IT Sys Engineer Sr Principal

SAIC • Colorado Springs, CO

3h

About The Position

SAIC is seeking a distinguished Senior Principal Systems Engineer to join our dynamic team supporting the critical NORAD and NORTHCOM Information Technology Enterprise Services (NITES) contract. This senior-level role is a unique opportunity to lead advanced Systems Engineering activities at the heart of North America's defense infrastructure. You will be responsible for architecting and delivering comprehensive, cutting-edge IT and engineering solutions, masterfully balancing technical requirements, schedule milestones, and cost constraints to ensure mission success. If you are a visionary engineer with a passion for solving complex challenges, we invite you to bring your skills to a program where your contributions directly support and protect the continent.

Requirements

• Active Top Secret security clearance.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant STEM field (such as Engineering, Computer Science, or Physics) with ten (10) or more years of progressive experience; OR a Master's degree in a STEM field with eight (8) or more years of experience.
• DoD 8570 | DoD 8140 IAT Level II certification (e.g., CompTIA Security+ CE).
• Demonstrated experience in a senior systems engineering role, with extensive knowledge of the systems development lifecycle (SDLC), including requirements analysis, architecture, design, and verification.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Advanced Problem-Solving & Innovation: Demonstrated mastery in analyzing and resolving exceptionally complex engineering challenges with innovative and often unprecedented solutions; ability to develop advanced technological concepts and guide them from ideation to final product.
• Strategic Technical Advisory: Proven experience serving as an advisor to senior leadership, government service owners, and engineering steering groups; adept at translating strategic objectives and complex requirements into actionable engineering plans and procurement recommendations.
• Autonomous Execution & Project Leadership: Ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy to achieve long-range objectives, including initiating assignments and making critical decisions on project matters to ensure the successful achievement of program goals.
• Full Lifecycle Systems Engineering & Documentation: Expertise in managing the entire systems engineering lifecycle, with a proven ability to develop and manage key technical documentation, including project design plans, service design plans, release/deployment plans, and System Verification and Acceptance Test (SVAT) plans.
• DoD Enterprise & Security Frameworks: In-depth knowledge of DoD IT environments and security compliance frameworks (e.g., Risk Management Framework - RMF), with experience architecting solutions that adhere to relevant security controls and standards.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree or PhD in a relevant technical discipline.
• ITIL v3 or v4 Foundations certification.
• Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) from INCOSE or similar systems engineering certification.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience working within the NORAD/NORTHCOM or other DoD enterprise IT environments.
• Familiarity with Earned Value Management (EVM) and Control Account Management (CAM) principles.
• Advanced industry certifications such as CISSP, or vendor-specific technology certifications (e.g., Cisco, Microsoft, VMware).

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute end-to-end systems engineering activities, including concept of operations (CONOPS) formulation, requirements engineering, system architecture and design, and interface definition.
• Conduct detailed trade studies, functional analyses, and requirements allocation to translate customer needs into robust hardware and software specifications.
• Oversee the design, implementation, and management of critical IT infrastructure components, encompassing data center operations (power, cooling, layout), data storage, backup and recovery, enterprise monitoring, directory services, identity and access management, and automation solutions.
• Author, manage, and maintain comprehensive technical documentation throughout the project lifecycle, including project design plans, service design plans, release and deployment strategies, and System Verification and Acceptance Test (SVAT) plans.
• Perform rigorous system and operational performance analysis, validation and verification (V&V), and physical configuration audits (PCAs). Conduct lifecycle cost and decision analyses to provide data-driven recommendations for efficient and scalable business solutions.
• Serve as a key technical liaison to government service owners and program management, providing expert guidance on technology insertion, process improvement, and strategic engineering decisions while mentoring junior engineers.

What This Job Offers

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