Program Analyst

SAIC • El Segundo, CA

5h • Onsite

About The Position

SAIC’s Horizon program is seeking a highly skilled and dynamic Senior Program Manager to lead complex systems acquisition and perform project management within the Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Space Surveillance & Reconnaissance (S&R) mission areas. This role requires extensive expertise in government weapon systems acquisition, program management, strategic planning, and program integration to support the U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC), aligning with the new Warfighting Acquisition System (WAS) philosophy. This position is located in El Segundo, CA.
You will serve as a critical embedded member of the Government’s Space Reconnaissance team, applying advanced project management principlas to shape and deliver the next generation of space-based SDA and S&R capabilities. The role emphasizes leveraging tailored, rapid acquisition frameworks while integrating space, ground, and communication segments. Your project management expertise will be instrumental in driving program planning, risk mitigation, financial oversight, and execution excellence in alignment with the evolving Warfighting Acquisition System (WAS) philosophy.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 15 years of experience with:
• Government weapon systems acquisitions and program management within the Department of Defense.
• SDA systems, including sensor networks, data processing pipelines, analytics platforms, space object tracking techniques, data fusion, orbit determination and prediction, space traffic management, catalog maintenance, and conjunction assessment.
• DoDI 5000.02 Major Capability Acquisition System process, JCIDS process, and PPBE process.
• Must have an in-scope security background investigation (T5), adjudicated for SCI eligibility and enrolled in the Continuous Vetting program (if applicable).
• Must be willing to be nominated for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information and, or other compartments; and consent to a polygraph examination.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in Business Management or equivalent business-related discipline.
• Experience with:
• National Security Space or Space Control Mission Area
• SDA technologies, including space-based electro-optical (EO) payloads, operating systems, algorithms and software, and databases for SDA data processing and storage.
• Operational space units (e.g., Delta 9, NSDC, JTF-SD, CSpOC).
• Supporting USSF/SSC space control or SDA programs.
• Prior work in U.S. Government weapons system or space mission program offices, with experience in requirements management, configuration management, change management, testing, and risk management.
• Professional certifications (e.g., PMI, Agile PM/PO, PMP, PgMP).

Responsibilities

• Serve as a Program/Project Manager, guiding acquisition strategies, program schedules, resource allocation, contracting actions, and budgeting to align with mission objectives and priorities.
• Oversee all aspects of program execution, including delivery milestones, risk management, testing, system integration, and contractor management.
• Drive cross-functional communication to ensure seamless integration of government and contractor teams across space, ground, and communication segments.
• Organize and execute periodic technical interchange meetings (TIMs) and staff meetings to track progress, identify risks, and course-correct as necessary.
• Apply advanced configuration and change management practices to ensure consistency and traceability across all program artifacts, including Interface Control Documents (ICDs), Performance Goals, and milestones.
• Evaluate contractor system designs and milestone reviews, providing timely assessments of technical progress, risks, and the ability to achieve mission requirements.
• Manage independent technical and programmatic reviews to validate system effectiveness and alignment with Space Reconnaissance goals.
• Provide expert guidance on funding commitments, obligations, and expenditures, ensuring effective utilization of resources with a focus on on-time project delivery.
• Advocate for deliberate risk-taking, speed in delivery execution, and adherence to the Warfighting Acquisition System (WAS) for rapid capability fielding.

What This Job Offers

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