Systems Engineer Principal

Socket.dev; Lakehurst (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC is seeking Senior Systems Engineers to join the AAG/EMALS SE Branch, supporting design, development, integration, and fielding of naval aviation systems. You will contribute to DoD 5000 acquisition activities, ensuring performance, safety, and interoperability across hardware, software, data, and infrastructure.

You will lead cross-functional teams, perform architecture and risk analyses, and contribute to lifecycle engineering, verification, and documentation as part of a premier mission

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate technical activities to translate stakeholder needs into lifecycle-optimized systems
• Manage internal and external system interfaces for compatibility and performance
• Conduct system architecture design, component selection, and integration planning to meet all requirements
• Ensure alignment of system design with functional and physical requirements across hardware, software, data, and infrastructure
• Provide expert technical guidance to multidisciplinary teams, including systems, hardware, software, test, cybersecurity, and safety
• Apply extensive knowledge of Systems Engineering for major weapon systems in alignment with the DoD 5000 Acquisition framework
• Support and execute technical reviews and major milestones (SRRs, PDRs, Milestone A, etc.), ensuring technical rigor and compliance with all criteria
• Assist with the development of technical guidance, instructions, and program documentation (white papers, decision memos, technical assessments)
• Collaborate with a multifaceted team of stakeholders (engineering, logistics, manufacturing, program leadership) to solve complex problems with many competing objectives
• Participate in key program activities, including Risk Management, Configuration Management, Trade-off Analysis, Technical Reviews, and Modeling & Simulation
• Experience supporting ACAT I program through all phases of the acquisition lifecycle
• Provide technical oversight and integration guidance to multidisciplinary teams (systems, test, cyber, safety, hardware, software)
• Conduct system architecture design, component selection, integration planning, and technical risk assessments
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies to ensure program stability
• Prepare and review required documentation, including technical proposals, engineering reports, drawings, white papers, and status briefings
• Document solutions in relation to technical, cost, and schedule constraints
• Oversee integration, testing, and evaluation of systems and subsystems
• Conduct performance testing and validation analysis to ensure systems meet operational requirements
• Prepare detailed technical documents such as specifications, test plans, and engineering reports
• Interface with stakeholders across program offices, fleet users, contractors, and industry
• Translate complex technical information for senior leadership, including non-technical decision-makers
• Support collaboration between engineering, logistics, test, and acquisition teams
• Provide regular progress reports and presentations to program management and stakeholders

Job description

We are seeking multiple talented and dedicated Senior Systems Engineers to join our high-impact team within the AAG/EMALS Systems Engineering (SE) Branch. In this role, you will play a critical part in the design, development, integration, and fielding of advanced systems supporting complex naval aviation platforms and technologies. Our division is responsible for systems engineering management, planning, analysis, and requirements analysis.

You will contribute to the development of aircraft systems, ship integration efforts, and cutting-edge enabling technologies. Your efforts will directly support the execution of the Department of Defense (DoD) 5000 Acquisition Framework for major weapons systems. The role focuses on ensuring the system meets all requirements, including performance, safety, and compatibility, throughout their entire lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

Systems Engineering & Integration:

• Lead and coordinate technical activities to ensure stakeholder needs are translated into effective, lifecycle-optimized systems
• Manage internal and external system interfaces for compatibility and performance
• Conduct system architecture design, component selection, and integration planning to meet all requirements
• Ensure alignment of system design with functional and physical requirements across hardware, software, data, and infrastructure
• Provide expert technical guidance to multidisciplinary teams, including systems, hardware, software, test, cybersecurity, and safety

Program Execution & Acquisition Support:

• Apply extensive knowledge of Systems Engineering for major weapon systems in alignment with the DoD 5000 Acquisition framework
• Support and execute technical reviews and major milestones (SRRs, PDRs, Milestone A, etc.), ensuring technical rigor and compliance with all criteria
• Assist with the development of technical guidance, instructions, and program documentation (white papers, decision memos, technical assessments)
• Collaborate with a multifaceted team of stakeholders (engineering, logistics, manufacturing, program leadership) to solve complex problems with many competing objectives
• Participate in key program activities, including Risk Management, Configuration Management, Trade-off Analysis, Technical Reviews, and Modeling & Simulation
• Experience supporting ACAT I program through all phases of the acquisition lifecycle

Technical Leadership & Risk Management:

• Provide technical oversight and integration guidance to multidisciplinary teams (systems, test, cyber, safety, hardware, software)
• Conduct system architecture design, component selection, integration planning, and technical risk assessments
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies to ensure program stability
• Prepare and review required documentation, including technical proposals, engineering reports, drawings, white papers, and status briefings
• Document solutions in relation to technical, cost, and schedule constraints

Engineering Analysis & Testing:

• Oversee integration, testing, and evaluation of systems and subsystems
• Conduct performance testing and validation analysis to ensure systems meet operational requirements
• Prepare detailed technical documents such as specifications, test plans, and engineering reports

Communication & Collaboration:

• Interface with stakeholders across program offices, fleet users, contractors, and industry
• Translate complex technical information for senior leadership, including non-technical decision-makers
• Support collaboration between engineering, logistics, test, and acquisition teams
• Provide regular progress reports and presentations to program management and stakeholders

SAIC®is a premier mission integrator focused on advancing the power of technology and innovation to serve and protect our world. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, intelligence, and civilian markets includes secure high-end solutions in mission IT, enterprise IT, engineering services, and professional services. We integrate emerging technology, rapidly and securely, into mission critical operations that modernize and enable critical national imperatives.

We are approximately 23,000 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. SAIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.3 billion. For more information, visitsaic.com. For ongoing news, please visitnewsroom.