Aerospace Software Systems Engineer – Entry Level

Saic; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC is seeking a Software Systems Engineer in Chantilly, VA to support SAIC’s large SETA program, supporting the NRO’s Ground Enterprise Directorate (GED), Advanced Ground Office. The selected candidate will assist with system design, development, integration, testing, deployment, and sustainment of software solutions for mission-critical space vehicle operations.

This entry-level role provides growth through collaboration with experienced engineers, mission operators, cybersecurity

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field and 2+ years of relevant experience; Master’s degree with 0+ years is acceptable.
• Active Top Secret/SCI with Poly.
• 1–4 years of experience in software or systems engineering, integration, or related internships/projects.
• Foundational understanding of the systems engineering lifecycle (requirements, design, integration, test, V&V).
• Familiarity with modern software development practices (Agile, DevSecOps, or waterfall).
• Ability to learn and operate within complex aerospace, defense, intelligence, or space system environments.

Responsibilities

• Support analysis of stakeholder and system requirements to derive software and interface requirements.
• Assist in developing and maintaining software architecture artifacts and interface control documents (ICDs).
• Help perform requirements decomposition, allocation, verification, and validation activities under senior engineer guidance.
• Work with flight software, ground software, hardware engineering, and cybersecurity teams to support system integration.
• Participate in technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, ORR) as a junior technical contributor.
• Maintain traceability between mission objectives, system requirements, and software specifications.
• Assist with software integration, test planning, execution, anomaly documentation, and readiness activities.
• Support system modeling, basic performance analysis, and engineering trade studies.
• Contribute to configuration management, change control, and release documentation.
• Help identify risks, mitigation steps, and support resolution of technical issues.
• Participate in mission operations, anomaly investigations, software upgrades, and sustainment activities as needed.
• Ensure adherence to applicable aerospace, cybersecurity, mission assurance, and quality standards.

Skills

Systems engineering

Software engineering

Strong communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a technical field

Master’s degree

Tools

MBSE

SysML

Agile/DevSecOps

Job description

SAIC is seeking a Software Systems Engineer in Chantilly, VA to support SAIC’s large SETA program, supporting the NRO’s Ground Enterprise Directorate (GED), Advanced Ground Office. The selected candidate will assist with system design, development, integration, testing, deployment, and sustainment of software solutions for mission-critical space vehicle operations.

This entry-level role provides growth through collaboration with experienced engineers, mission operators, cybersecurity