Contracts Senior Principal

SAIC•El Segundo, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

SAIC is seeking a cleared Contracts Senior Principal to manage contracts and proposals in its Air Force, Space and Intelligence Business Group, supporting the Defense and Civil Space Market. The role is onsite in either Colorado Springs, Colorado, or El Segundo, California. The position serves as a strategic partner to stakeholders throughout capture, proposal, and contract execution. It requires extensive federal government contracting expertise, autonomy, initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to build collaborative relationships while managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. The role is part of SAIC's Business Management organization, which supports the acquisition lifecycle across customer engagement, strategy development, program execution, strategic alliances, supply chain management, subcontractor development, and internal finance. At the Senior Principal level, the employee is expected to communicate exceptionally, influence senior stakeholders, coordinate across organizations, solve problems independently, and maintain industry awareness and professional development. The position advises business and program leaders on acquisition strategies, contract terms, risks, negotiation approaches, and the implications of different contract and agreement vehicles. It also leads customer engagement and negotiations, develops and maintains organizational conflict of interest mitigation plans, and educates internal and external partners on contracting strategies and marketplace dynamics.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related discipline and 15 years of relevant experience, or a master's degree in Business Administration or a related discipline and 13 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 relevant laws, regulations, and policies governing assigned contracts, including the FAR, RFO, Truthful Cost or Pricing Data, and GAAP.
Strong knowledge of federal government contracting industry practices.
Proven experience in contract risk management and negotiation.
Demonstrated experience with OTAs, including prototype OTAs, follow-on production transactions, and consortium-based OTA models, 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, including communicating complex technical and contractual concepts within strict page limitations.
Ability to synthesize complex legal and contractual topics and communicate them clearly to collaborators from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
Effective critical thinking skills and the ability to quickly assimilate and act on new information.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage fluctuating workloads and competing priorities.
Reliable, structured, risk-aware, agile, and creative approach, with consistent delivery on commitments.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Manage contracts and proposals supporting the Defense and Civil Space Market within the Air Force, Space and Intelligence Business Group.
Partner with stakeholders throughout capture, proposal, and contract execution phases.
Serve as the primary strategic interface with customer contacts, including Contracting Officers and acquisition specialists, and maintain trust-based relationships across customer organizations.
Lead negotiations with a solutions-oriented approach that protects SAIC's interests while pursuing mutually beneficial resolutions.
Advise business and program leadership on acquisition mechanisms, including OTAs, CSOs, BAAs, and prototype project proposals, and explain their trade-offs and program implications.
Structure and negotiate teaming and partnership arrangements with non-traditional defense contractors, positioning SAIC's capabilities competitively.
Navigate consortium membership, project call responses, and agreement structures for consortium-based OTA models.
Identify, assess, and mitigate organizational conflicts of interest; author initial OCI mitigation plans and updates, develop strategies, and keep plans current and defensible throughout the program lifecycle.
Review, analyze, and interpret contractual documents for compliance with company policy, government specifications, master agreement requirements, and contractual obligations.
Advise business and program leadership on contractual rights, obligations, and terms, and recognize when matters should be escalated to in-house legal counsel.
Educate internal and external partners on contracting strategies, marketplace dynamics, and competitive approaches.
Communicate trade-offs and insights that elevate team thinking, and adapt strategies to changing business and regulatory conditions.