Chief Space Vehicle Systems Engineer

SAIC•El Segundo, CA

3h•Onsite

About The Position

SAIC is seeking a highly experienced Chief Space Vehicle Systems Engineer to support a U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) Space Vehicle (SV) program. The position is embedded at customer facilities in El Segundo, California, working directly alongside the customer and applying advanced space systems engineering expertise to help shape and deliver next-generation capabilities. The role provides technical subject matter expertise to the Government program for planning, risk mitigation, technical oversight, and technical reviews. It supports streamlined acquisition and successful execution of space vehicle programs, including evaluation of contractor designs and oversight of development, integration, testing, and delivery.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree and at least 18 years of experience, or a Master's degree and at least 16 years of experience.
Experience with development, integration, and/or operations of DoW or other agency space vehicles or space payloads, such as NRO, NSA, or NASA.
Experience leading space vehicle teams focused on integration of complex space and/or ground systems.
Experience applying systems engineering principles to space vehicle and/or payload development, build, and integration and testing.
Experience with space vehicle subsystem development and requirements, such as power, guidance, command and control, or structures.
Experience in overall space vehicle development, integration, testing, and delivery.
Understanding of the risk management process.
Strong communication skills with peers and customer leadership.
Must have an in-scope security background investigation (T5 or SSBI), adjudicated for SCI eligibility, and be enrolled in the Continuous Evaluation program if applicable.
Must be willing to be nominated for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information and Special Access Programs and to consent to a polygraph examination.

Nice To Haves

20 or more years of experience with space vehicle development and delivery.
Experience integrating and testing payloads onto spacecraft.
Familiarity with DoW acquisition processes.
Experience as a project or program manager on a space vehicle or spacecraft bus program/project.
Familiarity with ground systems and space vehicle operations.
Experience with launch systems integration.
Subject matter expertise in one or more key space vehicle subsystems.
Experience developing and executing Risk & Opportunities Registers.
Experience with Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) for program execution and management.

Responsibilities

Support the Government program manager and chief engineer as a key technical representative for a major space system acquisition.
Engage with Space Vehicle contractors to evaluate hardware and software designs against Government-generated requirements.
Lead technical requirements analysis and development and systems engineering; oversee contractors developing, designing, producing, integrating, and testing space systems.
Oversee integration and testing of payloads.
Develop system requirements and define interfaces.
Analyze SV designs and recommend actions to ensure contractors meet technical and performance requirements.
Work with the Government customer to manage and negotiate interface control documents with external stakeholders and ensure internal and external interfaces are met.
Provide inputs to System of Systems integration of the SV design with the overall space systems architecture, ground segment, operations, and on-orbit testing.
Assess and recommend execution schedules and life-cycle costs.
Partner with the Government chief engineer to oversee and review requirements verification and validation.
Assess contractor risk management and provide actionable recommendations to the chief engineer and program manager.
Collaborate independently with Government program office representatives, FFRDC, SETA, and contractor personnel.