Lead Systems Engineer

SAIC•Colorado Springs, CO

12d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Lead Systems Engineer (LSE) to lead engineering efforts on the AF TENCAP HOPE 2.0 program—a fast-paced, high-impact initiative focused on delivering innovative prototypes that rapidly enhance warfighter capabilities across air, space, cyber, and multi-domain mission areas. In this role, as the senior technical leader, you will oversee and guide engineering teams, ensuring effective alignment, engineering rigor, and a clear path to solving complex technical problems. You will set the vision for technical excellence, lead collaborative efforts across stakeholders, and ensure a robust systems engineering approach is applied consistently across all efforts. As the Lead Systems Engineer, you will perform a critical role in driving innovation, directing the design and development of prototypes, facilitating seamless communication, and elevating the technical culture of the team. You will guide and mentor technical staff while enabling rapid prototyping, technical execution, and successful transition to prototypes in support of advancing warfighter capabilities. The ideal candidate thrives in high-performing, mission-driven environments, has extensive experience leading technical teams, and demonstrates a strong ability to direct the technical components of fast-evolving prototyping programs. You are forward-thinking, proactive, and excel at guiding teams to solve complex challenges using innovative solutions. You take ownership of program success while empowering teams with the clarity, vision, and tools needed to achieve it.

Requirements

Active TS with SCI Eligibility clearance.
Local to Colorado Springs, CO.
Expected to be on-site with the customer 3+ days a week.

Nice To Haves

Extensive experience leading technical teams.
Strong ability to direct the technical components of fast-evolving prototyping programs.
Forward-thinking, proactive, and excel at guiding teams to solve complex challenges using innovative solutions.
Takes ownership of program success while empowering teams with the clarity, vision, and tools needed to achieve it.

Responsibilities

Serve as the key technical leader across the program, providing direction to ensure engineering discipline, technical alignment, quality, and delivery.
Lead technical design reviews, plan and facilitate engineering discussions, and drive resolution of technical challenges.
Represent the engineering team and articulate technical perspectives and trade-offs during government and customer engagements.
Author and review critical deliverables, including engineering baselines, plans, and technical documentation, ensuring credibility and accuracy in all communications.
Collaborate with Solution Architects and Innovation teams to evaluate emerging concepts and ensure technical feasibility and mission alignment.
Provide technical mentorship to engineering staff, fostering professional development, teamwork, and a culture of innovation and ownership.
Build and maintain alignment across multiple, concurrent projects and their stakeholders on engineering approaches, priorities, and resource utilization.
Coordinate schedules, dependencies, and resource allocation across the program, ensuring synchronization with the PMO.
Oversee and ensure engineering rigor across prototypes, system updates, and rapid development tasks while fostering self-organization and adaptability in the teams.
Develop and refine engineering processes, tools, templates, and best practices to enhance team productivity and performance.
Lead Test & Evaluation (T&E) activities, ensuring prototypes meet performance metrics and deliver value to the mission.
Proactively engage with the Government Chief Engineer to anticipate requirements and ensure technical needs are met to exceed performance expectations.
Champion Agile methodologies, iterative development, continuous improvement, and transparency through process-driven collaboration.