Software Systems Engineer

SAIC is seeking an Software Systems Engineer in Chantilly, VA to support SAIC’s large SETA program, supporting the NRO’s Ground Enterprise Directorate (GED), Advanced Ground Office.  The selected candidate will assist with system design, development, integration, testing, deployment, and sustainment of software solutions that enable mission‑critical space vehicle operations.

This entry‑level role provides the opportunity to grow technical depth while collaborating with experienced engineers, mission operators, cybersecurity specialists, and program leadership across the system lifecycle. The engineer will contribute to ensuring software capabilities meet mission needs, integrate effectively with flight and ground segments, and comply with established engineering, security, and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities to include:

• Support analysis of stakeholder and system requirements to derive software and interface requirements.
• Assist in developing and maintaining software architecture artifacts and interface control documents (ICDs).
• Help perform requirements decomposition, allocation, verification, and validation activities under senior engineer guidance.
• Work with flight software, ground software, hardware engineering, and cybersecurity teams to support system integration.
• Participate in technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, ORR) as a junior technical contributor.
• Maintain traceability between mission objectives, system requirements, and software specifications.
• Assist with software integration, test planning, execution, anomaly documentation, and readiness activities.
• Support system modeling, basic performance analysis, and engineering trade studies.
• Contribute to configuration management, change control, and release documentation.
• Help identify risks, mitigation steps, and support resolution of technical issues.
• Participate in mission operations, anomaly investigations, software upgrades, and sustainment activities as needed.
• Ensure adherence to applicable aerospace, cybersecurity, mission assurance, and quality standards.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field and two (2) years or more experience; Masters and 0 years related experience. Relevant experience to be substituted in lieu of degree.
• Active Top Secret/SCI with Poly.
• 1–4 years of experience in software engineering, systems engineering, integration, or related internships/projects.
• Foundational understanding of the systems engineering lifecycle (requirements, design, integration, test, V&V).
• Familiarity with modern software development practices (Agile, DevSecOps, or waterfall).
• Ability to learn and operate within complex aerospace, defense, intelligence, or space system environments.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Desired Education and Experience:

• Academic or internship experience with spacecraft, satellite, launch vehicle, or ground control systems.
• Exposure to flight software concepts or command‑and‑control architectures.
• Familiarity with MBSE, SysML, or other modeling tools.
• Experience with software integration labs, simulations, or hardware‑in‑the‑loop environments.
• Awareness of cybersecurity principles for software or embedded systems.
• Interest in digital engineering and modern software pipeline environments.