Senior Systems Engineer

SAIC; Crane (IN); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC in Crane, IN seeks a Senior Systems Engineer to support NSWC Crane and the IBAS program. You will serve as Technology Project Officer for solid rocket motor and kinetics projects, applying energetics, propulsion, QA, and manufacturing expertise.

The ideal candidate collaborates with government and industry partners, travels up to 25% CONUS, and works on-site at NSWC Crane with a hybrid telework option.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Engineering, Chemistry, or Materials Science with 9+ years of relevant experience.
• Active Top Secret clearance required at time of hire.
• 6+ years in systems engineering, energetics/propulsion, QA, or manufacturing.
• Experience with solid rocket motors, propellant formulation, or energetic materials.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Technology Project Officer for solid rocket motor and kinetics portfolio projects, managing technical scope, schedule, and deliverables.
• Conduct Industrial Base Analysis activities including vendor assessments, manufacturing capability evaluations, and supply chain risk identification.
• Support sustainment planning for energetics and propulsion systems by evaluating supplier readiness, production capacity, and quality management systems at CONUS vendor sites.
• Coordinate and facilitate TIMs, program reviews, and working groups with NSWC Crane stakeholders, program offices, and industry partners.
• Develop and deliver technical reports, white papers, briefings, and CDRLs in support of milestones and customer requirements.
• Apply systems engineering principles to assess technology maturity (TRL/MRL), identify gaps, and recommend investment strategies.
• Collaborate with government and contractor teams to evaluate quality and manufacturing processes at the component and system level.
• Support critical design reviews, interim program reviews, and other technical gate reviews as required.
• Leverage knowledge of propellant formulation, energetic materials, and warhead systems during vendor evaluations and technology assessments.
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and industrial base trends relevant to solid rocket motors and kinetics systems.

Skills

Energetics & propulsion

Systems engineering

Quality assurance

Manufacturing engineering

Program execution

Technical writing

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science

Master's degree preferred

Tools

SysML/Cameo MBSE

Job description

Job ID 2617051
Location Crane, IN, US
Date Posted 2026-09-21
Category Engineering and Sciences
Subcategory Systems Engineer
Schedule Full-Time
Shift Day Job
Travel Yes - 25% of the time
Minimum Clearance Required Top_Secret
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain None
Potential for Remote Work ORA_HYBRID

Description

SAIC seeking a highly motivated and technically versatile Senior Systems Engineer to support the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane and the Office of Strategic Weapons Acquisition & Sustainment (OSW A&S) Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program. In this role, the candidate will serve as a Technology Project Officer (TPO) within the kinetics portfolio, with a primary focus on solid rocket motor (SRM) technology projects and various other kinetics-related efforts.

The ideal candidate brings a unique combination of energetics and propulsion domain expertise, quality assurance and manufacturing background, systems engineering discipline, and program execution experience. This is a hybrid/telework position requiring regular engagement at the NSWC Crane customer site and periodic travel to vendor and industrial base locations across the continental United States.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as Technology Project Officer (TPO) for solid rocket motor and other kinetics portfolio technology projects, managing technical scope, schedule, and deliverables on behalf of the IBAS program
• Conduct Industrial Base Analysis activities including vendor assessments, manufacturing capability evaluations, and supply chain risk identification for solid rocket motor and kinetics-related components
• Support sustainment planning for energetics and propulsion systems by evaluating supplier readiness, production capacity, and quality management systems at CONUS vendor sites
• Coordinate and facilitate technical interchange meetings (TIMs), program reviews, and working groups with NSWC Crane stakeholders, program offices, and industry partners
• Develop and deliver technical reports, white papers, briefings, and CDRLs in support of program milestones and customer requirements
• Apply systems engineering principles to assess technology maturity (TRL/MRL), identify gaps, and recommend investment strategies within the kinetics portfolio
• Collaborate with government and contractor teams to evaluate quality and manufacturing processes at the component and system level, identifying risks and opportunities for improvement
• Support critical design reviews, interim program reviews, and other technical gate reviews as required
• Leverage knowledge of propellant formulation, energetic materials, and warhead systems to provide subject matter expertise during vendor assessments and technology evaluations
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and industrial base trends relevant to solid rocket motors and kinetics systems

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelors in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline and nine (9) years or more experience; Masters and seven (7) years or more experience
• Active Top Secret clearance required at time of hire
• 6+ years of combined experience in systems engineering, energetics/propulsion, quality assurance, or manufacturing engineering in a defense or government contracting environment
• Demonstrated experience with solid rocket motors, propellant formulation, or energetic materials in a research, production, or program support capacity
• Background in quality assurance and/or manufacturing engineering, including familiarity with quality management systems, process controls, and supplier quality evaluation
• Experience supporting program reviews, technical documentation, and CDRL development in a DoD acquisition environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present technical findings to senior government and industry stakeholders
• Ability to travel up to 25% CONUS to vendor and industrial base sites
• Ability to support on-site customer meetings 1-2 days per week at NSWC Crane, Indiana

Preferred Qualifications

• Research focus in energetics, propellants, or related fields
• Direct experience with solid rocket motor programs in a DoD or Navy acquisition context
• Familiarity with NSWC Crane, Naval Acquisition programs, or OSW A&S program structure
• Experience conducting internal or supplier audits in a defense manufacturing environment, including familiarity with AS9100, CMMI, or equivalent quality frameworks
• Earned Value Management (EVM) knowledge or CAM certification
• Proficiency with SysML/Cameo or other model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools
• Experience with Parts, Materials, and Processes (PMP) engineering in a missile or munitions program context
• Familiarity with AFATDS, fire control systems, or kinetics/fires domain from a military or defense perspective
• Prior military service with experience in fires, combat engineering, or explosive systems is highly desirable
• Proficiency with analytical tools including Python, Explo5, or equivalent computational platforms relevant to energetics analysis