Ground Architecture Systems Engineer

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

Job summary

SAIC is seeking a Ground Architecture Systems Engineer to provide high‑impact SETA support to a SAIC Prime mission‑critical program at the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, VA.

As the engineer, you will track deliveries, performance requirements, and integration across three major acquisitions, delivering architectural guidance to government stakeholders and shaping acquisition strategies and documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 9+ years of experience, or Master's with 7+ years, or PhD/JD with 4+ years of experience.
• Active Top Secret/SCI with a Poly.
• 3+ years of experience with system engineering processes and ground architectures for mission-critical systems.

Responsibilities

• Define, develop, and implement ground system architectures that enable advanced mission capabilities.
• Analyze system requirements and deliver architectural recommendations to government stakeholders.
• Assess mission needs and future-state options to guide enterprise evolution.
• Coordinate with government teams to craft acquisition strategies and documentation.
• Develop and review SOWs, Justifications for Approval, and Government Cost Estimates.
• Support prototype acquisition planning, solicitations, evaluations, and awards across mechanisms like IDIQ task orders.
• Communicate program status and key decisions to senior government leaders.

Skills

Communication skills

Agile practices

Acquisition strategies

GEOINT

SIGINT

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Master's degree preferred

PhD or JD acceptable with experience

Job description

Description

SAIC is seeking a Ground Architecture Systems Engineer to provide high‑impact SETA support to a SAIC Prime mission‑critical program at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in Chantilly, VA.

As the Ground Architecture Systems Engineer you will track deliveries, performance requirements, and integration activities across three major system acquisitions spanning five system program offices, providing the technical and acquisition insight needed to keep complex efforts aligned with enterprise‑level architectural direction.

Key Responsibilities to include:

• Define, develop, and implement ground system architectures that enable advanced mission capabilities.

• Analyze system requirements, shape technical solutions, and deliver clear architectural recommendations to government stakeholders.

• Assess mission needs, transition paths, and future‑state architectural options to guide enterprise evolution.

• Partner with government technical and contracting teams to craft acquisition strategies and documentation that drive effective program execution.

• Develop and review acquisition artifacts, including SOWs, Justifications for Approval, and Government Cost Estimates.

• Support prototype acquisition planning, solicitations, evaluations, and awards across mechanisms such as IDIQ task orders.

• Coordinate with System Program Office Thread Leads and program managers to maintain alignment across acquisition and engineering activities.

• Participate in Agile teams and provide technical direction on engineering tools, processes, and digital solutions.

• Offer informed feedback on GED Agile, Digital Engineering, and DevSecOps policies to improve governance suitability and consistency of adoption.

• Inform internal and external partners on upcoming ground deliveries, architectural changes, and impacts to existing capabilities.

• Communicate technical acquisition plans, program status, and key decisions to senior government leaders and executives.

• Apply expertise in a major intelligence discipline (e.g., SIGINT, GEOINT) to shape and evaluate program requirements for mission success.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:

• 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.

• Active Top Secret/SCI with a Poly.

• 3+years of experience with system engineering processes and demonstrable expertise developing ground architectures for mission‑critical systems.

• Background supporting or leveraging GEOINT or SIGINT intelligence discipline.

• Practical understanding of Agile practices within system acquisition environments.

• Demonstrated expertise in government acquisition strategies, documentation development, and full lifecycle program management.

• Strong collaboration and communication skills, including the ability to brief government stakeholders at all levels.

Target salary range: $160,001 - $200,000. 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