GEOINT Ground Software Systems Engineer

Saic; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC seeks a GEOINT Ground Software Systems Engineer in Chantilly, VA to guide the development, integration, and delivery of GEOINT capabilities. You will partner with government customers, SETA partners, and contractors to shape architectural direction and ensure engineering rigor.

This role supports defining new GEOINT capabilities, transitioning legacy systems to cloud-native implementations, and guiding test events, readiness reviews, and acquisition milestones to ensure mission-critical

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with nine+ years or Master's with seven+ years; PhD/JD with four+ years (experience may substitute for degree)

Responsibilities

• Software development oversight across GEOINT software development and delivery.
• Mission management portfolio leadership including baselines, schedules, risks, and cost drivers.
• Mission control and scheduling across Ground Enterprise systems.
• Capture customer needs and translate into refined requirements, architectures, and CONOPS.
• Coordinate technical discussions with SMEs and stakeholders for future capabilities.
• Conduct technical trade studies and evaluate emerging technologies for future architectures.
• Assess performance, cost, schedule, and risk impacts on GEOINT ground systems.
• Develop systems engineering artifacts for SOWs, RFPs, and acquisition documentation.
• Review design artifacts and program plans for feasibility and alignment with mission needs.
• Identify, analyze, and track technical and acquisition dependencies across programs.

Skills

GEOINT ground software

cloud-native architectures

space development programs

program management

independent execution

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

J.D./PhD

Job description

Description

SAIC is seekingGEOINTGroundSoftware Systems Engineer to support SAIC’s Prime Program, Landmark AOS in Chantilly, VA.Landmark AOS is a large SETA program, supporting the NRO’s Ground Enterprise Directorate (GED), responsible for the acquisition of systems over the complete end-to-end life cycle.

As the GEOINTGroundSoftware Systems Engineer, you will guide the development, integration, and delivery of modern GEOINT mission capabilities. You will partner closely with development contractors, mission partners, and senior Government stakeholders to shape architectural direction, ensure engineering rigor, and drive the evolution of scalable, resilient ground‑system software.

This position supports a broad portfolio of high‑visibility initiatives, including evaluation of emerging technologies, definition and baselining of new GEOINT capabilities, transition planning from legacy systems to cloud‑native implementations, and full‑spectrum systems engineering (architecture, requirements, CONOPS, interfaces, schedules, and dependencies). You will also support test events, readiness reviews, and acquisition milestones to ensure mission‑critical software services are delivered with traceability and technical integrity.

Job Duties to include:

• Software development oversight — Interface with Government customers, SETA partners, FFRDCs, and development contractors to oversee GEOINT software development, integration, and delivery aligned with requirements and architectural direction.
• Mission management portfolio leadership — Maintain cognizance of GEOINT mission management efforts, including baselines, schedules, interdependencies, risks, and cost drivers.
• Mission control & scheduling — Track and assess mission control, planning, and scheduling software capabilities across the Ground Enterprise.
• Requirements & CONOPS engineering — Capture customer needs and translate them into refined requirements, architectures, and CONOPS for GEOINT software services.
• Cross‑organization technical integration — Coordinate technical discussions with SMEs and stakeholders to define future space and ground capability needs and shape system‑level decisions.
• Mission architecture planning — Conduct technical trade studies, evaluate emerging technologies, and recommend future software service architectures.
• Performance & risk assessments — Evaluate performance, cost, schedule, and risk impacts to existing and emerging GEOINT ground‑system implementations.
• Acquisition engineering — Develop systems engineering artifacts for Statements of Work, RFPs, and acquisition documentation; support proposal evaluations.
• Vendor evaluation — Review technical reports, design artifacts, and program plans to ensure feasibility, compliance, and alignment with mission needs.
• Dependency management — Identify, analyze, and track technical and acquisition dependencies across programs and organizations.

Qualifications

Required Experience and Education:

• Bachelors and nine (9) years or more experience; Masters and seven (7) years or more experience ; PhD or JD and four (4) years or more experience. Relevant experience to be substituted in lieu of degree.
• Current and Active Top Secret/SCI with Polygraph.
• 3+ years supporting Intelligence Community GEOINT systems or capability development.
• Strong understanding of overhead collection, mission management architectures, and GEOINT mission systems.
• Demonstrated understanding of GEOINT user needs and operational environments.
• Experience with IC/DoD acquisition processes, program/project management, and milestone readiness.
• Domain knowledge in Ground Software, cloud‑native architectures, or Space Development Programs.
• Ability to operate independently and drive technical outcomes with limited guidance.
• Ability to distill complex technical problems into clear, structured formats.
• Strong time‑management skills in dynamic, fast‑paced environments.
• Effective communicator across diverse technical, operational, and leadership audiences.

Target salary range: $160,001 - $200,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.