Lead Satellite SETA

SAIC; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC seeks a seasoned Lead Satellite SETA in Chantilly, VA to advise a government division chief and lead a SETA team overseeing satellite unit and subsystem design, development, integration, and delivery.

You will influence mission-critical space capabilities, engage with senior government leadership, and shape next-generation satellite architectures in a dynamic national security space program.

Qualifications

• Proven satellite systems engineering background.
• Experience supporting government acquisition programs and major reviews.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and manage technical teams in a SETA/government environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as trusted technical and programmatic advisor to the Division Chief on satellite architecture, design trades, risk posture, and acquisition decisions.
• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary SETA team, managing workload, priorities, and staff development for high-quality government support.
• Coordinate integration across space vehicles, payload, ground, AI&T, and systems engineering divisions for end-to-end mission success.
• Evaluate prime contractor performance at milestones (PDR, CDR, reviews, test readiness, delivery) against requirements, quality, schedule, and cost.
• Identify and articulate program risks and opportunities; drive mitigation strategies and trade studies for leadership decisions.
• Plan and facilitate Division staff meetings and technical forums with government and contractor stakeholders.

Skills

Satellite systems engineering

DoD/IC/NASA program experience

Leadership / mentoring

Communication to senior stakeholders

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/physics

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

Description

SAIC is seeking a seasoned Lead Satellite SETA to support a highly dynamic and innovative national security space program office in Chantilly, VA, serving the Intelligence Community. In this role, you will be the primary technical and programmatic advisor to a Government Division Chief, leading the SETA team that oversees satellite unit and subsystem design, development, integration, and delivery. This position offers direct influence on mission-critical space capabilities of national importance, high visibility with senior government leadership, and the opportunity to shape next-generation satellite architectures.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serve as the trusted technical and programmatic advisor to the Division Chief, providing informed recommendations on satellite architecture, design trades, development strategies, risk posture, and acquisition decisions.

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary SETA team, including managing workload, setting priorities, and developing staff to ensure high-quality technical support to the government.

• Oversee and coordinate integration across space vehicles, payload, ground segment, AI&T, and systems engineering divisions to ensure end-to-end mission success and system-of-systems coherence.

• Evaluate prime contractor performance at major milestones (PDR, CDR, integration reviews, test readiness, delivery), assessing compliance with technical requirements, quality of deliverables, and schedule/cost objectives.

• Identify and articulate program risks, issues, and opportunities; drive mitigation strategies, technical trade studies, and course-of-action analyses for leadership decision-making.

• Plan, run, and facilitate Division staff meetings and technical forums, fostering effective communication, alignment, and collaboration across government and contractor stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field and 20+ years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree and 15+ years of relevant experience. If no degree, 4 additional years of experience can be substituted for the Bachelor’s degree.

• Strong satellite systems engineering background, including experience with spacecraft buses, payloads, subsystems, and/or end-to-end space system architectures.

• Demonstrated experience supporting major government acquisition programs (DoD, Intelligence Community, or NASA), including participation in major decision reviews and milestone processes.

• Proven ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts and programmatic issues to senior government stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.

• Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, or managing technical teams in a government/contractor/SETA environment.

Clearance Requirements

• Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance with polygraph is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, electrical engineering, or related technical discipline.

• Experience with the full lifecycle of national security space systems, from concept development and requirements definition through design, integration and test, launch, and on-orbit operations.

• Direct experience with Intelligence Community or NRO-like satellite programs, including familiarity with IC acquisition processes, mission assurance, and security requirements.

• Strong interpersonal, leadership, and team-building skills with a proven track record of effectiveness in mixed government/contractor teams.

• Experience assessing technical baselines, supporting configuration/change control boards, and driving resolution of complex technical issues.

• Background in high-reliability or mission-critical systems, or experience in rapidly evolving, high-tempo program office environments.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work on-site daily in a secure, office-based environment in Chantilly, VA.

• Ability to attend in-person meetings, briefings, and reviews, including occasional movement between buildings/facilities within the local area.

• Ability to work at a computer, participate in meetings, and conduct technical reviews for extended periods.

2026.10.2

Target salary range: $180,001 - $220,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

REQNUMBER: 2618807

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 include 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