Systems Engineer Principal

Job ID 2618929

Location Fort Belvoir, VA, US

Date Posted 2026-11-09

Category Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory Systems Engineer

Schedule Full-Time

Shift Day Job

Travel Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required TS.SCI_wPoly

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain None

Potential for Remote Work ORA_ON_SITE

Description

SAIC has an opportunity for a Ground Systems Engineer to join an elite team providing Systems Engineering and Technical Advisory (SETA) services in Springfield, VA. The selected candidate will work multiple ground system projects and tasks, primarily focused on Mission Ground Terminals and supporting infrastructure —from broad, strategic issues (e.g. policies, concept of operations, etc.) to tactical concerns (e.g., near-term schedules, testing, system integration and transition, etc.) to support vital operational missions.

Responsibilities

• Technical Advisor to drive change and shape the future of operations across engineering, operations, and assurance functional areas, and future mission design decisions for systems actively in acquisition.
• Oversee integration/test of ground terminal functions/capabilities of delivered systems; provides analysis of schedules, capabilities delivered best meet operational needs—near, and long-term.
• Assist in developing systems architectures and associated requirements and oversee integration of mission ground systems and mission IT to support operations.
• Provide end-to-end system engineering for the entire life cycle of a program.
• Support requirements and SOW development, interface control documentation, technical specification review, architecture and CONOPS development.
• Help develop standards, tools, and procedures for use on projects including but not limited to risk, issue, opportunity, change and information management.
• Analyze and provide alternatives and recommendations to multiple government customers; provide key information, possible risks and impacts and potential improvements to government managers and other contractors.
• Review documentation, draft and assist with briefings, and represent government as required in forums that support streamlined delivery of new capabilities and standardization of integration efforts.
• Assist program needs, procurement processes, and working to obtain Authority to Operate for IT systems.
• Occasional OCONUS travel will be required.

Qualifications

• Must be a US Citizen.
• Active TS/SCI with CI polygraph.
• Bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) and nine (9) years or more experience, or master’s in
• STEM field and seven (7) years or more experience. *contract requirement.
• Expertise in full system engineering life cycle, from concept, requirements, design & development, to deployment and operational maintenance.
• Experience with project management supporting the delivery, integration, and transition of mission systems and/or mission applications.
• Ability to work independently to support multiple government customers and large, complex projects to address organization’s needs throughout system development lifecycle.
• Self-starter, proactively addresses customer requirements without supervision, expert at defining solutions for broad, abstract topics.
• Polished communicator (written/verbal), impeccable interpersonal skills and personal judgment and comfortable briefing or communicating with senior government managers.
• Master at collaboration and coordination with multiple stakeholders -- consensus builder.

Desired

• Familiar with operation of ground terminal systems and remote receive facilities and infrastructure systems.
• Technical knowledge of space-to-ground communications, terrestrial communications, mission data processing systems, or space vehicle mission planning and command and control systems.
• Real-time operations experience as a SIGINT or GEOINT spacecraft operator, spacecraft engineer, or ground systems operator; familiar with space operations and policies.

Target salary range $140,001 - $180,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.