Principal Hardware Engineer

Job ID: 2615240

Location: Santa Maria, CA, US

Date Posted: 2026-08-05

Category: Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory: Hardware Engr

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 25% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: Secret

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Secret

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE

Description

?SAIC seeks an experienced and energetic Principal Hardware Engineer to directly support the modernization of the space launch ranges, meeting mission requirements, providing range capabilities, and supporting the Assured Access to Space (AATS) mission. The overarching purpose of the program is to perform system modernization and digital transformation projects that will enable the acceleration of the space launch cadence to enable the Spaceport of the future. This position is located in Santa Maria, CA.

Job Responsibilities:

• Perform electrical and mechanical (signal, power & thermal) analysis at the rack level.
• Generation of engineering drawings in accordance with ASME and IEEE standards, including rack assembly drawings, interconnect wiring diagrams and custom cable assemblies.
• Analysis of supplier LRUs, including step-file and 3D model review and compliance to specifications.
• Ability to support system integration, test, development, and execution of various types of complex communications systems.
• Develops technical solutions to complex problems, which require the regular use of ingenuity and creativity.
• Provide lab and site integration, test, and maintenance support.
• Participate in troubleshooting systems to resolve complex issues, interact, and coordinate with engineers responsible for sustaining sub-systems.

Qualifications

• ?Bachelor's degree and nine (9) years or more of experience; master's degree and seven (7) years or more of experience; PhD and four (4) years related experience. Experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Experience in designing new or modifying existing products, developing technical specifications for production, analyzing hardware configuration and processing solutions, and testing hardware conformance to specifications.
• Familiarity with Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) including generating, analyzing, and maintaining a digital model.
• Experience with projects that consist of updating ground-based systems such as RF systems, communication systems, telemetry, and/or virtualization of systems.

Desired Education, Experience, and Qualifications:

• Experience modernizing systems in a DoD environment.
• Experience with Digital Engineering tools and processes.
• Domain knowledge in one of the key range subsystem areas including: Positive Control, Telemetry, Radar, Optics, Weather, Surveillance, Communications (RF and IP based), Data handling, Timing and Sequencing, and Situational awareness.

Target salary range: $120,001 - $160,000. 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 .