Contracts Principal

SAIC•El Segundo, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

SAIC is seeking an experienced Contracts Principal to manage contracts and proposals within its Air Force, Space and Intelligence Business Group, supporting the Defense and Civil Space Market. The role partners with stakeholders throughout capture, proposal, and contract execution, applying federal government contracting expertise and a proactive, solutions-oriented approach. It is offered onsite in Colorado Springs, Colorado, or El Segundo, California. The successful candidate is self-directed and capable of independent work while recognizing when to seek manager guidance. They are confident, organized, detail-oriented, collaborative, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. At the Principal level, the role requires strong written and oral communication, engagement with senior stakeholders, cross-organizational coordination, professional development, and awareness of industry developments. The position serves as a primary customer-facing contracting interface and strategic advisor. It requires expertise in traditional and innovative acquisition approaches, including OTAs, CSOs, prototype projects, and emerging-technology acquisitions. The Principal analyzes contractual terms and risks, advises business and program leaders, supports competitive positioning and teaming, and develops acquisition strategies aligned with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or a related discipline and 10 years of relevant experience, or a master’s degree in Business Administration or a related discipline and 8 years of relevant experience.
U.S. citizenship.
Active Top Secret/SCI with SAP clearance.
Extensive cost proposal experience.
Thorough understanding and broad application of contract administration principles, concepts, practices, and standards.
In-depth knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and policies, including the FAR, TINA, and GAAP.
Strong knowledge of federal government contracting industry practices.
Proven experience in contract risk management and negotiation.
Demonstrated experience with OTA agreements, including prototype OTAs and follow-on production transactions, and working knowledge of the statutory and regulatory framework governing OTA use and limitations.
Strong proposal-writing skills, including developing, structuring, and reviewing technically and contractually compliant proposals across contract types and acquisition vehicles, including OTA white papers, prototype project proposals, and concise short-form submissions.
Ability to communicate complex technical and contractual concepts precisely and concisely within strict page limits.
Ability to synthesize complex legal and contractual topics and explain them clearly to collaborators from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
Effective critical-thinking skills and ability to quickly assimilate and act on new information.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage fluctuating workloads and competing priorities.
Self-directed and dependable, with awareness of limitations and a collaborative approach to manager engagement.
Reliable, structured, risk-aware, agile, and creative, with a consistent record of delivering on commitments.

Nice To Haves

Experience with both FAR-based and non-FAR-based proposal environments is preferred.
Familiarity with emerging-technology acquisition strategies and as-a-service models such as SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary customer-facing interface with Contracting Officers and acquisition specialists, and build trust-based relationships across customer organizations.
Lead negotiations using sound judgment, protect SAIC’s interests, pursue mutually beneficial outcomes where possible, and determine when to commit to a position or seek further review.
Advise stakeholders on innovative acquisition mechanisms, including OTAs, CSOs, and prototype project proposals, considering intellectual property and data rights, competitive positioning, cost and pricing, and long-term program implications.
Contribute to teaming and competitive-positioning discussions involving non-traditional defense contractors and innovative acquisition vehicles.
Identify, assess, and mitigate Organizational Conflicts of Interest; independently draft and update OCI mitigation plans and review them with contracts management before submission to program leadership.
Review, analyze, and interpret contractual documents; assess compliance with company policy, government specifications, and master agreement requirements; advise business and program leadership on contractual rights, obligations, and terms and conditions; escalate issues when appropriate.
Educate internal and external partners on contracting strategies, marketplace dynamics, and competitive approaches, communicating relevant trade-offs and insights.
Apply a strategic mindset to innovation and changes in the business and regulatory landscape.
Develop acquisition strategies for emerging technologies such as AI and cloud computing, including opportunity assessment, market-trend analysis, acquisition planning, and alignment with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
Address emerging-technology challenges, including risk management, rapid innovation cycles, and evolving industry standards.
Apply experience with as-a-service models such as SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS.
Monitor significant regulatory developments, including FAR reform initiatives, and assess potential effects on contract structures, compliance, and acquisition strategy.
Manage contracts and proposals through capture, proposal, and contract execution phases.