Contracts Principal

SAIC•Flexwork, VA

1d•Remote

About The Position

SAIC is seeking an experienced Contracts Principal to manage contracts and proposals within the Air Force, Space and Intelligence Business Group, supporting the Defense and Civil Space Market. The role partners with stakeholders across capture, proposal, and contract execution, applying federal government contracting expertise and a proactive, solutions-oriented approach. The position may be remote anywhere in the United States for the right candidate. The Contracts Principal serves as a strategic, customer-facing partner and provides guidance on acquisition approaches, contractual obligations, proposal strategy, negotiations, and risk. The role requires independent judgment, strong collaboration with senior stakeholders and cross-organizational teams, attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. The successful candidate also stays informed about industry and regulatory developments and develops acquisition strategies for emerging technologies.

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; an additional 4 or more years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
U.S. citizenship.
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 governing assigned contracts, 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.
Ability to write concise, high-impact OTA white papers, prototype project proposals, and other short-form submissions, communicating complex technical and contractual concepts precisely 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 engaging managers.
Reliable, structured, risk-aware, agile, and creative, with consistent follow-through on commitments.
Strong written and oral communication, ability to engage senior stakeholders, and ability to coordinate across organizations.
Ability to build collaborative relationships and exercise sound professional judgment.
Experience developing acquisition strategies for emerging technologies and familiarity with as-a-service models, including SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS.

Nice To Haves

Experience with both FAR-based and non-FAR-based proposal environments.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary customer-facing interface with Contracting Officers and acquisition specialists, building and maintaining trust-based customer relationships.
Lead negotiations with a solutions-oriented approach, balancing protection of SAIC's interests with productive customer outcomes and exercising judgment about when to commit or seek further review.
Advise internal stakeholders on innovative acquisition mechanisms, including Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs), Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs), and prototype project proposals, including implications for intellectual property, data rights, competition, cost and pricing, and long-term programs.
Contribute to teaming and competitive positioning discussions involving non-traditional defense contractors and innovative acquisition vehicles.
Identify, assess, and mitigate Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCIs); independently prepare 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; escalate issues when appropriate.
Educate internal and external partners on contracting strategies, marketplace dynamics, and competitive approaches, and communicate relevant trade-offs.
Develop acquisition strategies for emerging technologies such as AI and cloud computing, including opportunity and market assessment, acquisition planning, and alignment with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
Address acquisition challenges related to emerging technologies, including risk management, rapid innovation cycles, and evolving industry standards.
Maintain awareness of significant regulatory developments, including proposed and ongoing FAR reform, and assess potential effects on contract structures, compliance, and acquisition strategy.
Support contracts and proposals through the capture, proposal, and contract execution phases.