Contracts Principal

SAIC has an opening for a Contracts Principal. For the right candidate, this position may be remote anywhere in the United States.

SAIC's Business Management function encompasses the full acquisition value chain — from customer engagement and strategy development on the sell side, to program execution, strategic alliances, supply chain management, and subcontractor development on the buy side, to internal finance. Our team of dynamic acquisition professionals provides critical support across key business areas, including Mission IT, Integration, Engineering Services, SETA, and Professional Services, serving both external and internal customers.

SAIC's Business Management organization is seeking an experienced and highly capable Contracts Principal to manage contracts and proposals within the Air Force, Space and Intelligence Business Group, specifically supporting the Defense and Civil Space Market. The successful candidate will serve as a strategic partner to key stakeholders throughout the capture, proposal, and contract execution phases, bringing a high level of federal government contracting expertise and a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.
The ideal candidate is self-directed and highly capable of independent work, while maintaining a clear awareness of their boundaries and a willingness to engage manager guidance when appropriate. They are confident, organized, detail-oriented, and skilled at building collaborative relationships while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• At the Principal level, a high degree of professional competency is assumed — including strong written and oral communication, the ability to engage senior stakeholders, cross-organizational coordination, and a genuine commitment to professional development and industry awareness. What follows reflects the depth and strategic contribution we expect from the right individual.
• Serve as a primary customer-facing interface with Contracting Officers and acquisition specialists; cultivate and maintain strong, trust-based relationships at all levels of the customer organization; demonstrate interpersonal agility across a wide range of customer personalities and communication styles; lead negotiations with a solutions-oriented mindset — recognizing that some positions must be held firmly while others present opportunities for mutually beneficial outcomes;
  
  pursue resolutions that protect SAIC's interests while leaving the customer assured they have been heard, respected, and well-served; exercise sound judgment in knowing when to commit to a position in the room and when to take an issue back for further review.
• Demonstrate solid proficiency with innovative and alternative acquisition mechanisms, including Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs), Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs), and prototype project proposals; advise internal stakeholders on the features, trade-offs, and real-world implications of each vehicle across intellectual property rights, data rights, competitive positioning, cost and pricing considerations, and long-term program implications; understand how SAIC's scale, past performance, and enterprise capabilities position the company competitively within these environments.
• Demonstrate familiarity with the non-traditional defense contractor (NTDC) landscape and how it intersects with OTA and other innovative acquisition vehicles; understand how SAIC positions itself relative to NTDCs in these environments and contribute meaningfully to teaming and competitive positioning discussions.
• Apply a thorough understanding of Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) identification, assessment, and…