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# Library Systems Engineer

- **Company:** Desktop Service Center, Inc.
- **Location:** Washington, DC, United States
- **Experience:** Experienced
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Agile Methodology, Systems Engineering, Confluence, Cloud Database, Information Systems, Computer Programming, Learning Management Systems, Data Transformation, Disaster Recovery, Monitoring of Systems, Information Sciences, Integrated Library Systems, Python (Programming Language), Metadata, Meta-Data Management, Metadata Standards, Scrum Methodology, Data Streaming, Indexer, Information Technology
- **Published:** October 8, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.clearancejobs.com/jobs/9223469/library-systems-engineer

## About the Role

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, Library/Information Science (MLS/MLIS), or a related technical field.
Experience: 2+ years of hands-on experience administering the Ex Libris Alma Library Services Platform (LSP) or equivalent Library Management System (LMS).
Work Authorization & Clearance: U.S. Citizenship required; must pass a USDA background check prior to start (estimated 2-4 week processing time). Must comply with LOC federal records handling requirements.
Systems & Programming: 2+ years of experience building and maintaining Python workflow automation scripts, data transformations, and relational/cloud database integrations.
Governance & Agile: Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments and executing formal change management lifecycle processes., Prior experience supporting Federal Government library, cataloging, or USDA/NAL projects.
Familiarity with Library of Congress cataloging practices, RDA standards, BIBFRAME concepts, and MARC tagging conventions (including NLS accessible media workflows).
Working knowledge of metadata quality assurance, validation processes, and Confluence documentation.
Experience operating under Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contracts or production-based delivery models.

Key Competencies & Core Skills

Metadata & Schema Tooling: Deep expertise with metadata standards (MARC21, Dublin Core, RDA, MODS) and Alma's normalization rules, templates, and mapping tables.
Cross-System Diagnostics: Strong capability to troubleshoot complex data flows spanning upstream ingest scripts, database schemas, indexing engines, and downstream preservation platforms.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Exceptional communication skills to collaborate effectively across agency divisions, IT service teams, external vendors, and governance boards.

## Description

Responsible for supporting the Library of Congress (LOC) FEDLINK Program on behalf of the National Agricultural Library (NAL), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This role provides a hybrid capability combining Ex Libris-Alma Systems Administration with hands-on development and maintenance of NAL-designed Python data workflows. Operating under NAL's Change Control Board (CCB) Charter and supporting an Agile transformation, the position exercises technical ownership to optimize cataloging, metadata management, indexing QA/QC, and AGRICOLA production pipelines across cross-functional government teams., Alma System Administration: Configure, secure, and maintain Alma LSP components, roles, permissions, normalization rules, and SSO authentication; monitor automated jobs and resolve workflow disruptions across ingest, indexing, and preservation flows.
Python Workflow & Integration: Maintain and enhance Python-based pipelines supporting automated ingest, data transformation, indexing, cross-system synchronization, error handling, and secure credential management.
Governance & Change Lifecycle: Execute pre-change impact analyses, sandbox testing, freeze-window deployments, and rollback procedures under the CCB Charter; participate in incident response protocols.
Agile Participation & Planning: Provide technical expertise during sprint planning, backlog refinement, and retrospectives; coordinate with Systems Librarians and CCB Project Managers to align sprint commitments with deployment windows.
System Monitoring & Continuity: Maintain job-monitoring dashboards, maintain release calendars (with 30- and 7-day advance notices), test disaster recovery procedures, and generate monthly operational status reports and metrics logs.