Spacecraft Chief Systems Engineer

SAIC’s Air Force, Space and Intelligence Business Group is growing and looking for innovative, mission-driven professionals to help us advance cutting-edge space capabilities for our Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. Embark on a rewarding career just ten miles from SAIC headquarters, as part of our Chantilly, VA team supporting essential programs in systems development, targeting & intelligence analysis, systems engineering & integration, and beyond.

We are seeking a Spacecraft Chief Systems Engineer to serve as a partner to the Government Chief Engineer on a state-of-the-art space program. In this role, you will advise the Government to make critical decisions to adapt reusable spacecraft to achieve new missions critical to US Space Force requirements. Apply system engineering disciplines to advance spacecraft subsystems by mitigating risks to technical development efforts.

In this highly collaborative and technically complex position, you will:

• Partner with Government Chief Engineers and Program Managers to advise on development progress and envision future missions.
• Lead technical architecture planning to identify critical dependencies to retrofit spacecraft designs to achieve mission objectives.
• Partner with multidisciplinary satellite subsystem teams to monitor subsystem development, testing, and integration conducted by developers.
• Serve as a team lead to key system engineers and subject matter experts responsible for collaboration, guiding work priorities, mentoring, and corporate compliance.
• Participate in Developer-led Integrated Product Teams (IPT) and system milestone reviews, offering innovative recommendations to enhance system performance and delivery timelines.
• Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies throughout the systems engineering lifecycle to safeguard mission objectives and ensure program success.

To excel in this role, you must possess:

• Active TS/SCI clearance with a polygraph.
• Expertise in spacecraft design and engineering, with proficiency in at least one satellite subsystem (e.g., structures and mechanisms, electrical power, attitude and orbit control, thermal control, command and data handling, propulsion) and a keen interest in rapidly learning others.
• Strong system engineering experience, particularly in spacecraft design, development, and implementation.
• Hands-on experience with pre-launch integration testing and functionality checkout of spacecraft systems.
• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with 18 years of experience, or a Master’s degree with 16 years of experience.

• 6+ years of experience as a satellite developer, supplier, or SETA working on DoD or IC satellite programs.
• Experience serving as a chief engineer or chief system engineer for a satellite program.
• Demonstrated program or project management experience, with a proven ability to oversee and align diverse operational and technical objectives.