Network Systems Engineer and Technical Adviser (SETA)

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

Job summary

SAIC is seeking an experienced Network Systems Engineer and Technical Advisor (SETA) to support a U.S. Government customer in Chantilly, VA.

The selected candidate will serve as a trusted technical advisor, translating enterprise communications challenges into acquisition requirements and guiding solutions with scientists, engineers, and industry partners. Responsibilities include technical oversight, advisory support across offices, and evaluating new technologies for mission relevance.

Qualifications

• US citizen with TS/SCI w Poly clearance.
• Bachelor's or Master's in STEM; or 16+ years experience in lieu.
• Experience coordinating with government stakeholders.
• Polished communicator and collaborator across all levels of government.
• Self-starter able to define solutions for broad topics.

Responsibilities

• Technical oversight and advisory to government and partners.
• Advise on network architecture and system modernization efforts.
• Develop cost models and collaborate with vendors on feasibility.
• Meet with vendors to discuss capabilities and roadmaps.
• Present briefings to management and stakeholders.

Skills

Polished communicator

Proven collaborator

Self-starter

U.S. citizen

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree in STEM

16+ years experience in lieu of degree

Tools

CCIE/CCNP/JNCIP/CCNA/CISSP

Job description

Job ID 2615210

Location Chantilly, VA, US

Date Posted 2026-08-04

Category Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory Systems Engineer

Schedule Full-Time

Shift Day Job

Travel Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required TS.SCI_wPoly

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain None

Potential for Remote Work ORA_ON_SITE

Description

Summary of Position

SAIC is seeking an experienced Network Systems Engineer and Technical Advisor (SETA) to support a U.S. Government customer in the Chantilly, VA area. The selected candidate will serve as a trusted technical advisor working across the customer’s organization to identify next-generation enterprise communications challenges, convert those challenges into acquisition requirements, and then work with scientists, engineers, and industry to solve those challenges.

The candidate will leverage their expertise in enterprise network architecture, secure communications, encryption, and advanced science and technology solutions to advise stakeholders on technology challenges, proposed solution applicability and feasibility, along with on-going project status in support of fulfilling enterprise requirements.

Responsibilities

• Technical Oversight and Advisory
  • Provide support across program offices, including acquisitions, systems engineering, system integration, communications engineering, cybersecurity, COMSEC, and architecture support to government and commercial partners.
  • Advise Government stakeholders on technical feasibility, network architecture, and system modernization efforts, including the application of emerging optical, radio, and digital communications technologies.
  • Perform evaluations to verify proposed solutions comply with form, fit, and function requirements.
• Independent Customer Representation and Emerging Technology Advocacy
  • Independently represent the Government across internal and external organizations, serving as the authoritative technical voice on communications architecture, network engineering, and mission systems integration matters.
  • Proactively identify communications technology challenges and gaps within the customer's existing infrastructure and operational environment, providing well-researched findings and recommendations to stakeholders.
  • Research and evaluate emerging communications technologies, including commercial and government innovations in satellite communications, space mesh architectures, secure networking, and advanced transport solutions, to assess their applicability and potential impact on mission operations.
  • Collaborate with Advanced Science and Technology (AS&T) engineers and program offices to develop creative, mission-focused responses to identified communications challenges, translating emerging technology capabilities into actionable architecture and implementation strategies.
  • Meet with emerging technology vendors to discuss new capabilities that could enhance mission communications, and shepherd vendors in creating new technologies tailored to mission requirements.
  • Develop and present briefings to upper management and stakeholders that capture communications capabilities, technology roadmaps, and recommended courses of action for addressing evolving mission challenges.
• Requirements Management
  • Provide Request for Change (RFC) and Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) support to government and commercial providers, ensuring proposed changes are reviewed for risk and mission impact.
  • Review all proposed changes for potential risks or impacts, providing Government stakeholders with recommendations as part of the approval process.
• Documentation, Reporting, and Collaboration
  • Develop cost models incorporating trade-offs for various vendor equipment suites, balancing technical functionality and cost-effectiveness.
  • Collaborate with internal and external organizations, modeling teams, and emerging technology vendors to assess technical feasibility and onboard new capabilities.
  • Proactively collaborate with Government to capture, communicate to stakeholders, and address technical challenges and recommend solutions to enhance service delivery quality.

Qualifications

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must possess and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance with Poly.
• Within a STEM field of study (e.g., Engineering, Computer Science, or related)
  • Bachelors and 9+ years of experience; or
  • Masters and 7+ years of experience; or
  • 16+ years of associated professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
• Relevant certifications such as CCIE, CCNP, JNCIP, CCNA, or CISSP (preferred).
• Experience with customer/organization needed.
• Must be a polished communicator and proven collaborator with demonstrated ability to coordinate across all levels of government to ensure contracts effectively deliver required services and capabilities.
• Must be a self-starter able to proactively address customer requirements with no supervision and expert at defining solutions for broad, abstract topics.

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