Senior Systems Engineer

SAIC seeking a highly motivated and technically versatile Senior Systems Engineer to support the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane and the Office of Strategic Weapons Acquisition & Sustainment (OSW A&S) Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program. In this role, the candidate will serve as a Technology Project Officer (TPO) within the kinetics portfolio, with a primary focus on solid rocket motor (SRM) technology projects and various other kinetics-related efforts.

The ideal candidate brings a unique combination of energetics and propulsion domain expertise, quality assurance and manufacturing background, systems engineering discipline, and program execution experience. This is a hybrid/telework position requiring regular engagement at the NSWC Crane customer site and periodic travel to vendor and industrial base locations across the continental United States.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as Technology Project Officer (TPO) for solid rocket motor and other kinetics portfolio technology projects, managing technical scope, schedule, and deliverables on behalf of the IBAS program
• Conduct Industrial Base Analysis activities including vendor assessments, manufacturing capability evaluations, and supply chain risk identification for solid rocket motor and kinetics-related components
• Support sustainment planning for energetics and propulsion systems by evaluating supplier readiness, production capacity, and quality management systems at CONUS vendor sites
• Coordinate and facilitate technical interchange meetings (TIMs), program reviews, and working groups with NSWC Crane stakeholders, program offices, and industry partners
• Develop and deliver technical reports, white papers, briefings, and CDRLs in support of program milestones and customer requirements
• Apply systems engineering principles to assess technology maturity (TRL/MRL), identify gaps, and recommend investment strategies within the kinetics portfolio
• Collaborate with government and contractor teams to evaluate quality and manufacturing processes at the component and system level, identifying risks and opportunities for improvement
• Support critical design reviews, interim program reviews, and other technical gate reviews as required
• Leverage knowledge of propellant formulation, energetic materials, and warhead systems to provide subject matter expertise during vendor assessments and technology evaluations
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and industrial base trends relevant to solid rocket motors and kinetics systems

Education and Experience 

• Bachelors in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline and nine (9) years or more experience; Masters and seven (7) years or more experience
• Active Top Secret clearance required at time of hire
• Experience in systems engineering, energetics/propulsion, quality assurance, or manufacturing engineering in a defense or government contracting environment
• Demonstrated experience with solid rocket motors, propellant formulation, or energetic materials in a research, production, or program support capacity
• Background in quality assurance and/or manufacturing engineering, including familiarity with quality management systems, process controls, and supplier quality evaluation
• Experience supporting program reviews, technical documentation, and CDRL development in a DoD acquisition environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present technical findings to senior government and industry stakeholders
• Ability to travel up to 25% CONUS to vendor and industrial base sites
• Ability to support on-site customer meetings 1-2 days per week at NSWC Crane, Indiana

Preferred Qualifications

• Research focus in energetics, propellants, or related fields
• Direct experience with solid rocket motor programs in a DoD or Navy acquisition context
• Familiarity with NSWC Crane, Naval Acquisition programs, or OSW A&S program structure
• Experience conducting internal or supplier audits in a defense manufacturing environment, including familiarity with AS9100, CMMI, or equivalent quality frameworks
• Earned Value Management (EVM) knowledge or CAM certification
• Proficiency with SysML/Cameo or other model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools
• Experience with Parts, Materials, and Processes (PMP) engineering in a missile or munitions program context
• Familiarity with AFATDS, fire control systems, or kinetics/fires domain from a military or defense perspective
• Prior military service with experience in fires, combat engineering, or explosive systems is highly desirable
• Proficiency with analytical tools including Python, Explo5, or equivalent computational platforms relevant to energetics analysis