Contracts Senior Principal

SAIC•El Segundo, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

SAIC is seeking a cleared Contracts Senior Principal to manage contracts and proposals within its Air Force, Space and Intelligence Business Group, supporting the Defense and Civil Space Market. The role is an onsite position in either Colorado Springs, Colorado, or El Segundo, California. The successful candidate will partner with stakeholders throughout capture, proposal, and contract execution, applying federal government contracting expertise and a proactive, solutions-oriented approach. The position calls for exceptional autonomy, organization, attention to detail, collaborative relationship-building, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. The role serves as a strategic partner to business and program leadership and as a primary interface with customer contracting officials. The Contracts Senior Principal applies advanced expertise in traditional and innovative acquisition vehicles, including OTAs, CSOs, BAAs, and consortium-based models. They provide counsel on contractual and acquisition trade-offs, manage contract risks and negotiations, and lead the development and maintenance of OCI mitigation plans. They also review and interpret contractual documents, advise on rights and obligations, and escalate matters to in-house counsel when appropriate. SAIC's Business Management organization supports the acquisition value chain, including customer engagement and strategy, program execution, strategic alliances, supply chain management, subcontractor development, and internal finance. It provides support to areas such as Mission IT, Integration, Engineering Services, SETA, and Professional Services.

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 OTA agreements, 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 compliant proposals across contract types and acquisition vehicles.
Ability to communicate complex technical and contractual concepts precisely and concisely, including 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 ability to manage fluctuating workloads and competing priorities.
Reliable, structured, risk-aware, agile, and creative approach, with consistent delivery on commitments.
Exceptional written and oral communication, ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders, cross-organizational coordination, independent problem solving, and commitment to industry awareness and professional development.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary strategic interface with customer contacts, including Contracting Officers and acquisition specialists, and build trust-based relationships throughout customer organizations.
Lead customer negotiations with a flexible, solutions-oriented approach that protects SAIC's interests while pursuing mutually beneficial outcomes.
Advise business and program leadership on the trade-offs of alternative acquisition mechanisms, including OTAs, CSOs, BAAs, and prototype project proposals, considering intellectual property and data rights, competition, cost and pricing, OCI implications, and long-term program effects.
Structure and negotiate teaming and partnership arrangements with non-traditional defense contractors, positioning SAIC's capabilities in OTA and innovation-focused acquisition environments.
Navigate consortium-based OTA models, including membership, project call responses, and agreement structures, to position SAIC competitively.
Identify, assess, and mitigate organizational conflicts of interest; author initial OCI mitigation plans and updates, develop mitigation strategies, and keep plans current and defensible throughout the program lifecycle.
Review, analyze, and interpret contractual documents for compliance with company policy, government specifications, and master agreement requirements; advise on contractual rights, obligations, and terms, escalating issues to in-house legal counsel when warranted.
Educate internal and external partners on contracting strategies, marketplace dynamics, competitive approaches, and relevant trade-offs.
Apply a strategic mindset to support innovation and adapt to evolving business and regulatory environments.
Manage contracts and proposals across capture, proposal, and contract execution phases.
Develop, structure, and review technically and contractually compliant proposals across contract types and acquisition vehicles.