Focal Plane Engineer

Job ID: 2618587
Location: Chantilly, VA, US
Date Posted: 2026-10-29
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 looking for a Focal Plane Engineer with Space-domain experience in Chantilly, VA to support a very dynamic and innovative space program office in Chantilly, VA.

In this position, you will provide technical support, coaching and mentoring Government points of contact (GPOCs) relative to ongoing capability development activities happening across diverse geographically located contractor facilities. You will also be coordinating other scopes of related work such as major program reviews. The job requires knowledge of intelligence processes and plans, excellent communication and collaboration skills, the ability to create unique work products, while having the ability to be strategically proactive.

This position requires an active Top Secret/SCI clearance with Polygraph. The Focal Plane Engineer directly supports the GPOC overseeing the design and implementation of focal planes. The potential candidate needs to be proficient with sensor phenomenology and anomaly resolution, along with modern system manufacturing and implementation.

Role Responsibilities

Design, manufacture, and calibrate focal planes, focal plane assemblies, and focal plane electronics for electro-optical payloads. Evaluate detector technologies, array architectures, pixel configurations, and readout integrated circuits to meet system performance requirements. Apply specialized knowledge of the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) domain to support electro-optical sensor and instrument development. Lead the design and integration of focal plane assemblies and focal plane electronics with electro-optical sensors and instruments.

Collaborate with optics and systems engineers to optimize detector performance within the overall imaging system. Support the development and troubleshooting of detector packaging, electrical interconnects, and thermal control systems. Perform focal plane characterization and calibration in factory and laboratory environments, as well as during mission operations. Support the development, integration, testing, and operational use of electro-optical payload focal plane systems.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field and 14 years of experience; Masters and 12 years of experience.

Active TS/SCI with Polygraph within the last 2 years
Familiarity with DoW/IC programs and SOW compliance
Strong organizational and communication skills within high pressure environments
Experience in reviewing installation/test procedures, monitoring execution, identifying risks, discrepancy resolution and on-site support
The ability to travel up to 25% of a given month, averaging 10% per year
Desired:
INCOSE ESEP or CSEP
Experience using systems engineering processes, methods, tools, and program roles to develop, implement, and deploy solutions for Satellite Systems.

Experience reviewing implementation plans and other related documents. Thorough understanding of space systems design, integration and test requirements and test execution, including test equipment support. Target salary range: $200,001 - $240,000. 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 .