Ground Systems Engineer

Job Description

Description

Join a winning team!  SAIC’s National Security and Space (NSS) Sector is currently hiring for a customer within the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in Chantilly, VA. This customer is responsible for designing, building, and operating national security-related systems based in space, in the air, and on the ground. SAIC is a strong company providing opportunities for energetic individuals with a strong desire to expand their knowledge while increasing their responsibilities.   

SAIC is seeking a Ground Systems Engineer with NRO experience to provide Systems Engineering and Technical Advisory (SETA) services to a rapidly expanding Government Intelligence Community (IC) customer for a complex space and ground effort as part of an exciting and innovative set of programs. 

This position supports a System Program Office (SPO) in a technical capacity for planning, execution, monitoring, and oversight of satellite system development and acquisitions that advance the NRO’s space resiliency posture. While seniority is a plus and a knowledge of systems engineering is required, this position can accommodate a junior engineer that is eager to learn and grow in their knowledge and experience of the art of systems engineering.

The ground system engineer will join a team of on-site SETAs working a Major System Acquisition (MSA) with responsibilities that may include but not limited to the following:  

• Recommends solutions and methods appropriate for digital communications that cross classification boundaries (multi-domain security environments – Collateral and SCI).
• Provide oversight of acquisitions, with specific focus on the ground systems elements, functionality, interfaces, and operations to ensure end-to-end system closure.
• Capture system requirements and develop system baselines.
• Maintain, expand CONOP development, refine Ground Segment requirements and Verification and Validation (V&V) Ground Segment planning.
• Conduct full lifecycle engineering reviews including System Requirements Reviews (SRRs), System Design Reviews (SDRs), Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs) and Critical Design Reviews (CDRs), etc…
• Support and participate in system Configuration Management process including Engineering Change Proposal, Engineering Review Board/Configuration Control Boards (ECP, ERB/CCB).
• Identify system development risks, construct risk management plan and risk mitigation approaches.
• Represent the government client to development contractors and ensure proper messaging between the same.
• Support Contract Officer/Contract Officer Technical Representatives (CO/COTRs) and developers by coordinating with other technical domain Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and program stakeholders to achieve a detailed understanding of the systems, designs, and interfaces necessary to satisfy mission requirements. 
• Work in a team to ensure proper requirement V&V methodology is codified and executed by the developer, including determining test strategy and coverage based on a technical risk assessment for each use case or functionality.
• Providing oversight of ground segment acquisition, with specific focus on the system engineering processes to ensure end-to-end system closure and satisfaction of mission need.
• Reviewing Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) deliverables to ensure content, technical accuracy, and sufficiency of design details to meet program requirements and objectives.
• Participating in technical interchange meetings between developers and the COTR

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Must possess an active TS/SCI clearance with Counter-Intelligence polygraph.
• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering, scientific, or technical discipline and 9 years or more relevant experience; Master’s degree in an engineering, scientific, or technical discipline and 7 years or more relevant experience.
• Effective communication, coordination, and customer engagement skills.
• Strong written and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic, and team environment.
• Knowledge of how ground systems are designed, specified, developed, manufactured, and tested.
• NRO experience and strong understanding of NRO mission.
• Experience with delivering ground systems to NRO Ground Stations.
• Experience with AGILE development – understanding of AGILE process.
• Experience with C2S and developing in a cloud environment.

Desired Qualifications: 

• INCOSE ASEP or CSEP, PMI PMP certification.
• Strong understanding of C2, Mission Management, data processing data workflows, interfaces, etc… related to Ground Segment development.
• Experience using systems engineering processes, methods, tools, and program roles to develop, implement, and deploy solutions for Satellite Systems.

• Proven technical and program management background.

• Current NRO-adjudicated clearance and polygraph.

Overview

SAIC® is a premier Fortune 500® technology integrator driving our nation's technology transformation. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, civilian, and intelligence markets includes secure high-end solutions in engineering, digital, artificial intelligence, and mission solutions. Using our expertise and understanding of existing and emerging technologies, we integrate the best components from our own portfolio and our partner ecosystem to deliver innovative, effective, and efficient solutions that are critical to achieving our customers' missions.

We are more than 26,500 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. SAIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, fostering a respectful work culture based on diversity, equity, and inclusion that values all contributors. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.1 billion. For more information, visit saic.com.