Aerospace Engr Chief (Senior Technical Advisor)

Saic; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC in Chantilly, VA is seeking a Systems Engineering (SE) Senior Technical Advisor to provide technical oversight and strategic alignment for procurement, development, and fielding of satellite systems within a fast-paced government program.

The ideal candidate will balance technical excellence with budget constraints, lead cross-functional teams, and communicate effectively with senior government leaders and external stakeholders in a dynamic defense environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with extensive (18+ years) experience in systems engineering.
• Masters with 16+ years experience in systems engineering or related field.
• PhD or JD with 15+ years experience in systems engineering, acquisition, or program management.

Responsibilities

• Align program objectives with customer priorities and balance competing demands.
• Provide high-level advisory support to align technical and operational initiatives.
• Coordinate cross-workstream efforts across engineering, design, construction, and other teams.
• Deliver concise progress reporting on technical and operational milestones.
• Identify risks and opportunities to maintain program health and efficiency.

Skills

Systems engineering

Stakeholder management

Communication

Risk analysis

Leadership

Government/contractor environment

SME facilitation

DOD liaison

Education

Bachelor's degree + 18+ years experience

Master's degree + 16+ years experience

PhD/JD + 15+ years experience

Job description

Description

Join a mission driven satellite program at the forefront of national defense innovation. Our team is developing cutting edge technologies that directly support critical Department of War priorities, combining both proven and first-of-their-kind capabilities that have never been applied in space. Operating within a fast-paced acquisition environment, we benefit from streamlined authorities and direct access to senior Government decisionmakers, enabling us to move quickly and execute aggressive schedules using the most innovative contracting strategies available.

SAIC is seeking self-directed leaders who skillfully navigate ambiguity, solve complex challenges, and bring diverse expertise to a dynamic environment focused on delivering capability rapidly. Success here requires adaptability, initiative, and a willingness to wear multiple hats in support of a high impact mission.

Job Description

This position is for a Systems Engineering (SE) Senior Technical Advisor in Chantilly, VA supporting cutting-edge and innovative space programs. The Senior Technical Advisor provides technical oversight and strategic alignment to plan and execute the procurement, development, and fielding of satellite systems while balancing technical requirements with budget constraints. This individual will play a key advisory and operational role, ensuring the seamless execution of complex technical and programmatic efforts while acting as a trusted partner to senior leadership and the government customer.

The SE Senior Technical Advisor will focus on integrating and balancing diverse workstreams, maintaining alignment with the customer’s objectives, and facilitating proactive communication among stakeholders. In addition, this role demands a high level of technical expertise combined with strategic insight to oversee technical systems, processes, and data while enabling cohesive collaboration between internal teams and external stakeholders. The ideal candidate will possess the ability to balance competing priorities, ensure technical excellence across the program, and provide the guidance necessary to keep all workstreams progressing smoothly and effectively.

Role Responsibilities

Strategic Consultation and Organizational Alignment

• Serve as a trusted partner to the Project Management Office (PMO) in aligning program objectives with the customer’s priorities while managing competing demands and fostering operational balance.
• Provide high-level advisory support to align technical and operational initiatives with the overarching goals and requirements of the program and the customer.
• Coordinate programmatic efforts across multiple workstreams to ensure alignment and collaboration between engineering, design, construction, and other technical teams.
• Identify and evaluate critical risks, challenges, and opportunities across the program to maintain focus on priority actions and effective solutions.
• Deliver concise, accurate, and actionable reporting on technical and operational progress, ensuring that the right stakeholders are informed and engaged at key milestones.

Professional Guidance and Technical Proficiency

• Serve as the senior technical advisor, providing subject matter expertise to address complex design, engineering, and construction challenges.
• Ensure that all technical solutions meet the customer’s performance, quality, and compliance requirements while balancing operational feasibility and cost-effectiveness.
• Provide input and oversight during technical reviews and key decision points, ensuring alignment to program objectives and organizational priorities.
• Promote the use of leading practices, innovation, and professional excellence across all technical and engineering workstreams.

Engaging Stakeholders and Communicating

• Act as a trusted point of contact for high-level communications and technical briefings, ensuring the timely dissemination of updates and performance insights to the customer and key stakeholders.
• Build and maintain trust-based relationships with government and external stakeholders to ensure mutual alignment, confidence, and collaboration throughout the program.
• Proactively identify stakeholder concerns, evolving requirements, and feedback to ensure the effective adjustment of technical and operational efforts.

Qualifications

TYPICAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelors and eighteen (18) years or more experience; Masters and sixteen (16) years or more experience; PhD or JD and fifteen years or more experience.

Required Qualifications

• Technical expertise across systems engineering discipline, capable of consulting on and resolving complex challenges.
• Strong ability to manage competing demands, coordinate diverse workstreams, and ensure alignment with overarching objectives.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills to serve as a trusted advisor for leadership and government partners.
• Skilled in analyzing data, assessing risks, and identifying actionable insights to maintain program health and efficiency.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, team building and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to be effective in a government/contractor team environment.
• Experience providing systems engineering support and technical guidance in the acquisition, development, and deployment of satellite systems.
• Ability to work in a very dynamic environment and effectively interact with numerous DOD, military/civilian personnel and industry partners.
• Ability to facilitate technical discussions with SMEs.
• Ability to communicate with a diverse audience of senior decision makers with varying levels of programmatic and technical expertise.

• Effective communication, coordination, and customer engagement skills.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic, and team environment with no supervision.
• TS/SCI (Poly preferred
• Previous SAP experience desired.

Target salary range: $200,001 - $240,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.