Chief Space Systems Engineer

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

Job summary

SAIC is seeking a Chief Space Systems Engineer to lead SETA activities for a large NRO-related space systems program in the Chantilly/Reston area. The role oversees system engineering, requirements management, configuration control, and risk mitigation across space and ground architectures.

The ideal candidate has active TS/SCI with poly, extensive space systems acquisition experience, and strong leadership, technical communication, and coordination with government stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph.
• Bachelor's degree with 18+ years experience; Master's 16+; PhD 15+.
• Experience in space systems integration and across the acquisition lifecycle.
• Experience with space-ground systems architectures and lifecycle support.
• Proven knowledge in Requirements/Quality/Configuration Management.
• Strong communication, coordination, and customer engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead SETA team and oversee acquisitions, ensuring end-to-end system closure.
• Maintain space and ground system baselines and configurations.
• Manage Engineering Change Proposals and ERB/CCB processes.
• Ensure requirements evolve with change while aligning to government needs.
• Lead VER/VAL activities and verify test strategy and coverage.
• Support risk management, identify risks, and propose mitigations.
• Represent government clients to developers and coordinate with SMEs.
• Review CDRL deliverables for technical accuracy and sufficiency.
• Develop briefings and assessments for government leadership and stakeholders.
• Participate in technical interchange meetings between developers and COTR.

Skills

Active TS/SCI clearance with poly

Space systems integration

Systems engineering lifecycle

Requirements management

Configuration management

Leadership and team oversight

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

NRO/IC acquisition experience

Job description

Description

Join a winning team! SAIC is seeking a Chief Space Systems Engineer with experience on large programs to join the Air Force, Space, and Intelligence Business Group providing systems engineering, systems integration, and contract and technical advisory services to a Government Intelligence Community (IC) customer. The customer is developing the next generation of space and ground architectures comprised of custom development, commercial off the shelf (COTS), and cloud-based services. SAIC is a strong company providing opportunities for energetic individuals with a strong desire to expand their knowledge while increasing their responsibilities.

SAIC is seeking a Chief Space Systems Engineer with NRO experience to provide Systems Engineering and Technical Advisory (SETA) services to a rapidly expanding Government Intelligence Community (IC) customer for a complex space and ground efforts as part of an exciting and innovative set of programs.

This position supports a System Program Office (SPO) in a technical capacity for planning, execution, monitoring, and oversight of satellite system development and acquisitions that advance the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO) space resiliency posture. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience within NRO acquisition and is ready to lead the system engineering branch SETA team through the remaining Verification and Validations gates to sell off the system requirements to the end user. This position is ‘downward facing’ in its responsibility for system level space and ground requirements as flowed down and ‘upward facing’ with functional enterprise requirements.

The Chief Space Systems Engineer will join a team of on-site SETAs working a major system acquisition (MSA) with responsibilities that may include but not limited to the following:

• Lead team of system engineering SETA and provide oversight of acquisitions, with specific focus on the system engineering processes to ensure end-to-end system closure and satisfaction of mission need.
• Maintain space and ground system baselines.
• Manage system Configuration Management process including Engineering Change Proposal, Engineering Review Board/Configuration Control Boards (ECP, ERB/CCB).
• Ensuring requirements that evolve through the change management process remain true to the overall government need.
• Conduct full space system lifecycle engineering reviews including System Requirements (SSRs) and Lead and/or Support Lifecycle Readiness reviews to demonstrate the design meets all specifications and customer requirements.
• Lead team to ensure proper requirement Verification and Validation methodology is codified and executed by the developer, including determining test strategy and coverage based on a technical risk assessment for each use case or functionality.
• Support risk management processes and methods for identifying, assessing, and adjudicating program risk; Conduct analysis to identify program risk areas and recommend/implement mitigation approaches.
• Represent the government client to development contractors and ensure proper messaging between the same.
• Support Contract Officer/Contract Officer Technical Representatives (CO/COTRs) and Developers by coordinating with other technical domain Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and program stakeholders to achieve a detailed understanding of the systems, designs, and interfaces necessary to satisfy mission requirements.
• Reviewing Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) deliverables to ensure content, technical accuracy, and sufficiency of design details to meet program requirements and objectives.
• Develop briefings and assessments to a variety of audiences and must be able to convey information in a clear and articulate manner to Government leadership.
• Participating in technical interchange meetings between developers and COTR.
• Design and implement technical solutions for new business needs and challenges.

Qualifications

Required:

• Must possess an active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph.
• Bachelor’s and eighteen (18) years or more experience; Master’s and sixteen (16) years or more experience; PhD and fifteen years or more experience.
• Experience in space systems integration and systems engineering.
• Experience with space systems integration throughout the acquisition lifecycle.
• Experience with space-ground systems architectures and acquisition lifecycle support.
• Proven knowledge in Requirements Management, Quality Control, and Configuration Management.
• Knowledge of how space systems are designed, specified, developed, manufactured, and tested.
• Experience in large space systems acquisition.
• Effective communication, coordination, and customer engagement skills.
• Strong written and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic, and team environment.

Desired:

• INCOSE ESEP or CSEP, PMI PMP certification.
• Experience using systems engineering processes, methods, tools, and program roles to develop, implement, and deploy solutions for Satellite Systems.
• Thorough understanding of space systems design, integration and test requirements and test execution, including test equipment support.
• Experience in Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) construct and Earned Value processes.

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

SAIC is a premier technology integrator, solving our nation's most complex modernization and systems engineering challenges across the defense, space, federal civilian, and intelligence markets. Our robust portfolio of offerings includes high-end solutions in systems engineering and integration; enterprise IT, including cloud services; cyber; software; advanced analytics and simulation; and training. We are a team of 23,000 strong driven by mission, united purpose, and inspired by opportunity. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $6.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For information on the benefits SAIC offers, see Working at SAIC. EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability