JOBSEARCHER

Payload Systems Engineer Chief

SAICChantilly, VAL7 ManagerSeptember 7th, 2026
**Description**SAIC is seeking a **Payload Systems Engineer Chief** to provide onsite systems engineering and technical advisory (SETA) services in support of an SAIC Prime Program at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in Chantilly, VA.As the **Payload Systems Engineer Chief** , you will play a critical role in the development, acquisition, and execution of multiple satellite payload systems-both on‐orbit and in development. You will support the Payload Division SETA team in advising the government on technical, programmatic, and acquisition activities across EO and SAR payload portfolios. This role requires familiarity with NRO mission structures, acquisition processes, and satellite system lifecycles.**Job Responsibilities to Include:**Advise the PROSPO Payload Division Chief on all aspects of payload development and acquisition.Support the SPO in planning, execution, monitoring, and oversight of multiple EO and SAR payload systems in development and acquisition.Assist the Government in developing CONOPS and employment approaches for EO and SAR systems.Assist the Government in developing requirement documents, statements of work (SOWs), and other contract documents during program acquisition and contract action preparation.Provide oversight of acquisitions to ensure end‐to‐end system closure and satisfaction of mission need.Draft technical evaluations and serve as a technical advisor during source selections.Provide technical and programmatic assessments of contractor designs at major milestone reviews to evaluate progress, risks, issues, and ability to meet mission requirements.Participate in program reviews and technical interchange meetings between developers and the COTR.Review CDRL deliverables for technical accuracy, completeness, and sufficiency to meet program objectives.Provide technical support to Government customer activities and programmatic processes.Develop documents and briefings to communicate study results, technical findings, and program status to Government and industry stakeholders.**Qualifications****Required Education and Experience:**Bachelors and eighteen (18) years or more experience; Masters and sixteen (16) years or more experience; PhD or JD and fifteen years or more experience.Active Top Secret/SCI with current Polygraph.Experience with satellite and/or satellite payload system requirement development, design, manufacturing, and test.Demonstrated experience supporting satellite and/or payload design reviews, including SRR, SDR, PDR, CDR, TRR, MRR, PSR, and related milestone reviews.Experience supporting the acquisition of multiple payload systems.Experience developing requirement documents, statements of work, and other contract documents for major acquisition programs.Proven ability to assess contractor designs, identify risks, and evaluate technical performance against mission requirements.Strong interpersonal, leadership, team‐building, and problem‐solving skills with demonstrated effectiveness in a government/contractor environment.Working knowledge of the NRO organization, major acquisition processes, and satellite systems.Target salary range: $200,001 - $240,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.REQNUMBER: 2616307SAIC is a premier technology integrator, solving our nation's most complex modernization and systems engineering challenges across the defense, space, federal civilian, and intelligence markets. Our robust portfolio of offerings includes high-end solutions in systems engineering and integration; enterprise IT, including cloud services; cyber; software; advanced analytics and simulation; and training. We are a team of 23,000 strong driven by mission, united purpose, and inspired by opportunity. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $6.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For information on the benefits SAIC offers, see Working at SAIC. EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability