Chief Engineer Jobs in Rhode Island (NOW HIRING)

Job Description
Description
SAIC is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Systems Engineer to lead Integration, Validation, and Verification (IV&V) activities for an Automated Test Set program supporting undersea defense systems in Middletown, RI. This is a technical leadership position responsible for owning the integration and V&V strategy and execution across the subsystems comprising a complex test set, working in close partnership with the Program's Lead Systems Engineer and a cross-functional team of engineers, technicians, and government stakeholders.
This is a broad, high-impact role encompassing both integration leadership and verification/validation leadership across the program - offering significant scope, autonomy, and technical ownership for the right candidate.
The program is currently preparing for Preliminary Design Review (PDR). This is an excellent opportunity for a systems engineer to step into a technical leadership role during a critical design and planning phase, with direct influence over integration and verification strategy heading into PDR, Critical Design Review (CDR), and eventual Test Readiness Review (TRR).
This role is ideal for a systems engineer who thrives on taking ownership of a technical domain, enjoys mentoring and guiding junior engineers, and wants to have direct influence over how a major test system moves from integration through formal qualification and First Article acceptance.
More on the Role
As the Automated Test Set IV&V Lead, you will report directly to the Program's Lead Systems Engineer and serve as the technical authority for all integration, verification, and validation activities on the program. You will be responsible for ensuring that the subsystems comprising the test set - which may include domains such as power, fluidics, controls and data management, communications, signal generation and measurement, and structural/mechanical support - are successfully integrated, tested, and verified both individually and as an integrated system, from initial integration through Functional Configuration Audit (FCA) and Physical Configuration Audit (PCA), and ultimately transition to production.
You will work across disciplines - mechanical, electrical, software, and test engineering - to plan, coordinate, and execute integration and V&V efforts across all subsystems, and you will represent this function in customer and stakeholder reviews, including formal SETR events. You will also work closely with a team of Integrated Product Team (IPT) Managers, coordinating integration and V&V activities across subsystem teams to ensure alignment with overall program schedule, technical baseline, and risk posture.
Location
Work will be performed at 28 Jacome Way, Middletown, RI, and/or Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport. Travel to additional customer, test, and integration sites may be required.
Growth
SAIC's management team is focused on enabling engineers to succeed and grow into leadership roles from within our programs. This position offers a direct path to increasing technical and program leadership responsibility, including potential growth toward Chief Engineer or Lead Systems Engineer roles as our undersea warfare portfolio continues to expand in the local area.
Key Responsibilities
• Support development and maintenance of a comprehensive integration plan covering all subsystems of the test set (potentially spanning power, fluidics, controls, communications, signal generation/measurement, and structural/mechanical domains, among others), including scheduling of integration activities, allocation of resources, and coordination with all relevant personnel.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks throughout the integration process.
• Oversee both subsystem-specific and system-wide integration testing to ensure all subsystems work seamlessly together.
• Develop and execute detailed test plans to validate system integration, performance, reliability, and functionality.
• Conduct integration validation testing to check interfaces and interactions among components across subsystems.
• Troubleshoot and resolve integration issues, perform root cause analysis, and work with development teams to implement effective corrective actions.
• Maintain detailed documentation of the integration process, including configuration changes, defect tracking, and version history, in accordance with program Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) processes.
• Implement configuration management practices to ensure all documents and components are correctly versioned and controlled.
• Communicate integration progress, issues, status, and outcomes to the Lead Systems Engineer, program management, and stakeholders.
• Ensure the integrity of the First Article as it is built out, supporting an incremental approach to Functional Configuration Audit (FCA) and Physical Configuration Audit (PCA).
• Develop and implement V&V (e.g., Test & Evaluation) Plans, including detailed strategies, processes, methodologies, and tools that align with project requirements and timelines.
• Perform requirements analysis to ensure all system and subsystem-level requirements are covered by appropriate test cases.
• Maintain full requirements traceability from system requirements through V&V activities and closure.
• Design, develop, and document test plans, test cases, and test procedures for each subsystem and the integrated system.
• Lead the execution of functional, performance, and reliability testing.
• Prepare and maintain all V&V documentation, including test reports and compliance documentation.
• Communicate V&V status, results, and risks to stakeholders and program leadership.
• Lead integration and V&V-related content and represent the program at formal Systems Engineering Technical Review (SETR) events, with immediate focus on the upcoming Preliminary Design Review (PDR), followed by Critical Design Review (CDR) and Test Readiness Review (TRR).
• Prepare and present technical briefings to government customers, program stakeholders, and senior SAIC leadership.
• Work closely with a team of Integrated Product Team (IPT) Managers to coordinate integration and V&V schedules, dependencies, and risks across subsystem teams.
• Collaborate with NUWC Division Newport personnel and other government stakeholders on test planning, execution, and results reporting.
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to junior and mid-level systems engineers supporting integration and V&V activities across all subsystems.
• Foster a collaborative, cross-functional working environment among engineers, IPT Managers, and support technicians.
• Support staffing and resource planning for integration and V&V tasking in coordination with the Lead Systems Engineer.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, or related field) from an accredited college or university, and a minimum of 9+ years of related systems engineering experience, with demonstrated experience in system integration and/or V&V of complex electromechanical or defense systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading or significantly contributing to integration and V&V activities on a DoD or complex engineering program, ideally spanning multiple interconnected subsystems.
• Working knowledge of SETR events (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and experience preparing technical content for these reviews; experience supporting a program through PDR preparation is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with configuration management, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) processes, and requirements traceability.
• Experience coordinating with cross-functional or IPT-based program structures is a plus.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles, including requirements management, architecture, risk management, and integration/V&V methodology.
• Ability to manage integration and verification activities across multiple, functionally diverse subsystems (e.g., power, fluidics, controls, communications, signal generation/measurement, and structural/mechanical domains).
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, evolving program environment with multiple concurrent priorities.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively across IPT Managers and subsystem teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to develop clear technical documentation and present to technical and non-technical audiences.
Clearance Requirement:
• Must have the ability to obtain and hold an Active Secret Clearance for the duration of work on the contract. An active clearance is highly preferred.
Desired Experience:
• Direct experience with torpedo systems, undersea warfare systems, or other Navy combat/weapons systems.
• Experience with Automated Test Equipment (ATE) and torpedo test equipment.
• Prior experience specifically supporting NUWC Division Newport or related Navy undersea warfare programs.
• Familiarity with electro-mechanical hardware design and integration.
• Experience developing and executing Verification Cross-Reference Matrices (VCRMs) and Compliance Matrices.
• Experience with Functional Configuration Audit (FCA) and Physical Configuration Audit (PCA) processes and First Article qualification.
• Experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools and processes, including configuration and change management within a controlled engineering environment.
• Experience working within a government acquisition/SETR framework, including generation of formal review documentation.
• Prior experience in a technical leadership or task lead role, including mentoring junior staff and coordinating cross-functional engineering teams.
• Experience integrating and verifying systems involving multiple engineering domains (power/electrical, fluid/mechanical, controls/software, RF/communications, signal generation/measurement, and structural design).
• Experience working within an Integrated Product Team (IPT) structure, coordinating across multiple IPT Managers on a single program.
Overview
SAIC accepts applications on an ongoing basis and there is no deadline.
SAIC® is a premier mission integrator focused on advancing the power of technology and innovation to serve and protect our world. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, intelligence, and civilian markets includes secure high-end solutions in mission IT, enterprise IT, engineering services, and professional services. We integrate emerging technology, rapidly and securely, into mission critical operations that modernize and enable critical national imperatives.
We are approximately 23,000 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. SAIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.3 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom.