Mission-Critical Payload Integration Engineer

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

Job summary

SAIC, based in Reston, VA, is seeking a Payload Integration Engineer in Chantilly to guide development, verification, and deployment of a critical space system within a government program office.

The role emphasizes system integration, payload trades, interface analyses, and milestone reviews, requiring extensive space-systems experience and active TS/SCI clearance. You will collaborate across teams to field capabilities and support ongoing programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 14+ years of experience or Master's with 12+ years of experience.
• System integration and test experience with space systems.
• Knowledge and application of Systems Engineering processes and functions.
• Prior experience with satellite systems design, requirements, development, integration and test.
• Experience with the Intelligence Community or the Department of Defense Satellite Program Office best practices.
• Proven experience with satellite system requirement development, design, manufacturing, and test.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, team building and problem-solving skills in government/contractor environments.
• Ability to facilitate technical discussions with SMEs and communicate with senior decision makers.

Responsibilities

• Support the System Program Office (SPO) in technical capacity for acquisition planning, design and integration of payloads for space systems.
• Provide programmatic and technical support on payload trades and integration activities to field a space system.
• Support payload interface compatibility analyses.
• Perform system analysis and interface definition and management/execution.
• Participate in studies and system trades for enhanced capabilities.
• Participate in payload integration risk reduction planning and test execution.
• Develop plans to on-ramp new mission capabilities.
• Assist in ICD development; define boundaries between satellites and launch vehicles.
• Support verification, validation, and test planning.
• Provide assessments at major milestone reviews and communicate status to Government and industry.

Skills

System integration

Test experience

Systems engineering

Satellite systems

DoD/IC experience

Leadership

Stakeholder communication

TS/SCI clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

SAIC, based in Reston, VA, is seeking a Payload Integration Engineer in Chantilly to guide development, verification, and deployment of a critical space system within a government program office.

The role emphasizes system integration, payload trades, interface analyses, and milestone reviews, requiring extensive space-systems experience and active TS/SCI clearance. You will collaborate across teams to field capabilities and support ongoing programs.