Exercise Execution Systems Engineer

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.