SAIC

Senior Systems Engineer

SAIC$110K — $130K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Systems or related field) with 9+ years of systems engineering experience.
  • Proven experience in leading integration and V&V activities for complex defense systems.
  • Knowledge of Systems Engineering Technical Reviews (SETR) with technical content preparation experience.
  • Familiarity with configuration management and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) processes.
  • Strong skills in cross-functional collaboration and coordination across diverse engineering teams.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain a comprehensive integration plan for all subsystems of the test set.
  • Identify and mitigate risks throughout the integration process.
  • Oversee integration testing to ensure seamless functionality between subsystems.
  • Create and execute detailed test plans to validate system performance and reliability.
  • Conduct integration validation testing to check component interactions across systems.
  • Document the integration process, including defect tracking and configuration management.
  • Communicate integration progress and issues to the Lead Systems Engineer and program stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead IV&V activities on advanced undersea defense systems.
  • Direct involvement with government stakeholders and system engineering reviews.
  • Access to a collaborative team environment across multiple engineering disciplines.
  • Technological and professional development opportunities through mentorship.
  • Contribute to crucial defense systems impacting national security.
Full Job Description
Job Description

SAIC is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Systems Engineer to lead Integration, Validation, and Verification (IV&V) activities for an Automated Test Set program supporting undersea defense systems in Middletown, RI. This is a technical leadership position responsible for owning the integration and V&V strategy and execution across the subsystems comprising a complex test set, working in close partnership with the Program's Lead Systems Engineer and a cross-functional team of engineers, technicians, and government stakeholders.

More on the Role

As the Automated Test Set IV&V Lead, you will report directly to the Program's Lead Systems Engineer and serve as the technical authority for all integration, verification, and validation activities on the program. You will be responsible for ensuring that the subsystems comprising the test set - which may include domains such as power, fluidics, controls and data management, communications, signal generation and measurement, and structural/mechanical support - are successfully integrated, tested, and verified both individually and as an integrated system, from initial integration through Functional Configuration Audit (FCA) and Physical Configuration Audit (PCA), and ultimately transition to production.

You will work across disciplines - mechanical, electrical, software, and test engineering - to plan, coordinate, and execute integration and V&V efforts across all subsystems, and you will represent this function in customer and stakeholder reviews, including formal SETR events. You will also work closely with a team of Integrated Product Team (IPT) Managers, coordinating integration and V&V activities across subsystem teams to ensure alignment with overall program schedule, technical baseline, and risk posture.

Key Responsibilities
  • Support development and maintenance of a comprehensive integration plan covering all subsystems of the test set (potentially spanning power, fluidics, controls, communications, signal generation/measurement, and structural/mechanical domains, among others), including scheduling of integration activities, allocation of resources, and coordination with all relevant personnel.
  • Identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks throughout the integration process.
  • Oversee both subsystem-specific and system-wide integration testing to ensure all subsystems work seamlessly together.
  • Develop and execute detailed test plans to validate system integration, performance, reliability, and functionality.
  • Conduct integration validation testing to check interfaces and interactions among components across subsystems.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve integration issues, perform root cause analysis, and work with development teams to implement effective corrective actions.
  • Maintain detailed documentation of the integration process, including configuration changes, defect tracking, and version history, in accordance with program Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) processes.
  • Implement configuration management practices to ensure all documents and components are correctly versioned and controlled.
  • Communicate integration progress, issues, status, and outcomes to the Lead Systems Engineer, program management, and stakeholders.
  • Ensure the integrity of the First Article as it is built out, supporting an incremental approach to Functional Configuration Audit (FCA) and Physical Configuration Audit (PCA).
  • Develop and implement V&V (e.g., Test & Evaluation) Plans, including detailed strategies, processes, methodologies, and tools that align with project requirements and timelines.
  • Perform requirements analysis to ensure all system and subsystem-level requirements are covered by appropriate test cases.
  • Maintain full requirements traceability from system requirements through V&V activities and closure.
  • Design, develop, and document test plans, test cases, and test procedures for each subsystem and the integrated system.
  • Lead the execution of functional, performance, and reliability testing.
  • Prepare and maintain all V&V documentation, including test reports and compliance documentation.
  • Communicate V&V status, results, and risks to stakeholders and program leadership.
  • Lead integration and V&V-related content and represent the program at formal Systems Engineering Technical Review (SETR) events, with immediate focus on the upcoming Preliminary Design Review (PDR), followed by Critical Design Review (CDR) and Test Readiness Review (TRR).
  • Prepare and present technical briefings to government customers, program stakeholders, and senior SAIC leadership.
  • Work closely with a team of Integrated Product Team (IPT) Managers to coordinate integration and V&V schedules, dependencies, and risks across subsystem teams.
  • Collaborate with NUWC Division Newport personnel and other government stakeholders on test planning, execution, and results reporting.
  • Provide technical direction and mentorship to junior and mid-level systems engineers supporting integration and V&V activities across all subsystems.
  • Foster a collaborative, cross-functional working environment among engineers, IPT Managers, and support technicians.
  • Support staffing and resource planning for integration and V&V tasking in coordination with the Lead Systems Engineer.


Qualifications

Education and Experience:
  • Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, or related field) from an accredited college or university, and a minimum of 9+ years of related systems engineering experience, with demonstrated experience in system integration and/or V&V of complex electromechanical or defense systems.
  • Demonstrated experience leading or significantly contributing to integration and V&V activities on a DoD or complex engineering program, ideally spanning multiple interconnected subsystems.
  • Working knowledge of SETR events (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and experience preparing technical content for these reviews; experience supporting a program through PDR preparation is highly desirable.
  • Familiarity with configuration management, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) processes, and requirements traceability.
  • Experience coordinating with cross-functional or IPT-based program structures is a plus.
  • Strong understanding of systems engineering principles, including requirements management, architecture, risk management, and integration/V&V methodology.
  • Ability to manage integration and verification activities across multiple, functionally diverse subsystems (e.g., power, fluidics, controls, communications, signal generation/measurement, and structural/mechanical domains).
  • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, evolving program environment with multiple concurrent priorities.
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration and coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively across IPT Managers and subsystem teams.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to develop clear technical documentation and present to technical and non-technical audiences.


Clearance Requirement:
  • Must have the ability to obtain and hold an Active Secret Clearance for the duration of work on the contract. An active clearance is highly preferred.


Desired Experience:
  • Direct experience with torpedo systems, undersea warfare systems, or other Navy combat/weapons systems.
  • Experience with Automated Test Equipment (ATE) and torpedo test equipment.
  • Prior experience specifically supporting NUWC Division Newport or related Navy undersea warfare programs.
  • Familiarity with electro-mechanical hardware design and integration.
  • Experience developing and executing Verification Cross-Reference Matrices (VCRMs) and Compliance Matrices.
  • Experience with Functional Configuration Audit (FCA) and Physical Configuration Audit (PCA) processes and First Article qualification.
  • Experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools and processes, including configuration and change management within a controlled engineering environment.
  • Experience working within a government acquisition/SETR framework, including generation of formal review documentation.
  • Prior experience in a technical leadership or task lead role, including mentoring junior staff and coordinating cross-functional engineering teams.
  • Experience integrating and verifying systems involving multiple engineering domains (power/electrical, fluid/mechanical, controls/software, RF/communications, signal generation/measurement, and structural design).
  • Experience working within an Integrated Product Team (IPT) structure, coordinating across multiple IPT Managers on a single program.


About SAIC

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is a technology integrator in the technical, engineering, intelligence, and enterprise information technology markets. SAIC has approximately 26,000 employees and operates in more than 70 countries. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Reston, Virginia. SAIC provides services to the U.S. government, including the Department of Defense, the intelligence community, and civilian agencies. The company also serves commercial customers in the healthcare, energy, and financial services sectors.
Learn more about SAIC
Size
26,000 employees
Market Cap
$6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$206 million
Founded
1969
5 Year Trend
+10.7%
Revenue
$6.8 billion
NASDAQ

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