Senior Contracts Principal

SAIC•El Paso, TX

1d•Remote

About The Position

SAIC is seeking a Senior Contracts Principal to lead the preparation, negotiation, and administration of large-scale Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and defined-delivery federal government contracts. The role ensures compliance with company policies, legal requirements, customer specifications, and applicable regulations while guiding contractual strategies that support program objectives and business outcomes. The Senior Contracts Principal serves as a strategic advisor to Program Managers, senior leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders. The position requires advanced knowledge of federal contract and proposal management, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), proposal strategy, and financial analysis to address complex challenges and contribute to business growth. The role is 100% remote within the United States; travel to Reston, Virginia, may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 15 or more years of federal contracts/contract management experience; or a master's degree and 13 or more years; or a PhD/JD and 10 or more years. An additional four years of related professional experience may substitute for a degree.
Extensive experience negotiating and managing various contract types, including FFP and FPIF, across high-dollar federal programs.
Proficiency in FAR and federal procurement processes.
Strategic thinking and demonstrated ability to serve as a business advisor, build stakeholder relationships, and lead impactful negotiations under tight deadlines.
Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to turn complex contractual and financial topics into clear, actionable insights.
Ability to independently resolve complex contractual and financial issues while managing compliance and risk.
U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) or Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM) certification.

Responsibilities

Administer complex contracts throughout their lifecycle, including acquisition, baseline management, execution, and closeout, ensuring compliance with FAR/DFARS, company policies, and contractual obligations.
Review, interpret, and negotiate contract terms and conditions; identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and propose solutions that protect SAIC's financial interests.
Maintain the contract baseline, including deliverables, responsibilities, and milestones, and brief program staff on contractual requirements.
Track, manage, and communicate contract changes, modifications, and obligations, ensuring accurate implementation and timely issue resolution.
Support audits, contract data requests, and compliance assessments.
Evaluate and guide proposal activities with Program Managers, capture teams, and pricing analysts to meet regulatory and contractual requirements and support SAIC's competitive position.
Draft proposal-specific terms and conditions, identify risks, and lead development of solutions for proposal submissions.
Support negotiation and finalization of contract awards, documenting scope or pricing changes and aligning them with proposal assumptions.
Develop negotiation strategies to resolve complex contractual issues while balancing customer and company priorities.
Negotiate terms and resolve disputes directly with Federal clients, using conflict-resolution, negotiation, and financial-modeling expertise.
Partner with Program Managers on risk assessments, financial insights, and agreements addressing performance, cost, and schedule requirements.
Evaluate the financial and contractual effects of proposed changes and recommend positions that protect SAIC's financial health and support program goals.
Collaborate across SAIC to align proposal, contract, and program activities with business and financial strategies.
Communicate complex legal, financial, and programmatic topics to senior leadership, program staff, legal, finance, and external customers.
Share best practices and solutions to improve contract management, compliance, and proposal quality.