XMSTART is looking to add an experienced and strategic full-time Acquisition and Contract Support Engineer to our team, in Chantilly, VA. This position is 100% Onsite.

The Acquisition and Contract Support Engineer will provide systems engineering and technical advisory (SETA) services to our Government customer in a dynamic System Program Office (SPO) at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). This position will support acquisition and programmatic activities for a major satellite program. The job requires familiarity with NRO organization, processes, and satellite systems.

Responsibilities:

• Provide expert advice to the Program Director, Program Managers and Contracting Staff regarding acquisition strategies, contracting, budgeting, and execution.
• Support the Contract Officer Technical Representatives (COTRs) and Developers by coordinating with other acquisition domain SMEs and program stakeholders to develop, modify, and maintain contract documentation (award fee, period of performance extensions, and admin modifications etc.).
• Provide contracting assistance to technical personnel involved in development of statement of work or data deliverable requirements for variety of pre-award and/or post-award procurement actions (e.g., SOW, CDRLs, Incentive Plans, etc.).
• Assist with contract negotiation, price reasonableness determination, administration, and termination procedures.
• Provide acquisition support to Government customer for IC and DoD programmatic processes.
• Develop documents and briefings to communicate work status, recommendations, and approach.
• Draft technical evaluations and function as an advisor in source selections.
• Provide technical and programmatic assessments of contractor designs and milestone reviews to assess progress, risks and issues, and the ability to achieve mission requirements.
• Monitor and evaluate contractor performance for compliance with contract terms/conditions; ensures timely submission of contract deliverables.
• Review Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) deliverables to ensure content, accuracy, and sufficiency to meet program requirements and objectives.
• Participate in program reviews and technical interchange meetings.

Qualifications:

• Ability to assist the customer with defining technical spacecraft and ground systems requirements, defining a coherent acquisition strategy, and initiating major contracts with industry partners.
• Demonstrate a technical understanding of space systems, a working knowledge of government budget requirements, a sound understanding of contracting regulations, and a familiarity with the NRO’s systems engineering practices.

Desired/Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, programmatic, and problem solving skills.
• Strong briefing and writing skills.
• A demonstrated ability to be effective in a fast-paced, dynamic, and energetic environment.
• Familiarity with defense and intelligence acquisition, budget planning and contracting.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Physics, Engineering, Mathematics or related discipline with 14+ years related experience, or Master’s degree in Business, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or related discipline 12+ years related experience; Master's degree and 9 years or more experience; PhD or JD and 9 years or more experience.

Security Clearance Requirements:

• Top Secret/SCI with Polygraph required