PKI Senior Engineer

Job Summary 

The PKI Senior Engineer will play a critical role in supporting the Air Force Public Key Infrastructure (AF PKI) Program by integrating and implementing PKI capabilities into Department of the Air Force (DAF) and other Services’ systems, applications, and workflows. This position ensures secure authentication and encryption across DAF networks while maintaining interoperability with Department of Defense (DoD) components. The engineer will provide technical expertise to project teams supporting AF PKI products, assist customers, track support requests, and document solutions to enhance future support efforts. This role requires a proactive, detail-oriented individual with expertise in PKI systems and a commitment to maintaining a secure and efficient cybersecurity posture. 

Job Duties 

PKI Integration and Implementation: Integrate and implement PKI capabilities into DAF and other Services’ systems, applications, and workflows to enable secure authentication and encryption, as directed by program requirements. 

Technical Expertise: Serve as a subject matter expert on project teams for AF PKI products. Report progress through tasks assigned in a project management tool. Attend regular meetings to discuss requirements, technical solutions, risks and mitigations, and recommended actions. 

Interoperability Assurance: Ensure seamless interoperability between AF or other Services’ PKI infrastructure and other DoD components to support a unified and secure operational environment. 

Customer Support: Provide technical assistance to customers for PKI-related issues, questions, or implementation and integration of PKI into their systems or applications. Address user and site issues via telephone, email, or electronic means.  

Request Tracking and Documentation: Develop and maintain a solution for tracking customer support requests, documenting efforts, and capturing associated information to facilitate future support and improve service delivery. 

Technology Evaluation: Evaluate emerging commercial and government technologies (e.g., RSA-4096, SHA-384, non-person entity certificates, derived credentials, FIPS 201 compliance, PKI on SIPRNet/NIPRNet/JWICS, mobile devices, SSO, web servers, MDM) for interoperability and feasibility with DoD/AF PKI, as directed by the Government; re-evaluate existing COTS solutions for compatibility with new features. 

System Maintenance: Assist with performing required actions to sustain the Technology Integration Cell (TIC), including configuring and maintaining hardware and software, applying security controls, and conducting patching. 

Resource Identification: Identify and recommend to the Government any software or hardware purchases necessary to keep the TIC operational and supporting testing objectives. 

Required Qualifications 

Technical Expertise: Demonstrated experience in integrating PKI capabilities into complex systems, applications, and workflows, with a focus on secure authentication and encryption. Proficiency in testing, configuring, and deploying software and hardware updates for PKI systems. 

DoD Knowledge: Familiarity with DoD and DAF systems, policies, and infrastructure, including an understanding of interoperability requirements across DoD components. 

Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to PKI implementation and provide effective customer support. 

Documentation Skills: Proficiency in developing and maintaining tracking systems and documentation for technical support requests and solutions. 

Security Clearance: Must possess or be eligible to obtain and maintain a minimum Secret clearance, with all employees cleared to at least Secret by the contract start date of June 1, 2025. 

Location: Ability to work in San Antonio, TX, with potential for on-site support at the Government-leased facility as required. 

Education: Bachelor’s degree in related field. 

Preferred Qualifications 

Security Clearance: Active Top Secret (TS) or Top Secret/Secure Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance. 

PKI Specialization: Advanced knowledge of PKI systems, certificate management, and cybersecurity best practices within a DoD context. 

Experience with DAF Systems: Prior experience integrating PKI into DAF-specific systems or applications. Specific experience with AF Less Than Medium Assurance or Only Locally Trusted PKI systems. 

Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively assist customers and collaborate with DoD stakeholders. 

Certifications: Relevant certifications such as CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or other DoD 8570/8140-approved Information Assurance certifications (e.g., IAT Level II or higher). 

Adaptability: Experience working in dynamic environments where requirements may evolve, such as supporting DoD or DAF initiatives that introduce new or updated technical needs. 

Expertise: Experience or education in any of the following: authentication (ex. Multi-Factor Authentication, Single Sign On), post-quantum cryptography, Linux, cloud-based systems, networking, or AI and machine learning.