Federal Acquisition Subject Matter Expert

Here at Appian, our values of Intensity and Excellence define who we are. We set high standards and live up to them, ensuring that everything we do is done with care and quality. We approach every challenge with ambition and commitment, holding ourselves and each other accountable to achieve the best results. When you join Appian, you’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing hard things, together. Appian is actively seeking a Federal Acquisition Subject Matter Expert to serve as the strategic bridge between the complex world of U.S. Federal procurement and Appian’s Government Acquisition Management suite. This role will act as the voice of the acquisition workforce, helping guide product strategy, requirements, and innovation in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. This is not just about maintaining software. This role will help define the future of how the Federal government, particularly the Department of War, executes its mission through superior acquisition technology. This role is based at our headquarters in McLean, Virginia. Appian was built on a culture of in-person collaboration, which we believe is a key driver of our mission to be the best. Employees hired for this position are expected to be in the office five days a week to foster that culture and ensure we continue to thrive through shared ideas and teamwork. In this role, you will: Act as the primary functional owner for Appian’s Government Acquisition Management suite, identifying opportunities to evolve product capabilities to better serve Federal and Department of War acquisition professionals. Partner with Product Managers and Engineers to translate FAR/DFARS regulations and Federal Civilian and DOW acquisition workflows into clear, high-impact software requirements. Influence the product roadmap by identifying emerging trends, regulatory changes, and modernization opportunities within federal procurement. Provide expert-level perspective during design reviews, workflow validation, and acceptance testing to ensure solutions meet the standards required for mission-critical federal contracts. Represent Appian as a thought leader in the acquisition community through webinars, podcasts, speaking engagements, and industry events such as NCMA and ACT-IAC. Collaborate with Sales and Marketing teams to demonstrate the practical, real-world value of Appian’s platform to senior government, military, and civilian leadership. Serve as a trusted internal advisor on acquisition policy, contracting workflows, user pain points, and opportunities to apply modern technology and AI to federal acquisition and contract management. Qualifications: 10+ years of federal contracting experience, including 7+ years serving as a Contracting Officer within the Department of War. Recent DoD 1102 experience with a strong understanding of mission-first procurement environments and the pressure of operating with a warrant. Expert-level mastery of FAR and DFARS, including experience with DoD-unique procurement requirements. Proven ability to translate complex acquisition rules, policies, and workflows into practical guidance for technical and non-technical audiences. Experience serving in a thought leadership capacity, including delivering presentations, writing articles, participating in panels, or speaking at industry events. Strong executive presence and ability to communicate with Product, Engineering, Sales, senior military leaders, civilian executives, and acquisition professionals. High technical curiosity and comfort learning how software platforms transform complex data and workflows into actionable procurement intelligence. Understanding of how AI can be applied to federal acquisition, procurement modernization, or contract management. Bachelor’s Degree required. DoD Contracting Professional Certification required, or previous DAWIA Level II/III certification with recent relevant experience. Familiarity with software development lifecycles or Agile methodologi