Systems Engineer Principal

Job ID: 2611766

Location: Chantilly, VA, US

Date Posted: 2026-04-27

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 is seeking an experienced Electrical Systems Engineer to join our elite Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) team supporting cutting-edge national security programs. In this role, you'll contribute to the development of advanced remote sensing technologies, sensor systems, and space vehicle architectures that directly impact mission-critical operations. This is an opportunity to tackle complex technical challenges while working alongside world-class engineers on multiple high-priority, fast-paced projects.

Roles and Responsibilities:

As a SETA, you will provide expert technical guidance and oversight to ensure program success across the full system lifecycle:

• Provide technical insight to the next generation electronics and sensor development
• Review and assess development contractor deliverables including requirements flow-down, verification methodologies, calibration plans, interface control documents, concepts of operations, and test plans
• Participate in design reviews to uphold the customer's interests
• Provide expert advice related to technical issues that arise during program execution
• Identify high-risk areas (technical, cost, and schedule) and develop effective mitigation strategies
• Work seamlessly across SETA teams, development contractors, and customer organizations to drive successful program objectives
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop, refine, and trace requirements; conduct system-level trade studies to optimize performance

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: ?

• Active TS/SCI with Counter Intelligence (CI) polygraph
• STEM Bachelors and nine (9) years or more experience; Masters and seven (7) years or more experience ; PhD or JD and four (4) years or more experience
• Proven ability to critically review technical work products and provide actionable recommendations
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Electrical, Computer, or Aerospace Engineering or Physics
• Advanced electro-optical sensor and payload development
• Spacecraft bus or payload engineering lifecycle (requirements, design, development, integration, test, and delivery)
• Multi-subsystem interface design and integration
• Analog and/or digital electronics design and analysis
• Demonstrated knowledge of government acquisition processes and project/program management
• Concept development, requirements definition, and trade study execution for innovative systems

Target salary range: $160,001 - $200,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.


SAIC is a premier technology integrator providing full life cycle services and solutions in the technical, engineering, intelligence, and enterprise information technology markets. SAIC is Redefining Ingenuity through its deep customer and domain knowledge to enable the delivery of systems engineering and integration offerings for large, complex projects. SAIC's approximately 15,000 employees are driven by integrity and mission focus to serve customers in the U.S. federal government. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $4.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For information on the benefits SAIC offers, see .