Acceptance Testing, Aerospace Engineering, Analysis Skills, Bridge Building, Campaigns, Civil Engineering, Communication Skills, Computer Engineering, Conference Management, Cost Control, Electrical Engineering, Emerging Technology, Event Management, Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT), Government, Information Technology & Information Systems, Integrated Circuits (ICs), Intelligence Agencies, Intelligence Community, Leadership, Logistics, Military, Military Operations, Operational Audit, Operational Communications, Operational Support, Operations Planning, Operations Research, Performance Analysis, Performance Metrics, Performance Reviews, Physics, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Product Demonstration, Productivity Management, Professional Services, Quality Assurance Methodology, Reporting Skills, Risk Analysis, Satellite Communications, Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), Simulation, Space Operations, System Operations, Systems Analysis, Systems Engineering, Technical Leadership, Test Plan/Schedule, Testing, Top Secret Clearance, United States Department of Defense (DoD), Validation Testing, Willing to Travel, Work From Home, Writing Skills
Exercise Execution Systems Engineer
Job ID: 2613753
Location: Chantilly, VA, United States
Date Posted: Jun 16, 2026
Category: Engineering and Sciences
Subcategory: Systems Engineer
Schedule: Full-Time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: Yes - 25% of the time
Minimum Clearance Required: TS/SCI with Poly
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None
Potential for Remote Work: On-Site
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Job Description
Description
SAIC is looking for an Exercise Execution Systems Engineer with Space Domain Operations experience in Chantilly, VA to support a very dynamic and innovative space program office in Chantilly, VA. The Exercise Execution Systems Engineer is responsible for designing, planning, coordinating, and executing operational test campaigns and exercises to assess, validate, and demonstrate on-orbit system capabilities in support of mission objectives. This role serves as a critical bridge between engineering, operations, and mission partners to ensure space and intelligence systems are rigorously evaluated under realistic operational conditions.
The successful candidate will lead the development of exercise concepts, test objectives, execution plans, and performance assessments while collaborating across the Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), and international partner organizations. This individual must possess strong systems engineering expertise, operational planning experience, and the ability to identify innovative testing approaches that improve schedule efficiency, reduce costs, and accelerate capability validation.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and execute operational test campaigns and exercises to evaluate and validate on-orbit capabilities, mission performance, and system effectiveness.
- Lead exercise planning activities, including development of objectives, scenarios, success criteria, execution timelines, risk assessments, and post-exercise evaluations.
- Coordinate with DoD organizations, Intelligence Community agencies, Combatant Commands, and international mission partners to identify and develop exercise participation opportunities.
- Facilitate integration of operational, engineering, intelligence, and mission requirements into comprehensive exercise and test plans.
- Develop methods to assess system performance, operational utility, mission effectiveness, and resilience in realistic operational environments.
- Identify and implement innovative testing methodologies, modeling and simulation approaches, digital engineering capabilities, and alternative validation techniques that reduce cost and schedule impacts while maintaining mission confidence.
- Coordinate exercise logistics, resources, personnel, communications, and operational support requirements across multiple organizations and geographic locations.
- Analyze exercise results and operational data to identify system strengths, limitations, risks, and opportunities for capability improvements.
- Develop technical reports, after-action assessments, lessons learned, and executive-level briefings to communicate exercise outcomes and recommendations.
- Support verification, validation, and accreditation activities associated with mission systems and operational capabilities.
- Provide technical leadership and systems engineering expertise throughout the exercise lifecycle, from concept development through execution and assessment.
- Travel to CONUS and OCONUS locations to support planning conferences, operational coordination, test events, and exercise execution activities.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Operations Research, or a related technical discipline.
- 9+ years of experience supporting systems engineering, operational testing, military exercises, mission operations, or space system development programs.
- Demonstrated experience planning and executing operational tests, exercises, demonstrations, or capability assessments.
- Experience developing test objectives, operational scenarios, performance metrics, and validation methodologies.
- Knowledge of systems engineering principles, test and evaluation processes, and mission assurance practices.
- Experience collaborating with DoD organizations, Intelligence Community agencies, and multi-organizational mission partners.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to develop creative solutions to complex operational challenges.
- Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and coordinate activities across geographically dispersed organizations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience briefing senior government and military leadership.
- Willingness and ability to travel extensively to CONUS and OCONUS locations.
- Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph; eligibility for required program access.
Desired:
- Experience supporting National Security Space, ISR, GEOINT, SATCOM, or other space-based mission programs.
- Familiarity with Joint Exercise Life Cycle (JELC) processes and military exercise planning frameworks.
- Experience with modeling and simulation tools used for mission planning, system performance assessment, and capability validation.
- Experience working with coalition, allied, and international mission partners.
- Experience evaluating operational resilience, contested environment performance, or mission assurance objectives.
Overview
SAIC accepts applications on an ongoing basis and there is no deadline.
SAIC is a premier 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, intelligence, and civilian 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. For more information, visit saic.com. For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom.
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Science Applications International Corp
SAIC is a premier Fortune 500® technology integrator driving our nation's digital transformation. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, civilian, and intelligence markets includes secure high-end solutions in engineering, IT modernization, and mission solutions. Using our expertise and understanding of existing and emerging technologies, we integrate the best components from our own portfolio and our partner ecosystem to deliver innovative, effective, and efficient solutions that are critical to achieving our customers' missions.
We are a team of 26,000 strong driven by mission, united purpose, and inspired by opportunity. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.1 billion. For more information, visit saic.com.