Space Experiments System Engineer

SAIC•Chantilly, VA

13h•Onsite

About The Position

SAIC is seeking a Space Experiments System Engineer to provide systems engineering and technical advisory (SETA) services to a U.S. Government customer in Chantilly, Virginia. Working in a consulting capacity alongside government engineering staff, the engineer supports a government Program Manager (PM) and Principal Investigator (PI) to ensure the successful operation of space experiment activities. The role combines technical, organizational, and communication responsibilities, including experiment nomination and documentation management, stakeholder coordination, integration support, data and record maintenance, strategic review support, and process improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, or a related field, with 14 or more years of experience; alternatively, a master’s degree with 12 or more years, or a PhD or JD with 9 or more years.
Strong technical and administrative skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including 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.
Must be a U.S. citizen with an active TS/SCI with Poly clearance.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree.
Familiarity with space technologies.
Interest in space exploration and emerging technologies, and commitment to staying informed about industry trends.

Responsibilities

Track and manage experiment nominations in a centralized spreadsheet, ensuring information is accurate and maintained.
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 point of contact for experiment teams and coordinate timely communication and documentation submissions for Assembly Integration and Test (AI&T) and demonstrations.
Liaise with space vehicle providers to obtain and catalog user guides, ICDs, and other integration details for potential experiments.
Maintain an up-to-date database of experimenters, suppliers, industry partners, academic contributors, and other U.S. Government space experiment stakeholders, including information on approximately 400 small satellite industry companies.
Document and archive relevant information on the internal Confluence webpage to support access, knowledge retention, and operational continuity.
Assist the PI and PM in preparing and presenting experiment details for strategic reviews and feasibility assessments within manifest windows.
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 regular updates to the PM and PI on nomination status, documentation, AI&T processes, and emerging issues.
Identify process inefficiencies and propose improvements to experiment management, AI&T, and integration processes.