Computer Systems Engineer, SME - 100% Remote (REF1608J)

As a Computer Systems Engineer at Citizant, your responsibilities will include system design and architecture, technology evaluation and selection, performance optimization, collaborating on security compliance, and ensuring scalability and resilience of systems. You'll be essential in leading and guiding the development of computer systems that comply with industry standards, ultimately improving the IT landscape for U.S. government clients.

To join Citizant as a Computer Systems Engineer, SME, candidates should ideally have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related fields, complemented by 7-10 years of experience in database architecture and administration. Expertise in relational and NoSQL databases, security compliance best practices, and excellent problem-solving skills are crucial for success in this role.

Citizant emphasizes security by closely collaborating with cybersecurity experts, which is essential for the Computer Systems Engineer position. You will integrate robust security measures into system designs while ensuring compliance with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. This multi-faceted approach ensures the IT systems built for government agencies remain secure and trustworthy.

A Computer Systems Engineer at Citizant will typically work with a range of technologies including relational database management systems such as Oracle and SQL Server, as well as NoSQL databases like MongoDB and Cassandra. Familiarity with cloud-based solutions like AWS RDS and Azure SQL Database can also be advantageous. You will leverage these technologies to design robust and scalable systems for federal government clients.

Citizant prides itself on fostering a collaborative, supportive environment that retains a small-company feel even as it grows. For a Computer Systems Engineer, this culture means valuing team effort over individual contributions, where your insights and technical expertise will be appreciated and amplified through cross-functional collaboration with like-minded professionals.

In answering this question, emphasize your hands-on experience in leading system design projects. Detail specific architectures you've built, the technologies you used, and how your designs adhered to best practices and standards. This will showcase your technical capability and thorough understanding of system architecture.

Share your systematic approach to technology evaluation, including criteria such as performance, scalability, and cost. Discuss your methodology for testing these technologies in a practical setting, along with instances where your evaluations led to successful integrations.

To effectively respond, provide a specific example where you identified performance bottlenecks. Explain the steps you took to analyze the issue, the strategies you implemented to resolve it, and the measurable outcome that resulted in enhanced system performance.

Focus on highlighting industry standards such as GDPR and HIPAA compliance. Discuss the importance of integrating cybersecurity protocols, encryption methods, and user authentication to create robust systems that protect sensitive data—demonstrating your proactive approach to security.

In your response, underline your communication skills and collaborative spirit. Share examples where effective coordination with software developers, database administrators, and network engineers helped achieve a common goal, emphasizing the importance of synergy in system integration.

Essential documentation includes system design documents, architecture diagrams, and implementation guides. Talk about how you maintain updated documentation to aid team members and stakeholders, facilitating ease of understanding and communication regarding project progress and changes.

Address how you allocate time for continual learning, such as attending webinars, engaging with professional networks, or pursuing further certifications. Highlight your curiosity and commitment to integrating new knowledge into your work to enhance systems and processes.

Provide a brief narrative of a compliance challenge you faced in a past role, explaining how you identified the issue, the steps you took to address it, and the ultimate resolution. This showcases your analytical skills and dedication to maintaining compliance in system design.

Stress the importance of performance testing as a critical phase in your design and implementation workflow. Discuss the tools or methodologies you use to ensure system efficiency before launch and how this step contributes to long-term system reliability.

When answering, express your enthusiasm for Citizant’s mission and values. Connect your personal career aspirations with the company’s focus on addressing national challenges through technology, highlighting how your skills align with the role and what you can contribute to their innovative projects.