Space Protection AI Mission Engineer

SAIC; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 160,001 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC is seeking a Space Protection AI/ML Mission Engineer to support the Air Force, Space and Intelligence Business Group in delivering AI/ML-enabled space protection capabilities.

The role leads AI/ML strategy, coordinates with the SPO and development contractor, and ensures trusted deployment with data lineage for validation and compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience with large language models (LLMs) and Natural Language Processing (NLP).
• Experience developing AI/ML software or integrating AI/ML capability into other systems.
• Experience applying AI/ML techniques or advanced analytical methods to complex technical problems.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the SPO’s technical expert leading AI/ML adoption to improve acquisition management, guide third-party contractor’s system development, and enable delivery of next-generation Space Indication and Warning capabilities.
• Develops near-term and long-term strategies to improve workforce awareness of AI/ML capabilities and the application of AI/ML techniques to meet space protection requirements.
• Advocates for AI/ML governance methods ensuring trusted application with data lineage for model validation.
• Authors roadmaps for AI/ML application development and integration with existing customer systems.
• Leads the development of an AI/ML lab environment for rapid model development, evaluation, and validation.
• Collaborates with SMEs to develop technical plans, advise the customer on AI/ML integration progress.

Skills

LLMs

NLP

AI/ML development

AI/ML integration

Education

Bachelor’s degree + 9+ years

Master’s degree + 7+ years

PhD + 5+ years

Job description

Job ID 2614720

Location Chantilly, VA, US

Date Posted 2026-07-20

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

SAIC is seeking a Space Protection Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Mission Engineer to join the Air Force, Space and Intelligence Business Group providing systems engineering and technical advisory services to a rapidly expanding Government Intelligence Community (IC) customer. The customer is developing the next generation of space and ground systems, architectures, and hardware/software solutions. The Space Protection AI/ML Mission Engineer will serve as the subject matter expert (SME) and System Program Office (SPO) representative coordinating with the development contractor and stakeholders (including end user operators) for deployment of new protection capabilities into space operations. The Space Protection AI/ML Mission Engineer leads development of AI/ML strategies and models and leverages them to identify integration opportunities for novel AI/ML solutions to enable accelerating, streamlining, and automating processes and activities, while simultaneously assisting the third-party contractor to identify AI/ML solutions that infuse real-time autonomy, intelligent data filtering, and big data analysis capabilities into their development strategies and designs.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the SPO’s technical expert leading AI/ML adoption to improve acquisition management, guide third-party contractor’s system development, and enable delivery of next-generation Space Indication and Warning (I&W) capabilities to protect the customer’s high value space assets.
• Develops near-term and long-term strategies to improve workforce awareness of AI/ML capabilities and the application of AI/ML techniques to meet space protection requirements.
• Advocates for and recommends AI/ML governance methods that enable the SPO to ensure trusted application of AI/ML techniques that provide actionable results with full data lineage for operational validation of models.
• Authors phased, long-term roadmaps for AI/ML application development and integration with existing customer systems to automate processes, enhance capabilities, and provide novel solutions to “hard problems.”
• Leads the development of an AI/ML lab environment for rapid model development, evaluation, and validation to address space protection operational needs.
• Collaborates with other SMEs to develop technical plans and documentation, advises the customer on AI/ML integration progress, and supports the Contracting Officer Technical Representative(s) (COTR(s)) and system developers to refine requirements, designs, and testing capabilities to meet user needs.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s and 9 or more years of experience; master’s and 7 or more years of experience; PhD and 5 or more years of experience.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with Poly.
• Experience developing, testing, fielding, or operating space or ground systems.
• Experience with large language models (LLMs) and Natural Language Processing (NLP).
• Experience developing AI/ML software or integrating AI/ML capability into other systems.
• Experience applying AI/ML techniques or advanced analytical methods to complex technical problems.

Desired

• Experience in space domain awareness system development and/or operations.
• Extensive knowledge of Cloud architecture, application, and integration (e.g., DataBricks, AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Experience with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience in Government System Engineering disciplines, including requirement development and management, readiness, or testing.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies to include participation in scrums, development of solution epics/features, and continuous integration/continuous deployment.
• Familiarity with Confluence and JIRA.

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