Space Systems Engineer Principal
SAIC · Chantilly
SAIC is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Principal Systems Engineer to support ESR execution, extended mission activities, and activation opportunities. In this role, you will bridge mission science objectives with engineering solutions, playing an integral role in planning, integrating, and executing key milestones throughout the mission lifecycle.
The ideal candidate will work directly with the Mission Science Team to ensure mission-critical objectives are met. This includes participating in mission planning, managing engineering processes, and supporting the transition of systems from primary to extended mission phases. Your contributions will help ensure operational success in complex mission environments.
Key Responsibilities:
ESR Execution and Extended Mission Activities
- Lead ESR Execution Activities: Plan, manage, document, and execute ESR activities, including milestone reviews, readiness assessments, and risk management efforts.
- Transition Planning: Develop strategies for transitioning systems from primary mission phases into extended mission operations, ensuring alignment with technical and scientific goals.
- Opportunity Identification: Identify and evaluate potential activation opportunities that support additional mission objectives or leverage system capabilities post-primary mission.
- Anomaly Resolution: Support troubleshooting and resolution of technical and operational challenges encountered during extended mission phases.
Support to Mission Science Branch
- Collaboration: Work closely with the Mission Science Team to plan and prioritize science-driven operational needs, including data collection, processing, and analysis objectives.
- Requirements Alignment: Translate mission science requirements into technical design and operational plans, ensuring end-to-end traceability and alignment with system capabilities.
- Data Integration: Assist the Mission Science Team in integrating scientific goals with operational planning, ensuring that required data collection and processing are seamlessly achieved.
- Mission Optimization: Support ongoing evaluation and enhancement of mission plans to optimize scientific return and performance during all mission phases.
Planning and Integration
- Develop Integrated Schedules: Create and maintain detailed schedules for ESR, activation, and extended mission activities, ensuring key deadlines are met.
- Cross-Functional Coordination: Manage the planning and integration of system elements across interdisciplinary teams to support both engineering and science goals.
- Interface Management: Manage interfaces between mission science teams and engineering teams, ensuring communication and technical solutions meet mission and operational demands.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Participate in internal and external stakeholder meetings to align objectives, report progress, and gather feedback for improving mission success.
Risk and Performance Monitoring
- Assess Mission Risks: Perform risk analysis for ESR and extended mission activities, developing mitigation strategies to ensure on-time and successful execution.
- Performance Tracking: Monitor mission and system performance metrics during activation and extended mission phases, recommending improvements as necessary to achieve mission science goals.
- Documentation and Reporting: Document all planning, execution, and integration activities, providing detailed reports and briefings to stakeholders and leadership.
We are approximately 23,000 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. SAIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.3 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom.