Mission Operations Engineer

Job ID: 2618310
Location: Chantilly, VA, US
Date Posted: 2026-10-22
Category: Engineering and Sciences
Subcategory: Systems Engineer
Schedule: Full-Time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: Yes - 25% 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 a Mission Operations Engineer to provide Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) support to a dynamic, next-generation space program in Chantilly, VA. This role supports mission operations for innovative satellite constellations and advanced space capabilities, working closely with government, contractor, and operational partners. The position is mission-focused, highly collaborative, and directly impacts national space mission readiness and performance.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Monitor satellite system performance and support day-to-day mission operations, including readiness, initialization, checkout, and transition to operational status.
• Provide SETA support to government stakeholders in planning, coordinating, and executing satellite system operations and mission activities.
• Assist in identifying, tracking, and resolving system issues and anomalies in coordination with government, contractor, and operational teams.
• Support analysis of operational issues, risks, dependencies, and performance trends; clearly communicate impacts and recommended actions to leadership.
• Develop and contribute to operational assessments, status summaries, briefings, reports, and other documentation related to system health, readiness, and mission impacts.
• Coordinate across government, contractor, and mission partner organizations to support mission execution, operational alignment with objectives, and effective stakeholder engagement.
• Provide general technical, analytical, and coordination support in a dynamic operations environment, managing multiple priorities and stakeholder inputs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related technical field and 5+ years of relevant experience; OR
  • Master's degree in a related technical field and 3+ years of relevant experience; OR
  • High school diploma/GED and 9+ years of directly relevant satellite operations or mission operations experience in lieu of a degree.
• Knowledge of satellite systems operations and mission support activities (e.g., initialization, checkout, routine operations, anomaly resolution).
• Experience monitoring system performance and supporting operational readiness and mission execution.
• Demonstrated ability to support identification, tracking, and resolution of system issues and anomalies in collaboration with government and contractor teams.
• Experience providing technical, analytical, and coordination support for operational activities, status reporting, and leadership updates.
• Strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Ability to assess system status, operational impacts, risks, and clearly communicate findings to leadership and mission partners.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically as required.

Clearance Requirements:

• Active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph is required.
• Must be able to maintain clearance eligibility for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting NRO, IC, or DoD space or ground systems operations.
• Background in mission operations, satellite command and control, or spacecraft engineering.
• Prior SETA experience supporting government program offices or operations centers.
• Experience with operational procedures development, mission planning, or readiness assessments.
• Familiarity with anomaly resolution processes, root-cause analysis, and corrective action tracking.
• Experience working in highly integrated, multi-contractor and government environments.

Physical Requirements:

• Work is primarily performed in an office and/or operations center environment.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working at a computer or operations console.
• Ability to participate in meetings, briefings, and potential shift or surge support during critical operations periods, as required.

2026.10.2
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 .