Design Engineer Principal Full Time

Location: San Diego, CA, US

Date Posted: 2026-05-19

Category: Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory: Design Engineer

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes – 25% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: Secret

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_HYBRID

Description

SAIC is seeking a Design Engineer to lead and deliver complex Infrastructure Services initiatives across Naval portfolio. This role will drive the planning, execution and delivery of mission critical technology programs, ensuring alignment with operational objectives, cybersecurity standards, and evolving defense priorities. Work is performed in San Diego, CA.

The Design Engineer will report to the Program Manager and play a key role in supporting the overall execution and performance. This position requires close coordination with cross functional teams and stakeholders to translate strategic objectives into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.

The ideal candidate brings a strong blend of technical acumen, program leadership, and stakeholder engagement experience with the ability to translate strategic goals into executable project plans across a dynamic, multi-stakeholder environment.

This position is contingent upon award news, expected in July 2027.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead end to end delivery of modernization projects supporting naval systems, infrastructure and applications. Develop and manage integrated project plans, schedules, budgets, and resource allocations. Coordinate cross functional teams including engineering, contacts, finance and other product owners. Serve as the primary interface between technical teams, product owner, and government stakeholders. Ensure compliance with DoD standards, security requirements and acquisition frameworks. Identify and mitigate risks, dependencies, and technical challenges to maintain program momentum. Drive agile and/or hybrid delivery methodologies to improve execution speed and adaptability. Oversee system integration, testing, deployment and transition to sustainment. Provide regular status reporting, executive briefing and performance metrics to program manager and leadership. Support change management and continuous improvement initiatives across the portfolio.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
Clearance: Must have Active Secret Clearance.
Experience:

• 10+ years of technical experience, managing projects, preferably within DoD or federal environments.
• Experience delivering system implementation efforts.
• Strong understanding of networking, cloud, cybersecurity and enterprise IT systems.
• Experience with DoD frameworks and processes such as ATO process, and defense acquisition lifecycle. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders and complex program dependencies.
• Duty location will be in San Diego, CA.
• Travel may be required up to 25% of the time.
• Position requires candidate to be on government site daily.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience supporting Navy systems and environments. Familiarity with DevSecOps, cloud platforms, or digital transformation environments. Experience working in matrixed portfolio-based program structures.

Target salary range: $150,000 – $190,000 The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

Target salary range: $160,001 – $200,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.