Systems Engineer Principal

Systems Engineer Principal

Job ID: 2619018

Location: Washington, DC, United States

Date Posted: Nov 13, 2026

Category: Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory: Systems Engineer

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 25% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: Secret

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None

Potential for Remote Work: Hybrid

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Job Description

Description

SAIC supports the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW R&E) in ensuring the defense acquisition community has the research and engineering capabilities required to define, develop, test, operate, and sustain defense systems across the acquisition life cycle. OUSW R&E develops and implements policy, builds workforce capability and capacity, and provides technical engagement with DoW Components, industry, and academia to shape the future of research and engineering.

SAIC is seeking a motivated, mid-career System Safety Engineer (SSE) to support Specialty Engineering initiatives under the guidance of senior engineers. This role supports the Director for Specialty Engineering within OUSW R&E and is intended for candidates with foundational System Safety Engineering experience in a defense environment. A successful candidate will work as part of a team analyzing defense systems to identify hazards, categorize risk, and recommend mitigation to reduce the probability/severity of a mishap resulting in injury to personnel, equipment damage, and/or damage to the environment. Candidates with experience supporting Joint Services Weapon Safety Review Boards are highly preferred. Candidates will use their expertise to develop and update DoW safety documentation (e.g., System Safety Management Plan), policies & guidance (e.g., Machine Learning System Safety Engineering Guide), and training material.

Key Responsibilities:

Specialty Engineering Support

• Assist with SSE reviews, updates, and configuration control activities
• Apply SSE best practices in support of DoW Specialty Engineering initiatives
• Support implementation of SSE best practices through development of SSE artifacts and supporting documentation
• Assist senior engineers in documenting System Safety Engineering processes, workflows, and lessons learned
• Help prepare materials that support System Safety Engineering adoption, including briefings and examples
• Participate in SSE Communities of Practice and Working Groups

Communication and Coordination

• Support preparation of technical inputs to data calls, briefings, articles, and reports for government stakeholders
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to communicate technical concepts using models and visualizations
• Assist senior staff in coordinating across government and contractor teams as needed

Qualifications

Bachelor''s and nine years or more experience; Master''s and seven years or more experience; PhD or JD and four (4) years or more experience.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• U.S. citizenship
• Active SECRET clearance
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline
• 10 years of experience in systems safety engineering

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Demonstrated experience using SSE methodologies and tools
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Clear written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey technical concepts to diverse audiences
• Current, active Secret clearance required

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to communicate with senior leadership in high-pressure environments, presenting analytical results and actionable recommendations
• Exposure to advanced Systems Safety Engineering concepts, practices, or coursework such as SSE issues with use of AI/ML within weapons systems
• Experience supporting DoW working groups, technical interchange meetings, or program reviews

Target salary range: $120,001 - $160,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

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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