SMM Systems Engineer

SAIC is seeking a senior SIGINT Ground Mission Management Systems Engineer (SMM Systems Engineer) to support the Aretuza program in Chantilly, VA.   In this role, you will provide high‑impact technical and acquisition expertise across the full life cycle of mission management capabilities within the SIGINT Ground Systems Program Office (SGSPO). The position is central to guiding Government leadership through complex engineering, architectural, and programmatic decisions that shape the future of the customer’s Ground Enterprise.

As part of the Aretuza team, you will work closely with world‑class system engineers, acquisition specialists, and mission domain experts to drive the successful delivery of modern, integrated mission management software and services. This includes supporting the evaluation, definition, and evolution of enterprise‑level architectures, ensuring solutions are technically sound, mission‑driven, and aligned with Government priorities.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in SIGINT mission management, agile software development, and enterprise integration. You will play a key advisory role in the development, assessment, and implementation of mission management capabilities, enabling the Government to deliver a resilient, scalable, and fully integrated mission thread across rapidly evolving operational needs.

Responsibilities to include 

• Support end to end mission management support for SIGINT Ground Systems, advising Government leadership on acquisition strategy, program risk, portfolio priorities, and enterprise level decision making. 
• Provide authoritative technical oversight of development contractors and Government sponsored efforts, ensuring all software and system activities align with requirements, architectural objectives, and enterprise mission needs. 
• Drive analysis of complex mission threads, including technical baselines, dependencies, schedules, and risk posture, to inform enterprise planning and execution readiness. 
• Perform detailed evaluations of developer proposals, system designs, technical reports, and program plans to assess technical feasibility, cost realism, and alignment with mission objectives.
• Define, derive, and document system level requirements and ensure proper linkage, traceability, and completeness across the mission management software lifecycle.
• Provide senior technical guidance to enable agile software development and the delivery of an integrated mission thread, ensuring architectural design and implementation meet Government and stakeholder mission management needs.
• Monitor and assess integration and development activities to verify system readiness for enterprise test events and to ensure alignment with current and future architectures.
• Deliver innovative architectural recommendations to address evolving mission needs, evaluate scope changes, optimize cost and performance, and guide long term architectural evolution.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelors and nine (9) years or more experience; Masters and seven (7) years or more experience ; PhD or JD and four (4) years or more experience. Relevant experience to be substituted in lieu of degree.
  Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with Polygraph.
• Extensive experience in SIGINT mission management or closely related mission areas, including familiarity with current and future SIGINT satellite and ground collection systems.
• Strong technical understanding of SIGINT system functions including command and control, collection, mission processing, dissemination, and associated compliance policies.
• Demonstrated experience supporting Government acquisition activities, including requirements definition, technical evaluation, system readiness assessment, and management of program documentation.
• Hands‑on experience drafting, maintaining, and managing systems engineering documentation and program artifacts.
• Ability to communicate complex technical topics clearly and effectively to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, collaborate, and mentor within cross‑functional engineering teams.
• Strong adaptability with the ability to operate effectively in environments with shifting priorities and evolving mission needs.