Overview
On Site
Full Time
Skills
IC
Integrated Circuit
Internal Communications
SPO
Satellite
Modeling
Organizational Skills
Communication
Management
Interfaces
Test Plans
Leadership
Physics
Optics
Science
Testing
Supervision
Effective Communication
Collaboration
Customer Engagement
Acquisition
Security Clearance
Embedded Systems
DoD
Information Technology
Systems Engineering
FOCUS
Job Details
Job ID: 2600219
Location: CHANTILLY, VA, US
Date Posted: 2026-01-09
Category: Engineering and Sciences
Subcategory: Systems Engineer
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: No
Minimum Clearance Required: TS/SCI with Poly
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None
Potential for Remote Work: No
Description
SAIC is seeking a mid-level Optical Test Engineer with NRO experience to provide Systems Engineering and Technical Advisory (SETA) services to a rapidly expanding Government Intelligence Community (IC) customer for a complex space and ground efforts as part of an exciting and innovative set of programs. This position supports a System Program Office (SPO) in a technical capacity for planning, execution, monitoring, and oversight of satellite system development and acquisitions that advance the National Reconnaissance Office's (NRO) space resiliency posture.
The optical test engineer should have technical and practical understanding of electro-optical and laser phenomenology and architectures to support advanced technology development programs of national significance to promote resilience to a diverse area of global threats. The Engineer will focus on mitigation technologies. The position will be responsible for understanding the current and future laser threats to space vehicles; modeling laser engagements; gathering, organizing, and understanding previous laser testing relevant to space vehicles; and be able to validate models against test results. The engineer must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and will work directly with the Government COTRs and with mission partners to coordinate and oversee testing campaigns, organize data, and develop mitigation techniques and technologies.
The optical test engineer will join a team of on-site SETAs working advanced technologies to enhance resiliency and survivability of space systems with responsibilities that may include but not limited to the following:
Support government on acquisition, source selection, and programmatic processes .
Support Contract Officer/Contract Officer Technical Representatives (CO/COTRs) and Developers by coordinating with other technical domain Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and program stakeholders to achieve a detailed understanding of the systems, designs, and interfaces necessary to satisfy requirements.
Support COTR with test planning and execution activities and briefing results to leadership.
Participating in technical interchange meetings between developers and COTR.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Must possess an active TS/SCI clearance with Counter-Intelligence polygraph.
Bachelor's degree in physics, engineering, or other discipline related to optics or imaging science and 7 years or more relevant experience; or Masters or PhD in physics, engineering, or science discipline with focus on optics or imaging science and 5 years or more relevant experience.
Knowledge of how optical systems are designed, developed, manufactured, and tested.
Experience testing in Government laboratories.
Ability to communicate very technical subjects to a diverse audience of senior decision makers with varying levels of technical expertise.
Self-starter with the ability to recognize requirements based on the organization's mission and vision and perform necessary work with minimal supervision.
Effective communication, coordination, and customer engagement skills.
Strong written and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic, and team environment.
Desired Qualifications:
Proven technical background in optical systems and space acquisition
Current NRO-adjudicated clearance and polygraph
5 or more years of related experience in a SETA or embedded integrator role
Experience with the Intelligence Community and/or the Department of Defense
Location: CHANTILLY, VA, US
Date Posted: 2026-01-09
Category: Engineering and Sciences
Subcategory: Systems Engineer
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: No
Minimum Clearance Required: TS/SCI with Poly
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None
Potential for Remote Work: No
Description
SAIC is seeking a mid-level Optical Test Engineer with NRO experience to provide Systems Engineering and Technical Advisory (SETA) services to a rapidly expanding Government Intelligence Community (IC) customer for a complex space and ground efforts as part of an exciting and innovative set of programs. This position supports a System Program Office (SPO) in a technical capacity for planning, execution, monitoring, and oversight of satellite system development and acquisitions that advance the National Reconnaissance Office's (NRO) space resiliency posture.
The optical test engineer should have technical and practical understanding of electro-optical and laser phenomenology and architectures to support advanced technology development programs of national significance to promote resilience to a diverse area of global threats. The Engineer will focus on mitigation technologies. The position will be responsible for understanding the current and future laser threats to space vehicles; modeling laser engagements; gathering, organizing, and understanding previous laser testing relevant to space vehicles; and be able to validate models against test results. The engineer must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and will work directly with the Government COTRs and with mission partners to coordinate and oversee testing campaigns, organize data, and develop mitigation techniques and technologies.
The optical test engineer will join a team of on-site SETAs working advanced technologies to enhance resiliency and survivability of space systems with responsibilities that may include but not limited to the following:
Support government on acquisition, source selection, and programmatic processes .
Support Contract Officer/Contract Officer Technical Representatives (CO/COTRs) and Developers by coordinating with other technical domain Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and program stakeholders to achieve a detailed understanding of the systems, designs, and interfaces necessary to satisfy requirements.
Support COTR with test planning and execution activities and briefing results to leadership.
Participating in technical interchange meetings between developers and COTR.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Must possess an active TS/SCI clearance with Counter-Intelligence polygraph.
Bachelor's degree in physics, engineering, or other discipline related to optics or imaging science and 7 years or more relevant experience; or Masters or PhD in physics, engineering, or science discipline with focus on optics or imaging science and 5 years or more relevant experience.
Knowledge of how optical systems are designed, developed, manufactured, and tested.
Experience testing in Government laboratories.
Ability to communicate very technical subjects to a diverse audience of senior decision makers with varying levels of technical expertise.
Self-starter with the ability to recognize requirements based on the organization's mission and vision and perform necessary work with minimal supervision.
Effective communication, coordination, and customer engagement skills.
Strong written and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic, and team environment.
Desired Qualifications:
Proven technical background in optical systems and space acquisition
Current NRO-adjudicated clearance and polygraph
5 or more years of related experience in a SETA or embedded integrator role
Experience with the Intelligence Community and/or the Department of Defense
Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.