Combat Systems Officer (CSO)

Leidos LLC; California (MO); On-site; USD 92,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Combat Systems Officer (CSO) to join a small, expert team supporting Common Mission Control Center requirements. The CSO will apply aviation and electronic warfare experience to develop tactics and procedures against evolving threats.

The role involves coordinating with DoD entities, advising leadership and mission planners, and crafting time-critical and long-term solutions for survivability and mission planning. A TS/SCI clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 8–12 years aviation experience, or Master’s degree and 6–10 years aviation experience as CSO/EW Officer or Navigator.
• Must currently possess a TS/SCI security clearance.
• Strong knowledge of mission planning systems and ISR operations.

Responsibilities

• Support program management reviews, human machine interface reviews, and mission planning work groups.
• Identify threats and survivability to support client objectives.
• Coordinate with SPO and DoD partners to advise leadership and planners on policies and execution.
• Advise on mission planning improvements and training requirements.
• Review and prepare mission plans for test, peacetime and wartime operations.

Skills

Mission planning

ISR operations

Aircraft survivability

Military aviation experience

RPA/UAV mission planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in aviation

Master's degree in aviation or related field

Job description

The Combat Systems Officer (CSO) is a Subject Matter Expert working in a small, close-knit team environment providing expertise in support of Common Mission Control Center requirements. The CSO leverages their aviation, electronic warfare experience, and critical-thinking prowess to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures to counter emerging threats.

The CSO will also work and coordinate with DoD entities and agencies to facilitate cutting-edge product development to ensure client capabilities meet current and future objectives.

The CSO must possess an in-depth understanding of the key factors in aircraft survivability and combat mission planning to ensure client objectives are met by finding both time-critical and long-term solutions to challenging and unconventional problems. The work schedule may be dynamic in nature. No overseas deployment is required.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Providing support to program management reviews, human machine interface reviews, mission planning and other working groups/conferences.
• Identifying threats and survivability for proper decision making to best meet client objectives.
• Liaise with the System Program Office (SPO), staff, other DoD organizations, and mission planning experts to remain current on system capabilities, developments and initiatives to best advise unit leadership, tacticians, test directors, program managers and mission planners on policies, plans and execution.
• Providing advice and recommending options to manage and improve mission planning processes and procedures, efficiency and effectiveness, equipment capabilities and training requirements.
• Review, develop, and prepare mission plans for test, peacetime and wartime operations.

Required Education & Experience

This position offers a qualified candidate the unique opportunity to make good use of years of military training and aviation experience.

Bachelor’s degree and 8-12 years aviation experience or Master’s degree and 6-10 years aviation experience as a Combat Systems Officer, Electronic Warfare Officer, or Navigator.

Must currently possess a TS/SCI security clearance.

Desired Skills

Strong knowledge of mission planning systems, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) operations, military aircraft combat mission planning, and the key factors in aircraft survivability.

Recent operational experience. Must be comfortable with managing multiple tasks in a dynamic environment and an ability to complete assignments with little or no supervision. Experienced military aviators (pilot or flight officer) of manned and unmanned vehicles. RPA/UAV/UAS mission commanders / mission planners.

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.

Pay Range

Pay Range $92,300.00 - $166,850.00

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.

Company Information

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 $17.2billion for the fiscal year ended January2,2026. 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.

Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and 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.