Senior Technical Program Lead

SAIC is seeking a collaborative and visionary Senior Technical Program Lead to provide technical oversight and strategic alignment for a globally significant design and construction program. This individual will play a key advisory and operational role, ensuring the seamless execution of complex technical and programmatic efforts while acting as a trusted partner to senior leadership and the government customer. This position is located in Chantilly, VA and requires an active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph to be considered.

As a critical member of the Program Management Office (PMO), this role will focus on integrating and balancing diverse workstreams, maintaining alignment with the customer’s objectives, and facilitating proactive communication among stakeholders. While this role may not initially include direct supervisory responsibilities, there is potential for the position to evolve into a formal supervisory role as the program progresses.

This role demands a high level of technical expertise combined with strategic insight to oversee technical systems, processes, and data while enabling cohesive collaboration between internal teams and external stakeholders. The ideal candidate will possess the ability to balance competing priorities, ensure technical excellence across the program, and provide the guidance necessary to keep all workstreams progressing smoothly and effectively.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Advisory and Alignment

• Serve as a trusted partner to the Project Management Office (PMO) in aligning program objectives with the customer’s priorities while managing competing demands and fostering operational balance.
• Provide high-level advisory support to align technical and operational initiatives with the overarching goals and requirements of the program and the customer.
• Coordinate programmatic efforts across multiple workstreams to ensure alignment and collaboration between engineering, design, construction, and other technical teams.
• Identify and evaluate critical risks, challenges, and opportunities across the program to maintain focus on priority actions and effective solutions.
• Deliver concise, accurate, and actionable reporting on technical and operational progress, ensuring that the right stakeholders are informed and engaged at key milestones.

Technical Oversight and Expertise

• Serve as the senior technical advisor, providing subject matter expertise to address complex design, engineering, and construction challenges.
• Ensure that all technical solutions meet the customer’s performance, quality, and compliance requirements while balancing operational feasibility and cost-effectiveness.
• Provide input and oversight during technical reviews and key decision points, ensuring alignment to program objectives and organizational priorities.
• Promote the use of leading practices, innovation, and professional excellence across all technical and engineering workstreams.

Collaboration and Team Alignment

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, ensuring clarity of purpose and focus across varying technical disciplines.
• Leverage leadership expertise to guide and mentor team members informally, fostering professional growth, accountability, and a collaborative, results-driven environment.
• Serve as a key facilitator of team alignment and performance, with the potential for expanded supervisory responsibilities depending on program needs and performance over time.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Act as a trusted point of contact for high-level communications and technical briefings, ensuring the timely dissemination of updates and performance insights to the customer and key stakeholders.
• Build and maintain trust-based relationships with government and external stakeholders to ensure mutual alignment, confidence, and collaboration throughout the program.
• Proactively identify stakeholder concerns, evolving requirements, and feedback to ensure the effective adjustment of technical and operational efforts.

Performance Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

• Oversee processes and tools for tracking program performance, including schedules, budgets, and technical milestones, to ensure all commitments are met.
• Develop and implement systematic reporting mechanisms to monitor program health and facilitate informed decision-making.
• Identify areas for operational improvement and introduce best practices to maximize workload efficiency, streamline communication, and enhance team cohesion.

• Active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field with 15 years or more of related experience; Masters and 13 years or more experience; PhD or JD and 10 years or more experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in senior-level technical or operational roles supporting large-scale, multidisciplinary programs, preferably involving design, engineering, and construction.
• Technical expertise across design, engineering, and construction disciplines, capable of consulting on and resolving complex challenges.
• Strong ability to manage competing demands, coordinate diverse workstreams, and ensure alignment with overarching objectives.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills to serve as a trusted advisor for leadership and government partners.
• Skilled in analyzing data, assessing risks, and identifying actionable insights to maintain program health and efficiency.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or advanced technical certification, such as PMP.
• Hands-on experience integrating and overseeing enterprise systems such as ProjectTeams or Archibus, with a focus on functionality, efficiency, and program alignment.
• A track record of implementing leading practices and innovative approaches within engineering, design, and construction programs.