EO/IR Systems Engineer
Jobs via Dice, Chantilly, VA, United States
Job ID: 2611519
Location: Chantilly, VA, US
Date Posted: 2026-04-21
Category: Engineering and Sciences
Subcategory: Systems Engineer
Schedule: Full-Time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: Yes - 10% of the time
Minimum Clearance Required: TS.SCI_wPoly
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None
Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE
Description
SAIC seeks a senior EO/IR Systems Engineer providing programmatic and comprehensive technical support to government leadership in executing a mission portfolio focused on advanced electro-optical (EO)/infrared (IR) remote sensing development programs. The successful candidate will be a proactive Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) with strong communications skills and the ability to operate effectively across technical and programmatic domains. It is important that the candidate possess strong administrative/management skills as the position requires roughly two-thirds program management focus and one-third technical contribution.
Core Responsibilities
Identify, assess, and implement technical and programmatic needs necessary to execute the government lead's mission objectives across optical technology domains
Develop technical strategies, analyses, recommendations, and technology roadmaps for advanced EO/IR sensor development
Anticipate program challenges and independently develop solutions that align with mission goals and stakeholder requirements
Requires self-initiated and proactive planning in support of GPOC objectives and direction
Program Management Support
Directly support the government program manager throughout the research and development lifecycle for EO/IR remote sensing projects, including:
Programmatic and technical support to customer leaders and staff as part of a SETA team
Administrative support for the program office including budget profiles, tracking, spend planning, and financial analysis
Authoring papers and briefings for internal and external audiences to address organizational business processes and information requirements
Requires strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Acquisition and Contracting
Support project acquisition planning and execution, including:
Drafting acquisition documents (e.g., Broad Agency Announcements, Requests for Proposal, Statements of Work, specifications, Contract Data Requirements Lists)
Supporting source selection activities (e.g. technical evaluations, proposal assessments)
Assisting the IC customer with acquisition and oversight of technology development contracts
Developing briefings for government acquisition processes and strong writing skills
Requires understanding of government acquisition processes and strong writing skills
Technical Oversight and Review
Provide technical oversight to ensure program success, including:
Reviewing contractor engineering documents and procedures, requirements flowdown, verification methodologies, calibration plans, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and test plans
Participating in design reviews to uphold the customer's interests
Identifying and assessing project or program technical and programmatic risks
Requires systems-level thinking and ability to critically evaluate technical approaches
Stakeholder Communication and Coordination
Develop and deliver briefings and documentation for diverse audiences, including:
Office-level reviews (technical performance, spend planning, budget requests)
Enterprise review boards and inter-agency working groups
Departmental or Congressional inquiries
Actively participate in intra- and inter-agency forums
Collaborate with outside organizations such as other government agencies, laboratories, and universities
Requires excellent communications skills and ability to build trusted relationships across organizational boundaries
Technology Assessment and Innovation
Advance technology awareness and transition planning through:
Surveying and documenting state-of-the-art technologies in EO/IR sensing domains
Participating in or monitoring execution of studies or surveys by outside organizations
Supporting project closeout and transition execution to system program offices for flight development
Requires intellectual curiosity and commitment to staying current with emerging technologies.
Qualifications
Active TS/SCI with Poly.
Bachelor's degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or related discipline with 9+ years related experience, -or- Master's degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or related discipline 7+ years related experience.
Knowledge of the data processing chain for electro-optical (EO) remote sensing systems (aka tasking, collection, processing, exploitation, and dissemination) is a discriminator but not required.
Project management experience for research and development activities.
Prepared to learn the mission including radiation effects on space-based EO components to the point you will be able to participate in technical discussions.
Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic and energetic environment.
Good working knowledge of MS Office applications.
Effective interpersonal skills and strong briefing and writing skills.
Familiarity with defense and intelligence acquisition, budget planning and contracting
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Location: Chantilly, VA, US
Date Posted: 2026-04-21
Category: Engineering and Sciences
Subcategory: Systems Engineer
Schedule: Full-Time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: Yes - 10% of the time
Minimum Clearance Required: TS.SCI_wPoly
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None
Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE
Description
SAIC seeks a senior EO/IR Systems Engineer providing programmatic and comprehensive technical support to government leadership in executing a mission portfolio focused on advanced electro-optical (EO)/infrared (IR) remote sensing development programs. The successful candidate will be a proactive Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) with strong communications skills and the ability to operate effectively across technical and programmatic domains. It is important that the candidate possess strong administrative/management skills as the position requires roughly two-thirds program management focus and one-third technical contribution.
Core Responsibilities
Identify, assess, and implement technical and programmatic needs necessary to execute the government lead's mission objectives across optical technology domains
Develop technical strategies, analyses, recommendations, and technology roadmaps for advanced EO/IR sensor development
Anticipate program challenges and independently develop solutions that align with mission goals and stakeholder requirements
Requires self-initiated and proactive planning in support of GPOC objectives and direction
Program Management Support
Directly support the government program manager throughout the research and development lifecycle for EO/IR remote sensing projects, including:
Programmatic and technical support to customer leaders and staff as part of a SETA team
Administrative support for the program office including budget profiles, tracking, spend planning, and financial analysis
Authoring papers and briefings for internal and external audiences to address organizational business processes and information requirements
Requires strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Acquisition and Contracting
Support project acquisition planning and execution, including:
Drafting acquisition documents (e.g., Broad Agency Announcements, Requests for Proposal, Statements of Work, specifications, Contract Data Requirements Lists)
Supporting source selection activities (e.g. technical evaluations, proposal assessments)
Assisting the IC customer with acquisition and oversight of technology development contracts
Developing briefings for government acquisition processes and strong writing skills
Requires understanding of government acquisition processes and strong writing skills
Technical Oversight and Review
Provide technical oversight to ensure program success, including:
Reviewing contractor engineering documents and procedures, requirements flowdown, verification methodologies, calibration plans, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and test plans
Participating in design reviews to uphold the customer's interests
Identifying and assessing project or program technical and programmatic risks
Requires systems-level thinking and ability to critically evaluate technical approaches
Stakeholder Communication and Coordination
Develop and deliver briefings and documentation for diverse audiences, including:
Office-level reviews (technical performance, spend planning, budget requests)
Enterprise review boards and inter-agency working groups
Departmental or Congressional inquiries
Actively participate in intra- and inter-agency forums
Collaborate with outside organizations such as other government agencies, laboratories, and universities
Requires excellent communications skills and ability to build trusted relationships across organizational boundaries
Technology Assessment and Innovation
Advance technology awareness and transition planning through:
Surveying and documenting state-of-the-art technologies in EO/IR sensing domains
Participating in or monitoring execution of studies or surveys by outside organizations
Supporting project closeout and transition execution to system program offices for flight development
Requires intellectual curiosity and commitment to staying current with emerging technologies.
Qualifications
Active TS/SCI with Poly.
Bachelor's degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or related discipline with 9+ years related experience, -or- Master's degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or related discipline 7+ years related experience.
Knowledge of the data processing chain for electro-optical (EO) remote sensing systems (aka tasking, collection, processing, exploitation, and dissemination) is a discriminator but not required.
Project management experience for research and development activities.
Prepared to learn the mission including radiation effects on space-based EO components to the point you will be able to participate in technical discussions.
Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic and energetic environment.
Good working knowledge of MS Office applications.
Effective interpersonal skills and strong briefing and writing skills.
Familiarity with defense and intelligence acquisition, budget planning and contracting
#J-18808-Ljbffr