Combat Systems Officer (CSO)

Leidos; Marysville (CA); On-site; USD 92,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Combat Systems Officer (CSO) to apply aviation and electronic warfare expertise in a small, close-knit team environment to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures addressing emerging threats.

With collaboration across DoD entities, the CSO will help ensure client objectives are met through time-critical and long-term solutions for mission planning and survivability in dynamic environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) and 8–12 years aviation experience, or Master’s degree with 6–10 years.
• Must hold TS/SCI clearance.
• Strong knowledge of aircraft survivability and mission planning.

Responsibilities

• Support program management reviews, human machine interface reviews, mission planning and other working groups/conferences.
• Identify threats and survivability for proper decision making to meet client objectives.
• Liaise with the System Program Office (SPO), staff, other DoD organizations, and mission planning experts to stay current on system capabilities and initiatives.
• Provide advice and 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.

Skills

Aviation experience

Electronic warfare

Critical thinking

Mission planning systems

Threat identification

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

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.

Original Posting:

September 30, 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 $92,300.00 - $166,850.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand 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.

About 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 $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. 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 at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos' name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [e-mail].

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

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.