Subject Matter Expert 2 - (Systems Engineering, CNE/CNO, JQS)

Akina Inc; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 199,000 - 244,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 24 days

11 holidays

401k 10% company contribution

Healthcare for employees

Education assistance

Job summary

Akina, Inc. seeks a Systems Engineer/SME to support training design, development, and delivery for operators and analysts at Fort Meade, MD. You will develop curricula, review JQS/TQS, and provide hands-on support in mission-focused environments.

A TS/SCI clearance with polygraph is required. Eight years SE experience and a BS in a related field are needed; the role offers a generous package with 24 PTO days, 11 federal holidays, 401(k) vesting, and comprehensive healthcare.

Qualifications

• Eight (8) years of SE experience in similarly scoped programs.
• Bachelor's degree in System Engineering or related field; four years may substitute for degree.
• Experience developing and delivering technical training and instructional materials.
• Knowledge of JQS/TQS and training pipelines aligned to mission requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop technical training curriculum, course materials, and hands-on exercises.
• Instruct, coach, and mentor students and junior personnel as SME.
• Review and develop JQS and TQS to reflect mission needs.
• Create and maintain training pipelines with measurable milestones.
• Provide systems engineering expertise and documentation support to stakeholders.

Skills

CNE/CNO operations

Instructional design

JQS/TQS development

OS & networking concepts

SME / mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in System Engineering / related field

Tools

VMware/ESXi

Proxmox

KVM

Bash

Python

C++

Job description

• Fort Meade, Maryland

Clearance: TS/SCI - Polygraph required
Position ID: 20-12-025-SE2
Location: Fort Meade, Maryland

Description

You will act as a Systems Engineer and Subject Matter Expert supporting the training team, where you will help design, develop, and deliver technical training that prepares operators and analysts for mission-critical work. You will work closely with instructors, curriculum developers, and mission leadership to ensure course materials reflect current tradecraft, tools, and operational practices. You will serve as a technical authority, providing instruction, coaching, and hands‑on support to students and junior personnel within training environments. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining training pipelines, qualification standards, and exercises that keep the workforce ready for evolving missions. This position offers the opportunity to shape the next generation of operators while working in a fast‑paced, mission‑focused environment.

• Develop technical training curriculum, course materials, and hands‑on exercises for the training team.
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to instruct, coach, and mentor students and junior personnel.
• Develop and review Job Qualification Standards (JQS) and Technique Qualification Standards (TQS) to ensure training aligns with mission requirements.
• Create and maintain training pipelines with measurable milestones and timeline adherence.
• Provide systems engineering expertise and technical documentation support to the training team and stakeholders.

Position Required Skills

• Knowledge of CNE/CNO operations and cyber mission tradecraft.
• Experience developing and delivering technical training and instructional materials.
• Experience developing or reviewing Job Qualification Standards (JQS) and Technique Qualification Standards (TQS).
• Experience with operating systems and networking concepts (security, design, and troubleshooting).

Nice to Haves

• Experience with virtualization platforms (VMware/ESXi, Proxmox, KVM) for training environments.
• Proficiency in scripting/programming languages (Bash, Python, C++).
• Experience creating virtual training environments and Capture-The-Flag (CTF) events.
• Experience mentoring operators and exploitation analysts.
• Experience applying AI/ML technologies to improve workload efficiency and automate routine tasks.

SE2 Qualifications

Eight (8) years of experience as a SE in programs and contracts of similar scope, type and complexity is required. Bachelor's degree in System Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering Science, Engineering Management, or related discipline from an accredited college or university is required. Four (4) years of additional SE experience may be substituted for a bachelor's degree.

Salary Range

$199k-$244k (Annually)

The range displayed above is a likely salary range for this position. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possible contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.

Akina is a Woman Owned, Service Disabled, Veteran Owned, Small Business, looking for talented and ambitious individuals to join our team. We offer a generous compensation package that includes 24 days PTO accrued annually and 11 federal holidays. Our 401k is 100% vested on your start date and the company makes a direct contribution worth 10% of your salary. Akina covers 100% of healthcare costs for employees and 50% toward dependents. We offer educational assistance towards college classes and will cover costs associated with job related training and certifications.

Akina is committed to excellence and creating innovative and flexible solutions for our clients. We are a small company with an open ear to our employees' needs in order to attract and retain quality talent that enables our customer's mission.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.