Chief Engineer

Leidos LLC; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 154,000 - 278,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Wellness programs

Income Protection

Paid Leave

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Chief Engineer to lead the technical execution on a very large, nationally significant software development and system engineering program. The role requires directing architecture, execution, and Agile practices to meet mission goals while coordinating with government stakeholders and senior leadership.

The ideal candidate has extensive systems/software engineering experience, TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance, and a proven ability to mentor staff and deliver cloud-based

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI with Polygraph security clearance required.
• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree from accredited college or university in an Engineering or technically related discipline.
• Minimum 20 years' systems/software engineering experience within programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity.
• Extensive experience and understanding of Agency's SIGINT/CNO environments, sensor enterprise, and tasking systems.
• Expertise leading, architecting, and executing large-scale Agile development programs.
• Experience implementing solutions within cloud-based architectures.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the overall integrity, quality, and completeness of technical work performed and associated deliverables.
• Implement and lead cross-discipline integration among Agile development teams within the contract fostering a culture of innovation.
• Apply systems engineering principles throughout the systems lifecycle phases: Concept, Development, Production, Utilization, Support, and Retirement.
• Interact with the Government regarding Engineering technical considerations and for associated problems, issues, or conflicts.
• Communicate with other program personnel, government overseers, and senior executives.
• Mentor mid-level and junior staff.

Skills

TS/SCI clearance

Agile leadership

Cloud architectures

Mentoring

Systems thinking

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field

Master’s Degree in Engineering or related field

Job description

Job Description Looking for an opportunity to make an impact? At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainably. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading! The Leidos Intelligence Sector combines technology-enabled services and mission software capabilities in the areas of cyber, logistics, security operations, and decision analytics to support our defense and intel customers’ mission to defend against evolving threats around the world. Your greatest work is ahead! The Intelligence Sector is hiring for a Chief Engineer to lead the technical execution on a very large, nationally significant software development and system engineering and integration program. As the prime contractor, Leidos will drive performance optimization in achieving mission outcomes through efficient prosecution of the customer’s product backlog and roadmap.

What you’ll be doing:

• Responsible for the overall integrity, quality, and completeness of technical work performed and associated deliverables.
• Implement and lead cross-discipline integration among Agile development teams within the contract fostering a culture of innovation.
• Apply systems engineering principles throughout the systems lifecycle phases: Concept, Development, Production, Utilization, Support, and Retirement.
• Interact with the Government regarding Engineering technical considerations and for associated problems, issues, or conflicts.
• Communicate with other program personnel, government overseers, and senior executives.
• Mentor mid-level and junior staff.

What does Leidos need from me?

• Active Top Secret/SCI (TS/SCI) with Polygraph security clearance required.
• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree from accredited college or university in an Engineering or technically related discipline.
• Minimum 20 years' systems/software engineering experience within programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity is required.
• Must have extensive experience and understanding of Agency's SIGINT/CNO environments, sensor enterprise, and tasking systems.
• Must have expertise leading, architecting, and executing large-scale Agile development programs.
• Favorable if you have: Master’s Degree from accredited college or university in an Engineering or technically related discipline.
• Experience implementing solutions within cloud-based architectures.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting: July 7, 2026 For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range: Pay Range $154,050.00 - $278,475.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Leidos Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers.

• competitive compensation
• Health and Wellness programs
• Income Protection
• Paid Leave
• Retirement

More details are available here.

Securing Your Data

Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information at any part of the employment application process. And Leidos will communicate with you only through emails that are sent from a Leidos.com email address. If you receive an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information, please report the email to [e-mail].

Commitment and Diversity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.