Spacecraft Technical Lead

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

Job summary

SAIC seeks a Spacecraft Technical Lead Engineer in Chantilly, VA to guide technical and programmatic aspects of a critical space system, working on-site with Government personnel.

You will define requirements, lead reviews, and coordinate across contractors and stakeholders to ensure mission success within tight schedules.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (14+ years experience) or higher as listed in qualifications.
• Strong satellite systems engineering background and major government acquisition program experience.
• Experience with space systems, mission threads, and interfaces; capable of trade studies and defining interfaces.
• Knowledge of Systems Engineering processes and functions; system integration experience.
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills; ability to operate in government/contractor teams.

Responsibilities

• Define requirements to ensure spacecraft operates from design through manufacturing, testing, and launch.
• Provide the Government with input and options on technical and programmatic topics.
• Facilitate communication and alignment among team members to identify challenges and solutions.
• Evaluate prime contractor performance at milestone reviews against technical requirements and deliverables.
• Support system development from requirements verification through mission design, prototype, and test.
• Act as the main technical contact, leading reviews and translating needs into engineering requirements.
• Participate in studies and system trades for enhanced capabilities.
• Support verification, validation, and test planning.
• Provide technical and programmatic assessments of contractor designs at major milestones.
• Provide technical support to Government activities and program processes.
• Develop documents and briefings to communicate status to Government and industry.

Skills

Satellite systems

Acquisition program

Requirements development

Systems engineering

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Description

Join a mission driven satellite program at the forefront of national defense innovation. Our team is developing cutting edge technologies that directly support critical Department of War priorities, combining both proven and first-of-their-kind capabilities that have never been applied in space. Operating within a fast-paced acquisition environment, we benefit from streamlined authorities and direct access to senior Government decisionmakers, enabling us to move quickly and execute aggressive schedules using the most innovative contracting strategies available.

SAIC is seeking self-directed leaders who skillfully navigate ambiguity, solve complex challenges, and bring diverse expertise to a dynamic environment focused on delivering capability rapidly. Success here requires adaptability, initiative, and a willingness to wear multiple hats in support of a high impact mission. Candidates experienced as USAF/USSF acquisition officers (AFSC: 63A) or developmental engineers (AFSC: 62E) leading satellite programs in the USSF (SSC), NRO, or SDA, applying the full range of the systems engineering discipline (e.g., Requirements Development, Architecture, SE milestones: SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.), and/or DAWIA/PMI Program Management will be especially well-prepared to excel.

Job Description

This position is for a Spacecraft Technical Lead Engineer in Chantilly, VA supporting cutting-edge and innovative space programs. The Spacecraft Technical Lead Engineer will work daily on-site with the Government to provide advice and guidance on technical and programmatic aspects of a critical space system.

Job Responsibilities

• Define requirements to ensure the spacecraft operates seamlessly, from design through manufacturing, testing, and launch.
• Provide Government with recommended inputs and courses of action for technical and programmatic topics.
• Foster communication and alignment among team members to identify challenges and corresponding solutions.
• Evaluate prime contractor performance at milestone reviews ensuring compliance with technical requirements, and quality of deliverables.
• Support system development from initial requirements verification through mission design, prototype development, and test.
• Serve as the main technical point of contact, leading reviews, and translating customer needs into actionable engineering requirements.
• Participate in studies and system trades for enhanced capabilities.
• Support verification, validation, and test planning.
• Provide technical and programmatic assessments of contractor designs at major milestone reviews to assess progress, risks and issues, and the ability to achieve mission requirements.
• Provide technical support to Government customer activities and programmatic processes.
• Develop documents and briefings to communicate work or study status and brief Government and industry as required.

Qualifications

• TYPICAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelors and fourteen (14) years or more experience; Masters and twelve (12) years or more experience; PhD or JD and nine (9) years or more experience.
• Strong satellite systems engineering background.
• Major government acquisition program experience.
• Experience with space systems, including development of concept of operations, mission threads, and collaboration with stakeholders on interfaces; ability to conduct trade studies, define interfaces, and work with the developer to mature interface requirements.
• Ability to absorb extensive technical detail and logically formulate solutions for execution on an inflexible schedule, often requiring integration of conflicting and, at times, incomplete data.
• Knowledge and application of Systems Engineering processes and functions.
• Systems engineering and system integration experience.
• Experience with the Intelligence Community or the Department of Defense Satellite Program Office best practices.
• Experience with satellite system requirements development, design, manufacturing, and test.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, team building and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to be effective in a government/contractor team environment.
• Ability to facilitate technical discussions with SMEs.
• Ability to communicate with a diverse audience of senior decision makers with varying levels of programmatic and technical expertise.
• Effective communication, coordination, and customer engagement skills.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic, and team environment with no supervision.
• Active TS/SCI with current Poly Required.
• Previous SAP experience Preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required / Master’s degree preferred.

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

SAIC is a premier technology integrator, solving our nation's most complex modernization and systems engineering challenges across the defense, space, federal civilian, and intelligence markets. Our robust portfolio of offerings includes high-end solutions in systems engineering and integration; enterprise IT, including cloud services; cyber; software; advanced analytics and simulation; and training. We are a team of 23,000 strong driven by mission, united purpose, and inspired by opportunity. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $6.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For information on the benefits SAIC offers, see Working at SAIC. EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability