Ground Comms System Engineer

SAIC•Chantilly, VA

About The Position

SAIC’s Space and Intelligence Business Group is hiring a Systems Engineer to support a large contract and an innovative space program for Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. Based in Chantilly, Virginia, the position oversees coordination, technical guidance, and operational assurance of ground communications systems for mission-critical spacecraft operations. The role supports the customer’s execution of the program and involves hands-on participation throughout the ground system lifecycle, from requirements development through operations.

Requirements

Active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph.
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related STEM field, with 14 years of experience; or a master’s degree in one of these fields, with 12 years of experience.
Experience in ground communications systems development, operational experience with ground communications systems, or demonstrated aptitude in managing systems engineering responsibilities.
Experience working on a government or commercial satellite program.
Effective communication, coordination, and customer engagement skills.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic team environment without supervision.

Nice To Haves

Deep knowledge of ground communications subsystems, including RF communications, signal processing, network protocols, and data management techniques.
Experience with ground terminal architectures across multiple satellite orbits and frequency bands.
Knowledge of ground network operations, SATCOM network management, and cybersecurity considerations in ground communications systems.
Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and practices.

Responsibilities

Lead systems engineering activities for the ground communications segment, including requirements analysis, architecture development, design reviews, and verification and validation.
Translate mission requirements into detailed technical specifications and conduct system-level trade studies to optimize performance, cost, and risk.
Ensure ground systems meet mission requirements and comply with applicable standards and regulations.
Provide technical oversight of contractors and vendors, assess technical solutions, and recommend courses of action while ensuring designs meet customer requirements, risk tolerance, budget, and schedule.
Collaborate with the customer to develop and maintain system-level requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), and concepts of operations (CONOPS).
Work with a multidisciplinary team to support system integration and mission success, fostering communication and alignment to identify challenges and solutions.
Evaluate prime contractor performance at milestone reviews by analyzing compliance with technical requirements and the quality of deliverables; recommend improvements to project outcomes and likelihood of success.
Identify and manage risks throughout the systems engineering lifecycle by conducting risk assessments, developing mitigation strategies, and monitoring potential impacts on mission objectives.
Oversee integrated system testing, troubleshooting, and anomaly resolution across ground communications infrastructure.
Participate hands-on in the full lifecycle of ground system development, from requirements through operations.