Consultant (Technical, Public Sector)

About the role

At Appian, our core values emphasize intensity and excellence, which guide us in maintaining high standards across all aspects of our work. We are committed to delivering quality and care in every project, ensuring that our solutions meet the highest expectations. Our team is dedicated to facing challenges head-on with accountability and determination, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. As a Technical Consultant within our Customer Success team, you will play a vital role in working directly with clients after the sales process to develop and implement software solutions on the Appian platform. Your responsibilities will include guiding clients through the entire project lifecycle - from initial requirements gathering and design to development, testing, deployment, and ongoing support. This role requires active engagement in an agile environment, where you will assess client needs, create relational data models, develop APIs for system integration, and explore AI use cases to help customers transform their operations. Your expertise will help clients leverage Appian's capabilities to optimize their workflows, improve efficiency, and achieve their strategic goals. This position is based at our headquarters in McLean, Virginia, where in-person collaboration is essential to fostering a strong company culture and ensuring effective communication with clients and team members.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Collaborate closely with clients to understand their business processes, identify pain points, and gather detailed functional and technical requirements to develop tailored solutions.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly and effectively to clients, ensuring they understand the solutions being implemented and how to utilize them effectively.
• Participate in cross-functional teams, applying agile methodologies to manage project tasks, deliverables, and timelines efficiently.
• Utilize object-oriented programming principles to develop and customize applications on the Appian platform, ensuring scalable and maintainable solutions.
• Work with relational databases, including designing data models and writing SQL queries to manage and retrieve data as needed for client solutions.
• Implement software testing practices to validate the functionality, performance, and security of developed solutions, ensuring high quality before deployment.
• Integrate systems and applications using APIs such as REST and SOAP, enabling seamless data exchange and interoperability between different platforms.
• Explore and apply AI tools and use cases within client projects, leveraging Appian's AI capabilities to automate processes, analyze data, and generate insights.
• Support clients throughout the entire project lifecycle, from initial planning and requirements gathering through development, testing, deployment, and post-implementation support.
• Document technical specifications, configurations, and best practices to ensure maintainability and knowledge transfer.
• Provide technical guidance and training to clients on the Appian platform, helping them maximize the value of their investment and enabling self-sufficient use of the platform.
• Assist in defining project scope, timelines, and deliverables, ensuring alignment with client expectations and organizational standards.
• Stay updated on new features, tools, and best practices related to the Appian platform, AI, and cloud technologies to continuously improve solution quality.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including sales and product development, to share insights, feedback, and client requirements that can influence future platform enhancements.
• Maintain a professional and proactive approach to client interactions, building strong relationships based on trust and technical expertise.
• Contribute to a positive team environment by sharing knowledge, mentoring junior team members, and participating in internal training sessions.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen for Public Sector roles, due to security clearance requirements.
• Minimum of 1 year of hands-on experience in software development, technical consulting, or related roles.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Mathematics, or a related technical field.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% annually for client engagements, including potential visits to government sites or client offices.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze complex technical issues and develop effective solutions.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of explaining technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience working with relational databases and writing SQL queries for data management and retrieval.
• Familiarity with system integration using APIs such as REST and SOAP, including understanding of data formats like JSON and XML.
• Knowledge of object-oriented programming principles and experience applying them in application development.
• Ability to work effectively in an agile environment, managing multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously.
• Basic understanding of AI, analytics, and machine learning concepts is preferred but not required.
• Experience working with cloud platforms such as AWS is a plus.
• Prior exposure to the public sector or government projects is advantageous.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new technologies quickly and adapt to changing project requirements.

Nice to have

• Experience working with AWS cloud services and infrastructure.
• Familiarity with AI tools, machine learning models, and analytics platforms.
• Knowledge of DevOps practices and tools to support deployment and continuous integration.
• Previous experience in the public sector or government contracting environments.
• Ability to develop and implement automated testing frameworks.
• Experience working with other programming languages or development frameworks relevant to Appian solutions.

Skills & tools

• Object-oriented programming (Java, Python, or similar)
• Relational database management and SQL
• API integration (REST, SOAP)
• Cloud computing platforms, especially AWS
• AI, analytics, and machine learning concepts
• Agile project management methodologies
• Software testing and quality assurance practices
• Data modeling and relational database design
• Documentation and technical writing skills

Practical notes

The base salary for this position ranges from $75,000 to $175,000 USD, depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications. In addition to the base salary, there may be a government clearance differential and a discretionary bonus based on individual and company performance. Appian offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a 401(k) plan with company matching, flexible time off, paid parental leave, and various health insurance options. The role requires working on-site at our McLean, Virginia office, with employees expected to be in the office 4 to 5 days a week to facilitate collaboration and team cohesion. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment and are an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of background. If you require reasonable accommodations during the application process, please contact us via email to discuss your needs.