Launch Operations Support Engineer

Saic; California (MO); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC is seeking a Launch Operations Support Engineer for on-site duties at Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA. The role focuses on providing SETA services, coordinating launch campaigns, and acting as the program office's primary representative with launch providers and partners.

Requirements include a Bachelor’s degree with 9+ years (or equivalent advanced degree with fewer years), active TS/SCI clearance with poly, and experience in launch operations. Domestic travel up to 25% is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 9+ years, or Master's 7+ years, or PhD/JD 4+ years of experience.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with polygraph is required.
• Experience with launch base processing and satellite launch activities.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, and problem-solving skills in gov/contractor environments.
• Domestic travel up to 25% is expected.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the on-site customer representative at Vandenberg AFB for launch campaigns.
• Coordinate with launch providers, mission partners, and government stakeholders.
• Maintain awareness of schedules, milestones, risks, and dependencies; communicate impacts.
• Provide timely launch status updates to program office and leadership.
• Support preparation for launch events, readiness activities, and milestone reviews.
• Track actions, issues, and decisions; elevate concerns as needed.
• Foster cross-mission communication to ensure alignment and execution in a high-frequency launch environment.
• Assist in developing briefing materials and leadership-oriented communications.

Skills

Top Secret/SCI clearance

Launch operations

Leadership

Stakeholder comms

Travel planning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD/JD

Job description

Description

SAIC is seeking a Launch Operations Support Engineer at Vandenberg Space Force Base CA to provide onsite systems engineering and technical advisory (SETA) services in support of an SAIC Prime Program at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

As the Launch Operations Support Engineer, you will deliver on-site launch support and customer representation at Vandenberg Space Force Base, serving as a key interface between the program office, launch provider, and NROV. You will also support mission execution by coordinating launch campaign activities, maintaining situational awareness of payload and launch processing, and ensuring stakeholders remain informed throughout pre-launch operations. You will also support high-tempo launch activities by facilitating communication, tracking milestones, and helping resolve issues that could affect mission success.

This rewarding and mission focused position will afford a positive impact on our nation’s capabilities, through work with an incredibly strong team focused on mission success. This position requires an active Top Secret/SCI clearance with Polygraph. If you have passion for the mission, are excited about next-generation space, and love working with a great team,

JobResponsibilities to include:

• Serve as the on-site customer representative at Vandenberg Space Force Base for launch campaign activities.
• Coordinate with launch providers, mission partners, and government stakeholders to support payload and launch processing through launch execution.
• Maintain awareness of launch campaign schedules, milestones, risks, and dependencies, and communicate impacts to relevant stakeholders.
• Provide timely launch status updates, summaries, and notifications to the program office and customer leadership.
• Support preparation for launch events, readiness activities, and milestone reviews.
• Track action items, issues, and decisions related to launch support activities and elevate concerns as needed.
• Facilitate communication across mission partners to help ensure alignment and successful execution in a high-frequency launch environment.
• Assist with development of briefing materials, reports, and leadership-facing communications related to launch operations.

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.
• Current and Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with Poly
• Experience with launch base processing and operations.
• Demonstrated experience supporting satellite launch activities.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, team‑building, and problem‑solving skills with demonstrated effectiveness in a government/contractor environment.
• Working knowledge of the NRO organization, major acquisition processes, and satellite systems.
• Available to travel domestically up to 25% of the time.

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