Quantum Sensing Engineer

Job ID: 2616604

Location: Chantilly, VA, US

Date Posted: 2026-09-11

Category: Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory: Systems Engineer

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: TS.SCI_wPoly

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE

Description

SAIC is seeking a TS/SCI (with Poly) cleared Quantum Sensing Engineer responsible for providing high quality advisory services and program planning, implementation, and integration for Quantum Sensing and Networking efforts for Space Applications. As part of the team, you will be required to collaborate with others, as well as work individually, on strategies, roadmaps and recommended solutions for the implementation of Quantum Sensing and Networking Modalities. These modalities include atomic clocks, atom interferometers, quantum magnetometers, Rydberg sensors, and single photon detectors, among others.

In this role, the Quantum Sensing Engineer will work with the customer to develop a quantum portfolio and will be a key performer of its implementation. Will work with the Customer to enhance and broaden the current efforts, as well as identifying new modalities of interest. Understanding how to deploy components of a Quantum System into the Space Environment is a key aspect of the task. These enabling component technologies include space-qualified (radiation-hardened and temperature-resistant) electronics, laser optical systems, photonic integrated circuits, vapor cells, space-qualified photodetectors, and cryogenic systems. In addition, the candidate will need to support the Customer’s Quantum Networking efforts. The Quantum Sensing Engineer will be expected to support the design, assembly, deployment, and testing of these technologies.

The Quantum Sensing Engineer will also need to be able to:

• Engage government, industry, and academic institutions to leverage their expertise in these domains. An ability to maintain and develop new networks is essential to this task.
• Evaluate and report on new quantum technologies which may impact Space Applications.
• Provide systems engineering activities such as Concept of Operations Formulation, Requirements Definition, Analysis and Engineering, System Architecting, System Analysis and Design, Interface and Data Architectures, Validation and Verification, System Integration, System & Operations Performance Analysis, Lifecycle Cost Analysis & Estimation, Decision Analysis, and Physical Configuration Analysis (PCA).
• Ensure the logical and systematic conversion of product requirements into total systems solutions that acknowledge technical, schedule, and cost constraints.
• Perform functional analysis, timeline analysis, detail trade studies, requirements allocation and interface definition studies to translate customer requirements into component specifications.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Masters in Physics, Physical Chemistry, Engineering Physics, or similar field, and three (3) years or more experience; Ph.D. (same disciplines as listed above for the Masters) and one (1) year or more experience. Active TS/SCI with Poly

Required Skills:

• Skilled in: Experimental Quantum Physics, Physical Chemistry, or Engineering Physics.
• Understands quantum mechanics applications in a laboratory setting.
• Ability to transition technology from the laboratory to the field.
• Strong communicator that can consult on technical discussions and provide technical recommendations across many levels of the program to include senior leadership.
• Technical leadership and general problem solving related to software design, architecture, and execution in an oversight position.
• Ability to operate both independently and without direct supervision.

Desired Skills and Certifications:

• Experience in a DoD/IC environment
• Demonstrated technical writing and briefing.

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