Astrodynamics Systems Engineer Principal

Job description

**Description**

SAIC is seeking an Astrodynamics Systems Engineer to join the Space and Intelligence Business Group.

You would work on a joint Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) crown jewel program providing highly specialized space/counter-space engineering, scientific, and analytical services from Aurora, Colorado.

We support the country’s leading edge IC and DoD space programs and offer compelling, deep-technical work that has direct influence and impact on program development and operations.

Our team has Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) across a variety of disciplines, including physics, math, RF, optics, space acquisition and operations, and intelligence collection and analysis.

This Astrodynamics Systems Engineer will work in a collaborative team-focused environment of Government civilians and contractors solving applied technical problems and developing useable solutions for multiple space-related capabilities and threats.

The ideal candidate will:

+ Have experience developing algorithms and engineering tools for IC and/or DoD satellite systems in Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) or Special Access Program (SAP) environments
+ Have a strong mathematical and orbit analysis background
+ Be able to develop and execute your work assignments from general guidance and objectives provided by management

Duties and responsibilities include:

+ Designing, developing, using and evaluating mathematical models, methods, and algorithms to manipulate large data sets and creating engineering software tools to enable solving analytical questions or problems
+ Refining and enhancing existing engineering tools to make them more functional or usable by others
+ Generating or participating in orbital analyses or trade studies
+ Formulating and interpreting problems in mathematical or computational terms
+ Developing and maintaining in-depth knowledge of U.S. Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capabilities, as well as Foreign SDA capabilities and counter-space threats
+ Participating and representing the customer in various Government and contractor meetings and attending contractor programmatic and technical reviews (e.g. PMR, PDR, CDR, etc.) to provide technical recommendations and risk assessments
+ Conducting tasking and collection of Space Domain Awareness data and participating in the subsequent data analysis function
+ Frequently interacting with program managers, SETAs, FFRDCs and external stakeholders
+ Developing productive relationships with the Program Office, Prime, and Subcontract counterparts, functional IC or DoD counterparts, and other SMEs
+ Repeated use and application of technical standards, principles, theories, concepts and techniques

**Qualifications**

+ Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in physics, Engineering or Math and 9 or more years of direct experience with modeling and simulation of satellites, space mission analysis, and astrodynamics
+ Active TS/SCI Clearance with Special Access eligibility and consent to a Counter Intelligence (CI) polygraph.

US Citizenship is required
+ Hands-on experience with creating algorithms and engineering tools for processing large data sets quickly and efficiently
+ Demonstrated proficiency using MATLAB, Python, or similar
+ Experience with orbit modelling and trajectory planning utilizing Systems Tool Kit (STK)
+ Understanding of Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) techniques
+ Demonstrated record of effective individual and group work behaviors, with abilities to proactively initiate and operate in dynamic and incompletely defined environments
+ Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience conveying technical concepts, results, and summaries to internal customers, external customers, and stakeholders of diverse technical backgrounds
+ Demonstrated willingness to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and make objective, defendable work products with the information at hand

Strongly Desired Skills:

+ Master’s or Doctorate Degree in Engineering or Math
+ Experience in satellite development factory or space system program office (SPO), particularity with Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) systems
+ Working knowledge of radar and/or optical technologies
+ Familiarity with National Security Space architecture (IC and/or DoD)
+ Proficiency using Orbit Determination Tool Kit (ODTK) or other OD toolsets

Target salary range: $160,001 - $200,000.

The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.
REQNUMBER: 2508357
SAIC 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

Required Skill Profession

Other General