Mission Operations Engineer

SAIC • Chantilly, VA

9h • Onsite

About The Position

SAIC is seeking a Mission Operations Engineer to provide Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) support to a next-generation space program in Chantilly, Virginia. The role supports mission operations for satellite constellations and advanced space capabilities, working with government, contractor, and operational partners to support national space mission readiness and performance.

The engineer monitors satellite system performance and supports day-to-day operations, including readiness, initialization, checkout, and transition to operational status. The position also provides technical, analytical, and coordination assistance to government stakeholders and mission partners, helping identify and resolve system issues, assess operational impacts and risks, and communicate findings and recommendations to leadership. Work includes preparing operational assessments, status summaries, briefings, reports, and related documentation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related technical field and at least 5 years of relevant experience; or a related technical master’s degree and at least 3 years of relevant experience; or a high school diploma/GED and at least 9 years of directly relevant satellite or mission operations experience in lieu of a degree.
• Knowledge of satellite systems operations and mission support activities, such as initialization, checkout, routine operations, and anomaly resolution.
• Experience monitoring system performance and supporting operational readiness and mission execution.
• Ability to support identification, tracking, and resolution of system issues and anomalies in collaboration with government and contractor teams.
• Experience providing technical, analytical, and coordination support for operational activities, status reporting, and leadership updates.
• Strong communication and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Ability to assess system status, operational impacts, and risks, and clearly communicate findings to leadership and mission partners.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically as required.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph; must be able to maintain clearance eligibility for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting NRO, IC, or DoD space or ground systems operations.
• Background in mission operations, satellite command and control, or spacecraft engineering.
• Prior SETA experience supporting government program offices or operations centers.
• Experience with operational procedures development, mission planning, or readiness assessments.
• Familiarity with anomaly resolution processes, root-cause analysis, and corrective action tracking.
• Experience working in highly integrated, multi-contractor and government environments.

Responsibilities

• Monitor satellite system performance and support day-to-day mission operations, including readiness, initialization, checkout, and transition to operational status.
• Provide SETA support to government stakeholders in planning, coordinating, and executing satellite system operations and mission activities.
• Help identify, track, and resolve system issues and anomalies with government, contractor, and operational teams.
• Analyze operational issues, risks, dependencies, and performance trends, and communicate impacts and recommended actions to leadership.
• Develop and contribute to operational assessments, status summaries, briefings, reports, and other documentation related to system health, readiness, and mission impacts.
• Coordinate across government, contractor, and mission partner organizations to support mission execution, alignment with objectives, and stakeholder engagement.
• Provide technical, analytical, and coordination support in a dynamic operations environment while managing multiple priorities and stakeholder inputs.

What This Job Offers

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