FHIR API Subject Matter Expert (SME)

NIH-NCBI•Bethesda, MD

6d•$140,000 - $220,000•Onsite

About The Position

Black Canyon Consulting (BCC) is searching for a FHIR API Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support the User Services and Collection Division (USCD), part of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. The USCD is responsible for managing the NLM's extensive collection of biomedical literature, health information, and data resources. Its core mandate is to collect, curate, and connect the world to this information. The Full-Stack Developer will work on VSAC. VSAC stands for the Value Set Authority Center, a National Library of Medicine (NLM) resource that serves as a central repository and authoring tool for clinical terminology value sets, especially for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Electronic Clinical Quality Measures (eCQMs). It provides standardized lists of codes (e.g., ICD-10, SNOMED CT) for health data exchange, quality measurement, and research, allowing users to find, create, and manage these essential datasets for interoperability. This effort requires a full-stack developer with strong experience building and maintaining standards-based health IT services. The developer must be proficient in implementing HL7 FHIR (R4/R5), with specific experience in modeling, creating, and versioning FHIR ConceptMap resources, and integrating them into APIs and terminology services such as VSAC and UMLS-aligned systems. A working understanding of clinical code systems, including ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, LOINC, CPT®/HCPCS, and SNOMED CT is required to correctly implement mappings, validate relationships, and support user-requested enhancements. This opportunity is full-time and involves working with the USCD team in Bethesda, MD.

Requirements

Experience in either Java or TypeScript
Proficient in implementing HL7 FHIR (R4/R5)
BS in Computer Science or a scientific field (engineering, physics), or equivalent experience
5+ years of full-stack web applications development, using Python, Django, and Angular.
Understanding of front-end technologies, such as JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3
Experience with version control systems like Git or SVN
Hands-on experience in implementation/debugging Elastic Search, Postgres, and Solr
Hands-on experience in developing applications with Docker Containers
Hands-on experience in using GitLab, Bamboo, and other CI/CD pipeline tools
Have up-to-date experience with Java, Python/Django, JavaScript, CSS, Ruby, HTML5, and Oracle or PostgreSQL
NonSQL database management experience in MongoDB or Cassandra with the ability to share, define schema, etc., as well as supported tools like NodeJS and AngularJS
Solid understanding of computer science principles like data structures, algorithms, etc., to continually improve one’s ability and current implementation
Solid experience in the use of software engineering tools like JIRA, agile methodology, test-driven development, etc.
Experience in cloud computing environments like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
Proficient in Agile Method and apply it in software development
Deep expertise in HL7 FHIR (R4/R5), FHIR IGs, and terminology services
Hands-on experience assessing and implementing FHIR APIs
Familiarity with healthcare interoperability standards and industry adoption patterns
Ability to translate specs into practical implementation guidance and understandable language for non-technical team members

Responsibilities

A report with recommendations to/for the VSAC team with findings from assessing our VSAC API against the FHIR R4 and R5 specifications, relevant FHIR Implementation Guides (CRMI, USCORE, USREALM), identified gaps, and recommended changes needed for alignment.
Monthly presentations with updates, findings, and practical implementation guidance.