Systems Engineer Chief

SAIC; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC in Chantilly, VA seeks a Senior Chief Systems Engineer to lead technical strategy and solution development for AI demonstrations and production solutions across IC markets.

The role bridges customer engagement, solution architecture, and internal strategy, requiring autonomy to drive technical decisions on shared platforms, cloud architecture, and data integration at enterprise scale.

Qualifications

• Experience in systems engineering and software architecture within the IC.
• Cloud and hybrid cloud design with multi-tenant architectures.
• Experience with AI/ML platforms in operational or demonstration contexts.
• Ability to translate complex concepts for technical and non-technical audiences and engage senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of technical go-to-market strategies for AI software solutions for IC customers.
• Define architectural framework strategies for shared platforms, data integration, and multi-tenant cloud environments.
• Engage with customer stakeholders to translate mission requirements into viable technical solutions.
• Collaborate with business development to shape technical approaches during capture and proposal development.
• Contribute to technical proposals, white papers, and solution briefs to ensure credibility and differentiation.
• Identify emerging technologies and assess their applicability to target markets and missions.
• Serve as primary technical spokesperson in customer meetings and industry events.
• Drive alignment across engineering, program management, and business development on direction and priorities.
• Support pipeline development by identifying opportunities for software and AI capabilities.
• Establish technical standards and best practices for AI solution development and deployment.
• Mentor engineering staff and collaborate with partners to integrate capabilities.
• Advise leadership on long-range strategy and investment priorities.

Skills

Systems engineering

Software architecture

Cloud architecture

Multi-tenant architecture

Data integration

AI/ML platforms

Customer engagement

Capture & proposals

Job description

Position Overview

We are looking for a Chief Systems Engineer to lead technical strategy and solution development for AI demonstrations and production solutions, as well as shared software platform strategies across the IC markets. This is a senior technical role that sits at the intersection of customer engagement, solution architecture, and internal strategy. The right person will be as comfortable in a customer meeting discussing mission requirements as they are driving technical decisions on shared software platforms and cloud architecture.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in systems engineering and software architecture within the intelligence community, with direct experience supporting NRO, NGA, or adjacent IC customers. You should have a strong background in cloud and hybrid cloud solution design, multi-tenant architecture, and data integration at enterprise scale. Experience with AI and machine learning platforms in an operational or demonstration context is preferred.

You are someone who can translate complex technical concepts for both technical and non-technical audiences, build credibility with senior customer stakeholders, and drive alignment internally across engineering, program, and business development teams. Prior experience contributing to capture efforts, technical proposals, or go-to-market strategy in a government contracting environment is strongly preferred.

This is a senior role that operates with a high degree of autonomy. You will work independently to identify and resolve issues across development and implementation, drive long-range technical planning, and recommend where we should be investing in new capabilities. You will serve as a key technical voice externally with customers and internally with senior leadership, and you will play a direct role in shaping and winning new business.

Expected tasks and responsibilities for the role:

• Lead the development of technical go-to-market strategies for AI software solutions targeting IC customers
• Define strategies for the architectural framework for shared software platforms, data integration libraries, and multi-tenant cloud and hybrid cloud environments
• Engage directly with customer stakeholders to understand mission requirements and translate those into viable technical solutions
• Partner with business development and program leadership to shape technical approaches during capture and proposal development
• Contribute to and review technical proposals, white papers, and solution briefs to ensure accuracy, credibility, and differentiation
• Identify emerging technologies and assess their applicability to our target markets and customer missions
• Serve as the primary technical spokesperson in customer meetings, industry events, and internal strategy discussions
• Drive alignment across engineering, program management, and business development teams on technical direction and solution priorities
• Support pipeline development by identifying new opportunities where our software and AI capabilities can address customer needs
• Establish and communicate technical standards and best practices for AI solution development and deployment across the portfolio
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineering staff across programs and pursuits
• Collaborate with partners and vendors to evaluate and integrate complementary capabilities into our solution offerings
• Advise senior leadership on long-range technical strategy, investment priorities, and capability development
• Track and assess competitor technical approaches and market trends to inform our positioning and solution development

Experience

• Typically requires a minimum of 15 years of experience in systems engineering, software architecture, or a related technical discipline
• Minimum of 5 years of experience supporting intelligence community customers, with direct experience in the NRO, NGA, or adjacent IC markets strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience leading technical strategy and solution architecture for enterprise software platforms in a government contracting environment
• Prior experience in a capture or business development support role, including contributing to technical proposals and go-to-market strategies
• Experience designing and implementing cloud and hybrid cloud solutions, including multi-tenant architectures and data integration frameworks at enterprise scale