Systems Engineer Sr Principal

Description

SAIC is seeking a Space Systems Engineer to join the National Security and Space Sector (NSS). You would work on a joint Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) crown jewel program providing highly specialized space/counter-space engineering, scientific, and analytical services from Aurora, Colorado. We support the Nation's leading edge IC and DoD space programs and offer compelling, deep-technical work that has direct influence and impact on program development and operations. Our team has Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) across a variety of disciplines, including physics, math, RF, optics, space acquisition and operations, and intelligence collection and analysis. Expected salary is $160 to $200k.

This Space Systems Engineer will work in a collaborative team-focused environment of U.S. Government civilians and contractors solving applied technical problems and developing usable solutions for multiple space-related capabilities and threats. The ideal candidate will:

• Have the ability to conceptualize, synthesize, analyze, and assess space systems, applications, and effects, including characteristics, performance, concepts of operations (CONOPS), and system, component, and material susceptibilities;
• Knowledge and experience with space systems engineering, operations, space threats and protection in one or more domains (RF, optical, radar);
• Be motivated by problem solving and creating a range of potential solutions, over actual system or component development;
• Have experience with IC and/or DoD satellite systems in Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) or Special Access Program (SAP) environments

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Contributing to capability and CONOPs development and recommendations for emerging space applications, ranging from architectures to payload operations in RF, optical and radar domains;
• Developing and maintaining in-depth knowledge of U.S. national security space capabilities, foreign space capabilities, and counter-space threats;
• Supporting the development and execution of multi-domain Space Object and Identification (SOSI) collections and participating in the data analysis function;
• Participating in modeling, simulation and orbit analyses, and conducting technical trades;
• Identifying gaps and prioritizing recommendations to achieve program protection objectives;
• Participating and representing the customer in various Government and contractor meetings and attend contractor programmatic and technical reviews (e.g. PMR, PDR, CDR, etc.) to provide technical recommendations and risk assessments;
• Frequently interacting with program managers, SETAs, FFRDCs and external stakeholders;
• Developing productive relationships with the Program Office, Prime, and Subcontract counterparts, functional IC or DoD counterparts, and other SMEs.

Qualifications

Required Skills:

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Engineering or Math and 14 or more years (12 or more with a Masters) of direct experience with satellite systems in one or more domains (RF, radar, optical)
• Active TS/SCI Clearance with Polygraph.
• US Citizenship is required
• Proven experience in core systems engineering and analysis disciplines and processes
• Experience in one or more fields of modelling space system signatures (RF, radar, or optical)
• Ability to work effectively in team-based environment including critical review of work products, as well as the individual environment with limited direction on how to accomplish assigned tasks
• Strong communication skills (technical writing, presentation development, team and customer interactions, etc);
• Demonstrated problem solving and critical thinking in complex and dynamic organizational environments;
• Demonstrated willingness to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and make objective, defendable work products with the information at hand

Strongly Desired Skills:

• Master's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or Mathematics
• Familiarity with RF hardware systems including satellite communication systems and threats
• Hands-on experience with creating models, algorithms and engineering tools for modeling RF, radar or optical signatures of space systems
• Working knowledge of space tracking radars, RF payload operations, and/or optical SDA technologies
• Familiarity with National Security Space architecture (IC and/or DoD)
• Understanding and familiarity with satellite orbitology and orbit analysis tools such as STK
• Experience developing code and tools in support of analysis objectives (Python, MATLAB, Linux, COAST/FIST, or similar)
• Overhead IMINT and/or SIGINT and geolocation experience
• Experience as a project or task technical lead

Target salary range: $160,001 - $200,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

SAIC accepts applications on an ongoing basis and there is no deadline.

Covid Policy: SAIC does not require COVID-19 vaccinations or boosters. Customer site vaccination requirements must be followed when work is performed at a customer site.