Mission Integration Engineer

SAIC•Chantilly, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

SAIC is seeking a self-directed Mission Integration Engineer to provide embedded support within a government program office in Chantilly, Virginia. The position supports the concept development, verification, and deployment of a critical space system on cutting-edge space programs. The engineer works in a fast-paced acquisition environment, helping the government integrate and mature mission-system interfaces and deliver capability on aggressive schedules. The role applies systems engineering and system integration expertise across requirements verification, mission design, prototype development, integration, and test. It serves as a technical point of contact between government and industry, translating customer needs into engineering requirements and assessing contractor designs, progress, risks, and ability to meet mission requirements. The position also prepares technical documents and briefings for government and industry stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and at least 14 years of experience, or a master's degree and at least 12 years, or a PhD or JD and at least 9 years.
Experience with space systems, including developing concepts of operations and mission threads and collaborating with stakeholders on interfaces.
Ability to conduct trade studies, define interfaces, and work with developers to mature interface requirements.
Ability to absorb extensive technical detail and logically formulate solutions for execution on inflexible schedules, including when data is conflicting or incomplete.
Knowledge and application of systems engineering processes and functions.
Systems engineering and system integration experience.
Prior experience with satellite system design, requirements, development, integration, and test.
Experience with satellite system requirement development, design, manufacturing, and test.
Excellent interpersonal, leadership, team-building, and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated effectiveness in a government-contractor team environment.
Ability to facilitate technical discussions with subject-matter experts.
Ability to communicate with senior decision-makers who have varying levels of programmatic and technical expertise.
Effective communication, coordination, and customer-engagement skills.
Ability to work without supervision in a fast-paced, dynamic, team environment.
Active TS/SCI clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience with the Intelligence Community or Department of Defense Satellite Program Office best practices.
Previous SAP experience.
Experience as a USAF/USSF acquisition officer (AFSC 63A) or developmental engineer (AFSC 62E) leading satellite programs in USSF (SSC), NRO, or SDA.
Experience applying the systems engineering discipline, including requirements development, architecture, and systems engineering milestones such as SRR, PDR, and CDR, and/or DAWIA/PMI program management.

Responsibilities

Assist the Government in developing concepts of operations (CONOPS) and approaches to employing mission-system interfaces effectively.
Conduct trade studies for interference and other mission considerations; ensure interfaces are designed and matured.
Provide technical oversight on behalf of the Government for system development, integration, and test.
Support system development from initial requirements verification through mission design, prototype development, and test.
Understand requirements and interfaces across disparate systems and evaluate necessary trades to support end-to-end mission success.
Develop mission threads.
Serve as the main technical point of contact, lead reviews, and translate customer needs into actionable engineering requirements.
Assist in developing Interface Control Documents (ICDs) defining technical, electrical, and mechanical boundaries between satellites and launch vehicles.
Design mission trajectories, plan operations, and execute simulations to prepare for system deployment.
Participate in studies and system trades for enhanced capabilities.
Support verification, validation, and test planning.
Provide technical and programmatic assessments of contractor designs at major milestone reviews, including assessments of progress, risks, issues, and the ability to achieve mission requirements.
Provide technical support to Government customer activities and programmatic processes.
Develop documents and briefings communicating work or study status, and brief Government and industry stakeholders as required.