Space Experiments System Engineer

SAIC•Chantilly, VA

15h•Onsite

About The Position

SAIC is seeking a Space Experiments System Engineer to provide systems engineering and technical advisory (SETA) services to a United States Government customer in Chantilly, Virginia. Working in a consulting capacity alongside government engineering staff, this role supports a government Program Manager (PM) and Principal Investigator (PI) in the successful operation of space experiment activities. The position combines technical, organizational, and communication work to support strategic and operational program goals. The engineer manages experiment nominations and documentation, coordinates with experiment teams and space vehicle providers, maintains stakeholder and experiment information, and supports experiment reviews and integration. The role also provides status updates to the PM and PI and identifies opportunities to improve experiment management, Assembly Integration and Test (AI&T), and integration processes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, or a related field and 14 or more years of experience; alternatively, a master’s degree and 12 or more years of experience, or a PhD or JD and 9 or more years of experience.
Must be a U.S. citizen.
Must have an active TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance.
Strong technical and administrative skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to coordinate across multiple teams and organizations.
Proficiency in data management and experience with collaboration tools such as Confluence and other project-management software.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Passion for space exploration and emerging technologies, and commitment to staying informed about industry trends.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with space technologies.
An advanced degree.

Responsibilities

Track and manage experiment nominations in a centralized spreadsheet, maintaining accurate critical information.
Collaborate with the PI to oversee submission of experiment documents, including Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and software; catalog and verify submissions, and request updates or corrections as needed.
Serve as the primary contact for experiment teams and coordinate timely communications and documentation submissions for AI&T and demonstrations.
Liaise with space vehicle providers to obtain and catalog user guides, ICDs, and other integration details to support onboarding of potential experiments.
Maintain an up-to-date database of experimenters, suppliers, industry partners, academic contributors, and other space-experiment stakeholders across the U.S. Government, including information on approximately 400 small-satellite companies.
Document and archive relevant information on the internal Confluence webpage to support knowledge retention and operational continuity.
Assist the PI and PM in preparing and presenting experiment details to evaluate feasibility within manifest windows and support decision-making.
Work with the PI, PM, and team members to support experiment integration and identify appropriate transition partners.
Facilitate communication between experiment nominations and Program Offices to align with customer goals and clarify transition pathways.
Provide the PM and PI with regular updates on nominations, documentation submissions, AI&T processes, and issues.
Identify process inefficiencies and propose improvements to experiment management, AI&T, and integration processes.