geographic location, and the responsibilities of the assigned role.

Avum offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical (Cigna), dental and vision (Principal), 401(k), PTO, education reimbursement, and certification reimbursement.

Work Environment & Requirements

• Hybrid/remote work environment with potential on-site requirements based on contract needs
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Active Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one, consistent with contract requirements. An appropriate active clearance and authorized access are required before performing classified duties.
• Background investigation required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Avum, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law. Avum is committed to compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and VEVRAA, and maintains an active affirmative action plan.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• At least 15 years of professional experience in Federal or DoD acquisition and contracting, including direct experience with contracting workflows, procurement processes, and contract lifecycle activities.
• Extensive working knowledge of FAR and DFARS and experience applying these requirements to Federal or DoD contracting activities.
• Hands-on experience using federal procurement or contract writing systems, such as PD2/SPS, CONWRITE, PIEE, WAWF, or comparable agency systems.
• Ability to translate contracting policies, procedures, and operational needs into clear functional requirements and business rules.
• Experience reviewing procurement workflows, identifying process gaps, and recommending practical improvements.
• Ability to validate system functionality and data against contracting requirements and expected business outcomes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain contracting concepts to software developers and other technical personnel.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate with government stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams in a remote environment.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. An active Secret clearance is preferred.
• Ability to successfully complete the required background investigation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current or previous experience as a Federal 1102 Contract Specialist or Contracting Officer.
• Current or previous possession of a Contracting Officer warrant.
• Experience supporting DoD procurement system modernization, implementation, or sustainment.
• Experience working with software development teams as a functional SME, business analyst, or product stakeholder.
• Experience developing user stories, acceptance criteria, functional test scenarios, or user acceptance testing materials.
• Familiarity with Agile development practices and tools such as Jira.
• Familiarity with the Procurement Data Standard (PDS), procurement system interfaces, and contracting data migration.
• CPCM or CFCM certification.
• FAC-C or DAWIA contracting certification.