Senior Systems Engineer - Mission Objectives Lead
SAIC, huntsville, al, United States
**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.
REQNUMBER:
SAIC is a premier technology integrator, solving our nation's most complex modernization and systems engineering challenges across the defense, space, federal civilian, and intelligence markets. Our robust portfolio of offerings includes high-end solutions in systems engineering and integration; enterprise IT, including cloud services; cyber; software; advanced analytics and simulation; and training. We are a team of 23,000 strong driven by mission, united purpose, and inspired by opportunity. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $6.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For information on the benefits SAIC offers, see Working at SAIC. EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability
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.
REQNUMBER:
SAIC is a premier technology integrator, solving our nation's most complex modernization and systems engineering challenges across the defense, space, federal civilian, and intelligence markets. Our robust portfolio of offerings includes high-end solutions in systems engineering and integration; enterprise IT, including cloud services; cyber; software; advanced analytics and simulation; and training. We are a team of 23,000 strong driven by mission, united purpose, and inspired by opportunity. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $6.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For information on the benefits SAIC offers, see Working at SAIC. EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability