Satellite Systems Engineer

Job ID: 2611987

Location: Chantilly, VA, US

Date Posted: 2026-04-29

Category: Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory: Systems Engineer

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: TS.SCI

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: TS/SCI with Poly

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE

Description

• Serve as a member of the Program Office technical staff for designing, developing, and integrating complete satellite systems, including spacecraft bus, payload, and ground subsystems
• Translate mission requirements into detailed technical specifications
• Assist with development and definition of interfaces between multiple system elements
• Perform system-level trade studies to optimize performance, cost, and risk
• Execute and manage multiple systems engineering processes within the government program office
• Provide technical oversight to contractors and vendors, ensuring designs meet all program requirements and interface requirements, and processes are compliant with specified standards
• Oversee integration and test activities, including requirements verification and environmental testing
• Collaborate with customers, stakeholders, and operators to develop mission objectives, use cases, employment scenarios, and Concepts of Operations
• Oversee prime contractors' development and ensure systems meet customer requirements, risk tolerance, budget, and schedule, while assessing technical solutions and recommending Courses of Action (COA)
• Work closely with a multidisciplinary team to ensure system integration and mission success. Foster communication and alignment among team members to identify challenges and corresponding solutions
• Evaluate prime contractor performance at milestone reviews by analyzing compliance with technical requirements, and quality of deliverables. Offer recommendations to improve project outcomes and likelihood of success
• Identify and manage risks throughout the systems engineering lifecycle by conducting risk assessments, developing, implementing, and monitoring mitigation strategies, and evaluating potential impacts on mission objectives

Qualifications

• Must possess an active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph
• Experience with the Intelligence Community and/or the Department of Defense Program Office best practices
• Bachelors and 5 years of relevant experience; OR Masters and 3 years of relevant experience
• At least 4 years experience working on a Government or Commercial satellite program
• Effective interpersonal skills (across multiple groups, offices, and organizations) and strong briefing and writing skills
• Ability to communicate to a diverse audience of senior decision makers with varying levels of programmatic and technical expertise
• Effective communication, coordination, and customer engagement skills
• Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic, and team environment with no supervision

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related STEM field
• Deep knowledge of satellite subsystems, including Attitude and Orbit Control (ADCS), power, propulsion, communications (RF), and thermal control
• Experience implementing model-based systems engineering (MBSE) in SysML and familiarity with MBSE tools such as Cameo

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 .