Principal Systems Engineer

SAIC•Chantilly, VA

21h

About The Position

SAIC is hiring a Principal Systems Engineer to support a program in Chantilly. The role provides operational tool development, evaluation, training, and customer engagement support. It requires a broad technical background, operational field experience, and collaboration with engineers, vendors, field personnel, and customer stakeholders. The engineer will identify operational requirements, contribute to tool development, deliver training, and liaise with industry and government partners. The position involves evaluating specialized equipment and technologies, recommending their suitability and operational applications, supporting specialized audio and operational tool evaluations, and tracking emerging technologies. The engineer serves as a vendor and government-partner liaison; leads specialized operational training; develops technical briefings and presentations; trains personnel; and supports customer training, orientation, mission-history briefings, demonstrations, and outreach. Operational duties include helping draft, review, and coordinate operational cables and related communications, mentoring junior and newly assigned personnel, supporting drill programs and field operations, and contributing to mission planning and readiness. The engineer also prepares recurring Points of Interest (POI) briefings and program updates and represents the organization at meetings, training events, demonstrations, and working groups. Travel on temporary duty (TDY) assignments is approximately 10% for vendor meetings, training, equipment evaluations, and other mission-related activities.

Requirements

Must currently hold a TS/SCI and Poly clearance.
10 or more years of relevant experience.
Bachelor's degree, or relevant experience may be substituted for the degree.
Broad technical background and ability to understand and discuss complex equipment and technology systems.
Operational field experience.
Ability to work independently and manage multiple concurrent priorities.
Experience evaluating technical equipment and providing operational feedback.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Experience developing and delivering training and presentations.
Ability to collaborate effectively with engineers, vendors, customers, and operational personnel.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to mentor junior personnel.
Ability to travel on TDY assignments approximately 10% of the time.

Responsibilities

Participate in technical discussions with engineers, vendors, and field operations personnel to incorporate operational requirements into tool development.
Evaluate specialized equipment and technologies and recommend capabilities, suitability, and operational applications.
Contribute to discussions on future technology development, equipment enhancements, and program direction.
Support ongoing evaluation of specialized audio and operational tools.
Monitor emerging technologies and identify opportunities to incorporate new capabilities into operations.
Serve as a primary vendor liaison regarding equipment development, testing, and operational applications; attend vendor meetings.
Maintain relationships with technical specialists across government agencies to exchange information on tools, best practices, and operational capabilities.
Identify and evaluate external technologies for possible integration into mission operations.
Lead specialized operational training courses, including participation in multi-week drill training programs.
Develop and deliver technical briefings and presentations for audiences with varying experience levels.
Train new personnel in the operation and application of specialized equipment and tools.
Support customer training initiatives, orientation programs, mission-history briefings, and operational demonstrations.
Assist with outreach events showcasing operational capabilities and technologies.
Assist in drafting, reviewing, and coordinating operational cables and related communications on a daily basis.
Provide operational guidance and mentorship to junior officers and newly assigned personnel.
Support program activities requiring operational expertise in drill programs, tools, techniques, and field operations.
Contribute to mission planning and operational readiness initiatives as required.
Prepare and present recurring Points of Interest (POI) briefings and other program updates to customers and stakeholders.
Communicate technical information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
Represent the organization at meetings, training events, demonstrations, and working groups.