Ground Systems Engineer

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

Job summary

SAIC is seeking a Ground Systems Engineer to support the LANDMARK AOS program in Chantilly, VA. Within the Chief Architect’s Office, you will guide the evolution of the ground architecture and help ensure major acquisitions deliver against mission needs.

You will track deliveries and requirements across three system acquisitions, contribute to Digital Engineering and Agile transformations, and coordinate with government teams to craft acquisition strategies and documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and nine or more years (Masters seven; PhD/JD four) of relevant experience or equivalent substitution.
• Active Top Secret/SCI with Poly clearance.
• 3+ years of Ground Systems experience.
• Experience with system engineering processes and ground architectures for mission-critical systems.
• Background in GEOINT or SIGINT disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Draft and deliver communication plans to implement enhanced systems engineering processes using Digital Engineering foundations.
• Align modernized SE principles with DE tools and Agile practices.
• Define, develop, and implement ground system architectures enabling advanced mission capabilities.
• Analyze system requirements and deliver architectural recommendations to government stakeholders.
• Coordinate with program offices to maintain alignment across acquisition and engineering activities.
• Support acquisition artifacts, including SOWs, Justifications for Approval, and Government Cost Estimates.
• Participate in Agile teams and provide technical direction on engineering tools and processes.

Skills

Ground Systems

Digital Engineering

Agile

Stakeholder Comm

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Description

SAIC is seeking a Ground Systems Engineer to support the LANDMARK AOS program, a large SETA contract supporting the customer’s Ground Enterprise Directorate (GED) and its end to end system acquisition mission in Chantilly, VA. This role sits within the Chief Architect’s Office, where you will help guide the evolution of the customer’s ground architecture and ensure major system acquisitions deliver against mission needs.

As the Ground 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.You will have the opportunity to shape the implementation of Digital Engineering and support the transformation of GED’s development as a leader in Digital Engineering and Agile principles.
Key Responsibilities to include:

• Draft and deliver Communication Plans to foster implementation of enhanced Systems Engineering processes using a Digital Engineering foundation.
• Align modernized Systems Engineering principles with DE tools and Agile principles.
• 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 Poly.
• 3+ years of Ground Systems experience.
• 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.