Hypersonics Design Engineer

Leidos LLC; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Health and Wellness programs

Income Protection

Paid Leave

Retirement

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Hypersonics Design Engineer to join the Defense Systems division. The role involves designing mechanical components for advanced hypersonic vehicles, creating TDP artifacts, and ensuring producibility through GD&T and DFM principles.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams and participate in design reviews while supporting prototype fabrication, integration, and testing. A DoD security clearance and ABET-accredited degree with 2+ years of experience are required.

Qualifications

• Active DoD Secret security clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET accredited institution with 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools such as Creo, CATIA, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar software.
• Experience working within Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) environments.
• Working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) in accordance with ASME Y14.5 and basic tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Understanding of engineering drawings, specifications, and configuration management processes.
• Fundamental understanding of mechanical design principles, including statics, mechanics of materials, materials science, and manufacturing processes.
• Willingness to facilitate technical meetings with internal and external stakeholders, including design, peer, and tabletop reviews.
• Ability to communicate technical information effectively through written documentation, drawings, presentations, and verbal communication.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Self-starter with an eagerness to learn, take ownership of assigned tasks, and grow technically within a fast-paced engineering environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Responsibilities

• Support the design and development of mechanical components and assemblies for advanced hypersonic vehicles.
• Create and maintain Technical Data Package (TDP) artifacts, including drawings, BOMs, and specifications.
• Manage and maintain technical interface control drawings and associated engineering documentation.
• Develop mechanical designs with consideration for functionality, manufacturability, assembly, inspection, and producibility.
• Apply GD&T principles in accordance with ASME Y14.5 and applicable engineering drawing standards.
• Perform tolerance analyses and engineering calculations to support design decisions and verify component and assembly requirements.
• Participate in design reviews, peer reviews, drawing reviews, and other technical meetings throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Support the selection of materials, manufacturing processes, finishes, fasteners, and other mechanical design features appropriate for aerospace and defense applications.
• Support prototype fabrication, assembly, integration, and testing activities by troubleshooting mechanical issues and developing engineering solutions in coordination with senior engineers.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including structural, thermal, systems, manufacturing, quality, and test engineering, to develop and mature mechanical designs.
• Independently manage tasks and projects with guidance from senior engineers.
• Perform work in both classified and unclassified environments as required.

Job description

Primary Responsibilities

• Support the design and development of mechanical components and assemblies for advanced hypersonic vehicles.
• Create and maintain Technical Data Package (TDP) artifacts, including drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and specifications.
• Manage and maintain technical interface control drawings and associated engineering documentation.
• Develop mechanical designs with consideration for functionality, manufacturability, assembly, inspection, and producibility.
• Apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) principles in accordance with ASME Y14.5 and applicable engineering drawing standards.
• Perform tolerance analyses and engineering calculations to support design decisions and verify component and assembly requirements.
• Participate in design reviews, peer reviews, drawing reviews, and other technical meetings throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Support the selection of materials, manufacturing processes, finishes, fasteners, and other mechanical design features appropriate for aerospace and defense applications.
• Support prototype fabrication, assembly, integration, and testing activities by troubleshooting mechanical issues and developing engineering solutions in coordination with senior engineers.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including structural, thermal, systems, manufacturing, quality, and test engineering, to develop and mature mechanical designs.
• Independently manage tasks and projects with guidance from senior engineers.
• Perform work in both classified and unclassified environments as required.

Basic Qualifications

• Active DoD Secret security clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET accredited institution with 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools such as Creo, CATIA, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar software.
• Experience working within Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) environments.
• Working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) in accordance with ASME Y14.5 and basic tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Understanding of engineering drawings, specifications, and configuration management processes.
• Fundamental understanding of mechanical design principles, including statics, mechanics of materials, materials science, and manufacturing processes.
• Willingness to facilitate technical meetings with internal and external stakeholders, including design, peer, and tabletop reviews.
• Ability to communicate technical information effectively through written documentation, drawings, presentations, and verbal communication.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Self-starter with an eagerness to learn, take ownership of assigned tasks, and grow technically within a fast-paced engineering environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting DoD programs involving missile systems, reentry vehicles, hypersonic systems, or other advanced aerospace technologies.
• Experience supporting rapid development, prototyping, or fast-paced engineering programs.
• Experience creating 3D models and engineering drawings using PTC Creo and managing data within Windchill.
• Familiarity with aerospace materials and manufacturing processes, including machining, composites, additive manufacturing, welding, bonding, and mechanical fastening.
• Hands-on experience supporting hardware fabrication, assembly, integration, or testing.
• Familiarity with structural and/or thermal analysis as it relates to mechanical design.

Leidos’ Defense Systems is seeking a talented Hypersonics Design Engineer to join its Hypersonics line of business. With offices across the United States engaging in the defense, space, cyber and commercial fields, Leidos provides responsive, cost-effective engineering, scientific and IT solutions. The selected candidate will support hypersonic development programs, contributing to advanced weapon system development efforts that are critical to maintaining U.S. technological superiority in this rapidly evolving domain.

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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 Range

Pay Range Pay Range $69,550.00 - $125,725.00 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.

Pay and Benefits

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

• 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.