Lead Satellite SETA

SAIC • Chantilly, VA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

SAIC is seeking a seasoned Lead Satellite SETA to support a national security space program office in Chantilly, Virginia, serving the Intelligence Community. The role is the primary technical and programmatic advisor to a Government Division Chief and leads the SETA team overseeing satellite unit and subsystem design, development, integration, and delivery. It offers direct influence on mission-critical space capabilities, visibility with senior government leadership, and an opportunity to shape next-generation satellite architectures.

The Lead Satellite SETA advises on satellite architecture, design trades, development strategies, risk posture, and acquisition decisions; leads and mentors a multidisciplinary SETA team; and coordinates integration across space vehicles, payload, ground segment, AI&T, and systems engineering divisions. The role evaluates prime contractor performance at program milestones and supports leadership decisions through risk mitigation, technical trade studies, and course-of-action analyses. It also facilitates staff meetings and technical forums to foster collaboration across government and contractor stakeholders.

The position requires an active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph. It is performed on-site daily in a secure, office-based environment in Chantilly, VA, and involves in-person meetings and technical reviews, sometimes requiring movement between local facilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field and 20+ years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree and 15+ years of relevant experience. If there is no degree, four additional years of experience may substitute for the Bachelor’s degree.
• Strong satellite systems engineering background, including experience with spacecraft buses, payloads, subsystems, and/or end-to-end space system architectures.
• Demonstrated experience supporting major government acquisition programs (DoD, Intelligence Community, or NASA), including participation in major decision reviews and milestone processes.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts and programmatic issues to senior government stakeholders, verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, or managing technical teams in a government, contractor, or SETA environment.
• Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance with polygraph.
• Ability to work on-site daily in a secure, office-based environment in Chantilly, VA.
• Ability to attend in-person meetings, briefings, and reviews, including occasional movement between buildings or facilities within the local area.
• Ability to work at a computer, participate in meetings, and conduct technical reviews for extended periods.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience with the full lifecycle of national security space systems, from concept development and requirements definition through design, integration and test, launch, and on-orbit operations.
• Direct experience with Intelligence Community or NRO-like satellite programs, including familiarity with IC acquisition processes, mission assurance, and security requirements.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, and team-building skills with a proven track record of effectiveness in mixed government/contractor teams.
• Experience assessing technical baselines, supporting configuration/change control boards, and driving resolution of complex technical issues.
• Background in high-reliability or mission-critical systems, or experience in rapidly evolving, high-tempo program office environments.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the trusted technical and programmatic advisor to the Division Chief, providing recommendations on satellite architecture, design trades, development strategies, risk posture, and acquisition decisions.
• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary SETA team, manage workload, set priorities, and develop staff.
• Oversee and coordinate integration across space vehicles, payload, ground segment, AI&T, and systems engineering divisions to support end-to-end mission success and system-of-systems coherence.
• Evaluate prime contractor performance at major milestones, including PDR, CDR, integration reviews, test readiness, and delivery, assessing technical compliance, deliverable quality, and schedule and cost objectives.
• Identify and articulate program risks, issues, and opportunities; drive mitigation strategies, technical trade studies, and course-of-action analyses for leadership decision-making.
• Plan, run, and facilitate Division staff meetings and technical forums, fostering communication, alignment, and collaboration across government and contractor stakeholders.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior