Lead Systems Engineer

Saic; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC seeks a Lead Systems Engineer for the DIFC2 program in the Chantilly/Reston, VA area. You will lead cross-functional teams across design, development, and integration of complex, classified systems to meet stringent mission requirements.

The role requires strong DoD program management, MBSE and SysML expertise, and demonstrated leadership in Agile environments. Onsite in Northern Virginia with security clearances preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering or related technical discipline with 14+ years of experience.
• Strong leadership with 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Experience delivering complex systems for classified/national security applications.
• Experience with System Engineering V in large Agile programs (ACAT 1, II, III).
• Proficiency with requirements, design, and verification/testing in full SDLC.
• MBSE modeling and system-of-systems integration expertise.
• Ability to work with senior leadership and government stakeholders in classified environments.
• Proficiency with engineering tools such as DOORS, Cameo, MATLAB, SysML.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, integration, and testing as the LSI technical lead.
• Mentor multi-disciplinary engineering teams to deliver scalable C2 and weapons systems.
• Oversee requirements, design, development, testing, deployment, and sustainment lifecycle.
• Perform trade studies, risk assessments, and modeling for decision support.
• Collaborate with Chief Engineer, Program Manager, stakeholders, and government customers.
• Ensure compliance with engineering processes, CM, and RMF security requirements.
• Generate and deliver design artifacts, interface control documents, and test plans.
• Serve as primary technical point of contact for government customers, vendors, and teams.
• Demonstrate experience in Agile team environments.
• DoDAF, SysML, and UML modeling, simulation and analysis experience.
• Manage system performance requirements and ensure operational effectiveness.
• Assess and mitigate program risks with innovative engineering solutions.

Skills

MBSE

SysML

UML

AGILE leadership

C2/Weapons systems

DoDAF modeling

Risk assessment

Stakeholder collaboration

RMF security

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering

Master’s degree in Systems Engineering

Tools

DOORS

Cameo

MATLAB

SysML modeling tools

Job description

Description

SAIC is seeking Lead Systems Engineer for a Lead Systems Integrator (LSI) Team supporting the Department of the Air Force Integrated Fires Command and Control (DIFC2) program of record. As the Lead Systems Engineer, you will provide oversight and expertise in the design, development, and integration of sophisticated systems to meet the requirements of a critical system of systems. This position will lead cross-functional engineering teams, partner with stakeholders, and ensure compliance with program goals and objectives. The ideal candidate will bring technical depth, leadership skills, and a track record of developing solutions in classified systems and environments. The position requires an individual with strong technical project management skills. The successful candidate will have excellent communication, team leadership skills and DoD technical project management experience. They will be expected to continually balance and adjust work priorities to meet short deadlines. Position will be onsite in the Chantilly/Reston, VA area.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the LSI technical lead for system design, integration, and testing efforts, ensuring alignment with operational and mission requirements.
• Lead and mentor multi-disciplinary engineering teams to deliver high-quality, scalable Command and Control (C2) and Weapons systems solutions.
• Oversee the entire systems engineering lifecycle, including requirements analysis, system design, development, testing, deployment, and sustainment.
• Perform trade studies, risk assessments, and modeling to support decision-making and identify optimal engineering approaches.
• Collaborate with the customer’s Chief Engineer and Program Manager, stakeholders, and government customers to define project objectives and ensure alignment with mission goals.
• Ensure compliance with established engineering processes, technical standards, configuration management and security requirements IAW with System Engineering Plan.
• Generate and deliver technical documentation, including design artifacts, interface control documents, and test plans.
• Act as the primary technical point of contact for government customers, vendors, and internal teams.
• Experience working in an Agile team/framework is required
• Mission Engineering Experience
• Leading and executing design reviews including SRR, SFR, PDR, CDR.
• Experience in DoDAF, SysML and UML modeling, simulation, and analysis.
• Manage system performance requirements and ensure that all delivered solutions meet or exceed operational needs.
• Assess and mitigate program risks while developing innovative solutions to solve engineering challenges.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance or TS/SCI eligible.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline and 14 years of experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of hands-on systems engineering experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven capability in designing, integrating, and delivering complex systems for classified/national security applications.
• Proven experience with applying System Engineering V principles in large Agile programs (ACAT 1, II, III) experience
• Experience with the full systems development lifecycle, including requirements derivation, system design, and verification/validation testing.
• Expertise in system architectures, MBSE modeling techniques, and system-of-systems integration.
• Demonstrated ability to work with senior leadership and government stakeholders in classified environments.
• Proficiency in engineering tools, frameworks, and modeling languages (e.g., DOORS, Cameo, MATLAB, SysML).
• In-depth understanding of cybersecurity principles and compliance with security accreditation processes (e.g., RMF).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Systems Engineering or a related field.
• Certifications such as INCOSE CSEP, PMP, DAWIA Systems Engineering Level III, or ITIL v4.
• Experience with defense command and control (C2) systems (LMMT, GCCS, JRE)
• Experience with Link 16, JREAP, and BLOS Architectures, SIPR, and JWICs Networks
• Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) experience using Cameo Enterprise Architect, Rational Rhapsody, Sparx Enterprise Architect, or other comparable tools.
• Experience with MATLAB, STK, AFSIM, Simulink, Model Center, or other comparable modeling and simulation tools.

Target salary range: $200,001 - $240,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.