Technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) – (RFP, Proposal Development, Government Contracting)

microhealthllc; Vienna (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

MicroHealth LLC is seeking a Senior Technical SME to serve as a strategic advisor across the full government IT pursuit lifecycle. You will own the technical solution strategy for major proposals, lead and mentor teams of proposal writers, and influence win strategy and pricing-to-win.

Regular travel to engage customers and participate in industry events is expected. The role requires extensive federal acquisition knowledge (FAR/DFARS), executive-level communication, and a proven track record

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, engineering, or related field.
• 12+ years IT experience including 8+ years in government contract pursuits.
• Demonstrated track record leading technical volumes on large-scale government proposals.
• Deep working knowledge of FAR/DFARS and federal compliance.
• Proven leadership mentoring technical SME teams across concurrent efforts.
• Executive-level written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting to C-suite.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior-most technical expert for high-value government IT pursuits from capture to submission.
• Lead technical solutioning sessions and competitive assessments to shape winning solutions.
• Advise on technical win strategy, teaming decisions, and make/buy assessments.
• Own and drive technical volumes for major proposals and ensure alignment with evaluation criteria.
• Lead and mentor teams of technical writers and proposal contributors across multiple pursuits.
• Review and sign off on technical accuracy in reviews (Pink/Red/Gold).
• Collaborate with pricing to align technical decisions with BOE and price-to-win.

Skills

Executive communication

Proposal leadership

Executive-level writing

Senior technical authority

Team mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Position Summary

Technical SME is a senior-level technical and strategic advisor across the full business development lifecycle — from capture and solutioning through proposal submission — for large, complex, and/or high-value federal, state, and local government IT pursuits. This individual owns the technical solution strategy for major proposals, leads and mentors’ proposal and technical writers, and serves as a trusted technical expert for proposal development efforts. This role is distinguished from a standard SME by its scope (typically supporting the most strategically significant pursuits), its influence on win strategy and pricing-to-win, and its mentorship/leadership responsibility over other technical contributors. Incumbent will regularly travel for customer engagements, industry days, orals presentations, and capture strategy sessions. Must comply with, and help enforce, all company and customer data security, data handling, and AI usage policies, including those specific to government/classified environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior-most technical expertise for high-value, strategically significant government IT pursuits, owning the end-to-end technical solution strategy from capture through submission.
• Lead technical solutioning sessions and black hat/competitive assessments to shape differentiated, winning solutions ahead of RFP release.
• Advise Capture Managers and Business Development leadership on technical win strategy, teaming/partnering decisions, and make/buy assessments for proposed solutions.
• Own and drive the technical volume(s) for major proposals, ensuring alignment with Sections L/M, PWS/SOW/SOO, and agency evaluation criteria.
• Lead and mentor teams of technical writers and proposal contributors across multiple concurrent pursuits, ensuring consistency, quality, and compliance of technical content.
• Serve as writer and senior reviewer for Pink/Red/Gold Team reviews, providing authoritative sign-off on technical accuracy and competitiveness.
• Partner directly with pricing/cost leads to align technical solution decisions with Basis of Estimate (BOE), price-to-win strategy, and cost realism.
• Represent the organization in customer engagements, industry days, oral presentations, and executive-level discussions on technical solutions.
• Own and evolve the organization's technical proposal content library, win themes, and reusable architectures across service lines and recompete pipelines.
• Lead post-submission technical strategy: responses to Evaluation Notices (ENs), Clarification Requests, Discussions, and Best and Final Offer (BAFO) submissions.
• Maintain command of emerging technology trends, agency modernization priorities, and competitive intelligence to shape long-range capture and technical strategy.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive technical experience in IT (cloud, cybersecurity, software/systems engineering, network, or data/AI), including 8+ years directly supporting government contract pursuits.
• 12+ years of progressive technical experience in IT (cloud, cybersecurity, software/systems engineering to include DevSecOps, network, or data/AI), including 8+ years directly supporting government contract pursuits.
• Demonstrated track record leading technical volumes on large-scale government proposals, with a history of contract wins.
• Deep working knowledge of federal acquisition processes (FAR/DFARS), solicitation structures, and compliance-driven technical writing at a senior/authoritative level.
• Proven leadership experience managing or mentoring technical SME teams across multiple concurrent proposal efforts.
• Executive-level written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to C-suite, customers, and evaluation boards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Established relationships and direct experience with target agencies (DoD, DHS, VA, civilian agencies) and their technical/compliance frameworks.
• Advanced understanding of data security, data integrity, and responsible AI governance — including how AI usage requirements differ by customer (particularly government customers) and the imperative to confirm rather than assume permitted use.
• Shipley or equivalent advanced proposal methodology certification.
• Senior technical certifications (e.g., AWS/Azure/GCP Professional/Architect level, CISSP, PMP, ITIL, TOGAF).
• Extensive experience with GWAC/IDIQ vehicles (GSA MAS, OASIS+, SEWP, Alliant) and large Task Order competitions.
• History of building or leading Centers of Excellence, technical practice areas, or solution architecture functions.

Key Competencies

• Recognized technical authority and executive presence
• Strategic thinking across capture, solutioning, and pricing
• Mastery of federal compliance and acquisition requirements
• Leadership, mentorship, and team development
• Sound governance over data security, data integrity, and AI tool usage — setting the standard for the organization
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and represent the organization externally
• Exceptional, evaluator-focused technical writing and review skills

Salary:$150,000 - $160,000

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee frequently is required to walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand. The employee may lift or move objects up to 5 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

MicroHealth will recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles, and ensure that all other personnel actions are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran and ensure that all employment decisions are based only on valid job requirements.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you need a reasonable accommodation due to a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] with your request and contact information.