Lead Systems Engineer

Lead Systems Engineer

We are seeking a Lead Systems Engineer to lead engineering efforts on the AF TENCAP HOPE 2.0 program—a fast-paced, high-impact initiative focused on delivering innovative prototypes that rapidly enhance warfighter capabilities across air, space, cyber, and multi-domain mission areas. In this role, as the senior technical leader, you will oversee and guide engineering teams, ensuring effective alignment, engineering rigor, and a clear path to solving complex technical problems. You will set the vision for technical excellence, lead collaborative efforts across stakeholders, and ensure a robust systems engineering approach is applied consistently across all efforts.

As the Lead Systems Engineer, you will perform a critical role in driving innovation, directing the design and development of prototypes, facilitating seamless communication, and elevating the technical culture of the team. You will guide and mentor technical staff while enabling rapid prototyping, technical execution, and successful transition to prototypes in support of advancing warfighter capabilities.

The ideal candidate thrives in high-performing, mission-driven environments, has extensive experience leading technical teams, and demonstrates a strong ability to direct the technical components of fast-evolving prototyping programs. You are forward-thinking, proactive, and excel at guiding teams to solve complex challenges using innovative solutions. You take ownership of program success while empowering teams with the clarity, vision, and tools needed to achieve it.

Location Requirement: Local to Colorado Springs, CO, and expected to be on-site with the customer 3+ days a week. Clearance Requirement: Active TS with SCI Eligibility. Travel Requirement: Occasional travel (~10–15%).

Responsibilities

• Serve as the key technical leader across the program, providing direction to ensure engineering discipline, technical alignment, quality, and delivery.
• Lead technical design reviews, plan and facilitate engineering discussions, and drive resolution of technical challenges.
• Represent the engineering team and articulate technical perspectives and trade-offs during government and customer engagements.
• Author and review critical deliverables, including engineering baselines, plans, and technical documentation, ensuring credibility and accuracy in all communications.
• Collaborate with Solution Architects and Innovation teams to evaluate emerging concepts and ensure technical feasibility and mission alignment.
• Provide technical mentorship to engineering staff, fostering professional development, teamwork, and a culture of innovation and ownership.
• Build and maintain alignment across multiple, concurrent projects and their stakeholders on engineering approaches, priorities, and resource utilization.
• Coordinate schedules, dependencies, and resource allocation across the program, ensuring synchronization with the PMO.
• Oversee and ensure engineering rigor across prototypes, system updates, and rapid development tasks while fostering self-organization and adaptability in the teams.
• Develop and refine engineering processes, tools, templates, and best practices to enhance team productivity and performance.
• Lead Test & Evaluation (T&E) activities, ensuring prototypes meet performance metrics and deliver value to the mission.
• Proactively engage with the Government Chief Engineer to anticipate requirements and ensure technical needs are met to exceed performance expectations.
• Champion Agile methodologies, iterative development, continuous improvement, and transparency through process-driven collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering with 18 years of relevant experience in the engineering field.
• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.
• 12+ years of experience leading systems engineering work, including directing complex engineering designs and delivering high-performance solutions.
• Proven experience in managing engineering teams involved in conceiving, planning, and conducting research for complex and innovative technological challenges.
• 5+ years of experience managing engineering efforts directly supporting Department of Defense (DoD) service organizations and/or Intelligence Community (IC) agencies.

Desired Qualifications

• Active INCOSE Certification highly desired.
• Master of Science in Engineering.
• 5+ years of experience in rapid prototyping, test & evaluation (T&E), and development.
• Experience with the integration, development, and application of advanced technology sources (e.g., SIGINT, GEOINT) and engineering systems or data flows.
• Software development and data management experience a plus.

Target salary range: $200,001 - $240,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

SAIC accepts applications on an ongoing basis and there is no deadline. SAIC® is a premier Fortune 500 mission integrator focused on advancing the power of technology and innovation to serve and protect our world. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, civilian, and intelligence markets includes secure high-end solutions in mission IT, enterprise IT, engineering services, and professional services. We integrate emerging technology, rapidly and securely, into mission critical operations that modernize and enable critical national imperatives. 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.