Senior Systems Engineer – Mission Objectives Lead

Job Description

Description

SAIC is seeking a highly skilled Systems Engineer – Mission Objectives Lead to join the NSWC Crane Multi-Service Advanced Capabilities Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) Test Execution Team. This critical role will ensure test objectives are clearly defined, measurable, and verifiable across MACH-TB flight missions, enabling alignment between programmatic goals, stakeholder expectations, and mission deliverables. The candidate will work closely with government, contractors, and multidisciplinary teams to manage objectives from planning to post-mission assessment.

NOTE: This is a hybrid position requiring the candidate to be in office approximately 3 days a week either in Crane, IN or Huntsville, AL.

Key Responsibilities:

• Objective Development and Documentation:
• Capture mission objectives for all MACH-TB flights and document them in the Mission Test Objectives Document (MTOD).
• Ensure objectives are derived from detailed experiment requirements, program goals, and testbed/launch vehicle specifications.
• Communicate objectives to the Government Objectives Lead and ensure alignment with programmatic expectations.
• Coordination and Communication:
• Represent mission objectives in Mission Planning Working Groups (MPWGs), collaborating with the execution team to integrate test objectives into operational planning.
• Brief objectives and progress in executive reviews, enabling leadership and stakeholders to remain up to date on critical outcomes and alignment.
• Verification and Validation:
• Utilize the Mission Verification Plan to coordinate verification deliverables with the program’s prime contractor.
• Review verification evidence at each project phase (design, vehicle layout, as-built configuration) to ensure alignment with test objectives and flight readiness criteria.
• Engage with prime contractors and stakeholders to resolve any gaps or discrepancies in verification data and evidence.
• Post-Mission Analysis:
• Assess mission performance after each MACH-TB flight to validate that objectives were achieved.
• Present findings during Data Analysis Reviews (DARs), providing detailed insight into outcomes relative to expectations.
• Coordinate with the Program Engineering Team to refine objectives and strategies based on lessons learned during mission development and execution.

Qualifications

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Active Secret with ability to obtain Top Secret Clearance as required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of systems engineering experience, with demonstrated expertise in requirements development, verification, and validation.
• Hands-on experience creating clear, measurable, and testable objectives for large-scale test campaigns or experimental infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of hypersonic systems, testbed launch vehicles, and integration requirements for complex aerospace/defense programs.
• Experience with leading working groups, coordinating between government and contractor stakeholders, and delivering briefings at executive levels.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with a detail-oriented and collaborative approach to workflows.
• Proficiency in assessing test results, validating post-mission data, and aligning outcomes with mission objectives in high-pressure or time-sensitive environments.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Previous experience supporting test programs within organizations such as NSWC Crane or MDA.
• Familiarity with hypersonic weapons testing, NASA or DoD flight programs, or MACH-TB initiatives.
• Knowledge of systems engineering tools and processes, such as MBSE (Model-Based Systems Engineering), DOORS, or V&V methodologies.
• Strong communication skills, with a proven ability to present highly technical data in an executive-friendly format.

Overview

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.

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