Hybrid SATCOM Chief Engineer

Via Logic LLC; Beavercreek (OH); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a highly experienced Hybrid SATCOM Chief Engineer to provide technical leadership and program oversight across the lifecycle of the C3HST program, supporting DoD customers with secure, MOSA-compliant solutions.

The selected candidate will serve as the senior technical authority for system architecture, technical baseline, and engineering strategy, coordinating with a broad team of engineers, subcontractors, OEMs, and partners to deliver integrated, field-deployable capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field with 12+ years of DoD/national security experience.
• Experience as Chief Engineer or equivalent leadership across acquisition lifecycle.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams including suppliers and industry partners.
• Technical authority across AoA, prototyping, EMD, LRIP, production and sustainment.
• Strong background in Hybrid SATCOM, SATCOM, C4ISR, networking and system integration.
• Experience with MOSA and open architecture standards such as SOSA™, OpenVPX, FACE, CMOSS.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior technical authority for system architecture and technical baseline.
• Lead systems engineering across AoA, requirements, rapid prototyping, integration and fielding.
• Develop resilient Hybrid SATCOM architectures with multi-orbit capabilities.
• Establish technical roadmaps, reference architectures, and interface standards.
• Lead technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, PRR) and manage risk and configuration.
• Interface with government customers, subcontractors, and industry partners.

Skills

Hybrid SATCOM

Chief Engineer

Systems engineering leadership

AoA

Open architectures MOSA

SOSA

OpenVPX

FACE

CMOSS

Technical leadership

DoD systems

Travel flexibility

Security clearance Top Secret

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering / related

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

MBSE

Digital engineering

Job description

Position Summary

Leidos is seeking a highly experienced Hybrid SATCOM Chief Engineer to provide technical leadership and engineering oversight in support of the C3HST Program. The selected candidate will serve as the senior technical authority responsible for the program's systems architecture, technical baseline, engineering strategy, and lifecycle execution of advanced Hybrid SATCOM capabilities supporting Department of Defense customers.

Working in partnership with the Program Manager, the Chief Engineer will lead engineering activities across the full acquisition lifecycle—from Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), requirements development, and prototyping through integration, Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP), production, fielding, sustainment, and modernization. The Chief Engineer will provide technical leadership for an integrated engineering organization consisting of Leidos engineers, subcontractors, OEMs, and strategic industry partners, ensuring engineering excellence, architectural integrity, and delivery of secure, resilient, MOSA-compliant Hybrid SATCOM solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior technical authority for the C3HST Program, establishing and maintaining the system architecture, technical baseline, engineering governance, and technical execution strategy across the full acquisition lifecycle.
• Lead systems engineering activities across the complete acquisition lifecycle, including AoA, requirements development, architecture definition, rapid prototyping, engineering development, integration, verification, validation, LRIP, production readiness, fielding, sustainment, and technology modernization.
• Develop resilient Hybrid SATCOM architectures integrating military and commercial SATCOM, multi-orbit communications (LEO, MEO, GEO), secure networking, mission management, and cloud-enabled capabilities using Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) principles and open architecture standards including SOSA™, OpenVPX, FACE, CMOSS, and related frameworks.
• Conduct technical trade studies, architecture assessments, technology evaluations, and engineering planning while establishing technical roadmaps, reference architectures, and interface standards that ensure solutions are secure, interoperable, scalable, manufacturable, supportable, and aligned with customer mission requirements.
• Partner with the Program Manager to ensure successful execution of technical objectives while balancing cost, schedule, technical performance, quality, risk, and mission requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight of an integrated engineering organization consisting of Leidos engineers, subcontractors, OEMs, and strategic industry partners, ensuring alignment with program objectives, interface requirements, engineering standards, and technical best practices.
• Lead technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, PRR, and customer milestone reviews), oversee technical risk, configuration management, interface control, and engineering quality while mentoring engineering staff and fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence.
• Serve as the primary technical interface with government customers, engineering organizations, subcontractors, OEMs, and strategic industry partners, translating operational mission requirements into executable engineering solutions.
• Lead laboratory integration, interoperability testing, production readiness activities, operational demonstrations, and technical milestone reviews while ensuring compliance with DoD systems engineering processes, cybersecurity requirements, RMF, Zero Trust principles, and applicable open architecture standards.
• Prepare and deliver executive-level technical briefings, architecture reviews, engineering status updates, and technical recommendations while resolving complex technical challenges throughout the program lifecycle.
• Provide technical subject matter expertise in support of customer engagements, technical interchange meetings, and strategic growth initiatives as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical discipline with 12+ years of relevant engineering experience supporting DoD or national security programs (additional experience may be considered in lieu of degree).
• Demonstrated experience serving as a Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, Technical Director, or equivalent technical leadership role supporting complex defense or aerospace programs.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering organizations consisting of internal engineering teams, subcontractors, OEMs, and industry partners.
• Demonstrated experience serving as the technical authority across the acquisition lifecycle, including AoA, prototyping, Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD), LRIP, production, fielding, and sustainment.
• Strong background in Hybrid SATCOM, SATCOM, C4ISR, communications systems, networking, systems integration, or related defense technologies.
• Demonstrated experience implementing Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) principles and open architecture standards including SOSA™, OpenVPX, FACE, CMOSS, or comparable DoD open systems frameworks.
• Experience managing technical baselines, engineering risks, interface control, and technical performance while interacting with senior government, military, and industry stakeholders.
• Ability to travel as required to support customer and program activities.
• Active Top Secret security clearance required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline.
• Experience supporting U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, SSC, AFLCMC, DISA, or other DoD SATCOM organizations.
• Experience supporting programs spanning AoA, Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD), LRIP, Full-Rate Production (FRP), and lifecycle sustainment.
• Experience with Digital Engineering, Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Agile, DevSecOps, Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRLs), and digital thread methodologies.