Systems Engineer Manager

Job ID: 2617764
Location: Chantilly, VA, US
Date Posted: 2026-10-08
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
JOB DESCRIPTION:
SAIC is seeking a Systems Engineering Manager to fulfill a senior contractor role at a government facility in Chantilly, VA. As a member of the contract's senior leadership team, this leader is responsible and accountable to the government and Program Manager (PM)/Deputy PM for the successful task execution of contract requirements at this location. Key responsibilities:

• Performs as Lead SETA for operations and systems engineering activities- directly supports Directorate senior government staff
• Oversees, guides, prioritizes technical tasks for 40+ expert Systems Engineering and Technical Advisors (SETA)
• Promotes thought leadership and "can do" attitude across SETA team and to government - leads by example
• Partners with Government to anticipate, analyze, and address requirements, risks, and opportunities for all contract requirements
• Collaborates closely with subject matter experts within organization to identify appropriate resources to support current and new tasks
• Facilitate cross-Directorate, cross-site collaboration and coordination
• Proactively coordinates with program leadership on management topics related to tasks, priorities, travel, and staffing--anticipates and provides solutions
• "Leans forward" and works with other Contract Leads to address technical and program management topics
• Perform SAIC manager's responsibilities (e.g. staffing, personnel management, etc.)

Qualifications
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelors and fourteen (14) years or more experience; Masters and twelve (12) years or more experience; PhD or JD and nine (9) years or more experience. Degree is contractually required.
Required:

• ship
• Active TS/SCI clearance with current polygraph
• Minimum 10 years' experience with National Reconnaissance Office
• Minimum five years' experience as a lead within programs/projects of similar size, scope, and complexity or directly managing programs of smaller size, scope, and complexity
• Minimum five years' experience of supporting 24/7 operational environments, preferably supporting NRO ground stations
• Relevant experience working with other IC organizations
• Knowledge of GEOINT and/or SIGINT space and ground architecture including mission control and/or mission processing functions
• Proven success as a leader and manager, guiding technical staff and managing their efforts
• Demonstrated success in a high visibility position requiring self-motivation and perseverance, exemplary leadership and management skills
• Professional and tactful under pressure; effective negotiation with diplomatic skills
• Self-starter, master at multi-tasking able to proactively develops plans, acts, and drives tasks to closure
• Thought leader and expert at independently solving complex, abstract topics
• Polished communicator (written/verbal) with impeccable interpersonal skills and personal judgment; confident presenting analysis and recommendations to all levels of government
• Generates consensus on topics with varied positions, promotes collaboration among all stakeholders

Desired:

• Familiar with Dev/Sec/Ops, Digital Engineering/Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), AI and associated tools
• Familiar with JIRA, Confluence
• PMP, INCOSE, and/or SAFe certifications

Target salary range: $180,001 - $220,000. 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 .