IDCS Chief Engineer

Leidos; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 154,000 - 278,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos's Air and Space Force Division has a Chief Engineer opening to lead the Integrated Defensive Cyber System (IDCS) program for the Air Force. The role reports to the Defensive Cyber Portfolio Director and shapes the technical planning, design, integration, verification, and fielding of cybersecurity capabilities.

The successful candidate will ensure deliverables meet the highest standards while applying extensive engineering expertise to propel the AF’s next‑generation defensive cyber

Qualifications

• Top Secret clearance required within 365 days.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field.
• 12+ years of engineering experience with 5+ years in leadership.
• 7+ years in two cyber disciplines (defense, analytics, or weapons).
• Solid SDLC/Agile/DevSecOps knowledge.
• Systems engineering for software/hardware/infrastructure delivery.
• Experience writing subsystem specifications and managing tasks.
• Proven ability to lead large development programs.
• DoD 8140 certification (e.g., CISSP-ISSAP).

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering oversight across the capability delivery lifecycle.
• Develop technical/programmatic schedules with IDCS PM and evaluate design options.
• Perform requirements analysis, interface definition and system testing.
• Oversee designs ensuring compatibility with Government Reference Architecture.
• Mentor mid-level and junior staff and communicate with Government officials.

Skills

Top Secret clearance

Engineering degree

12+ yrs exp

5+ yrs leadership

7+ yrs cyber exp

SDLC

Agile

DevSecOps

Systems engineering

Technical writing

CISSP-ISSAP

Education

Engineering degree

Master's Degree

Job description

Description

Leidos's Air and Space Force Division has an opening for a Chief Engineer supporting the Air Force (AF). The selected candidate will serve as the Chief Engineer for the AF's Integrated Defensive Cyberspace System (IDCS) Program and report directly to the Defensive Cyber Portfolio Director.

The IDCS program supports AFLCMC/HNCD who serves as the program office for several defensive cyberspace weapon systems and capabilities, including Air Force (AF) Cyberspace Defense (ACD), Cyberspace Defense Analysis (CDA), Big Data Platform (BDP), and Cyber Vulnerability Assessment/Hunter (CVA/H). In 2020, the AF expressed a vision for an integrated common system for cyberspace defense. The program office designed a new architecture that effectively replaces the existing Hardware (HW) solutions for the ACD, CDA, and CVA/H weapon system(s) and establishes an Integrated Defensive Cyber System (IDCS) ecosystem, standardized on a Common Sensor Platform. Leidos provides sustainment, development, and orchestration solutions for the current and next generation weapon systems.

The Chief Engineer will be responsible for the technical planning, system hardware-software-network design, development and integration, verification and validation, and fielding of solutions and capabilities for the IDCS program. They will ensure the overall integrity, quality, and completeness of technical work performed and associated deliverables are of the highest standards. They will also have the opportunity to apply their extensive expertise in engineering to deliver the AF’s next generation defensive cyber weapon system.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide engineering expertise and oversight for the program throughout the capability delivery lifecycle, from requirements development through fielding and transition to operations.
• Work closely with the IDCS program manager to develop technical and programmatic schedules, evaluate design alternatives including cost and risk, provide input on subcontractor selection and provide sound recommendations to resolve technical challenges and issues.
• Perform systems requirements analysis, functional analysis, timeline analysis, trade studies, requirements allocation and interface definition, technical management, integration, system testing, and quality assurance.
• Oversee system planning and designs ensuring compatibility with the Government Reference Architecture.
• Provide guidance and direction to the team on all product development and deliverables.
• Effectively communicate with the Government regarding engineering technical considerations and negotiate to convince stakeholders at all levels to accept our concepts, solutions and approaches.
• Resolve technical problems, issues, and conflicts within the IDCS program.
• Collaborate with other experts in the field to identify innovative solutions.
• Assist the IDCS program manager with development of SOWs, RFPs, perform tech evals, recommend selection and provide technical oversight and approval of subcontractor and vendor deliverables.
• Communication with customer’s Chief Engineer, Chief Architect, and technical leads on a weekly/recurring schedule.
• Mentor mid-level and junior staff.

Basic Qualifications

• Ability to obtain a Top Secret security clearance within 365 days after start date.
• Minimum Bachelor's Degree from accredited college or university in an Engineering or technically related discipline.
• 12+ years of total engineering experience, with 5+ years in a technical leadership role (Chief Engineer, Technical Director, or Lead Architect).
• Minimum seven (7) years of hands-on experience in at least two (2) cyber disciplines (e.g., network defense, vulnerability assessment, forensics, or cyber weapons platforms).
• Solid understanding of SDLC models, Agile and traditional project management practices, and DevSecOps.
• Systems engineering experience including design, deployment and configuration of software solutions, defensive cyber systems, and/or DoD weapons systems.
• Experience in writing subsystem specifications and managing tasks to cross-discipline technical contributors.
• Experience with all technical aspects of cyber systems delivery - software, hardware, infrastructure, and security.
• Excellent written and verbal communications with senior Government officials, including high-ranking military members and senior civilian executives regarding technical risk, AoAs/Trade-Offs, and milestone delivery status.
• Must have proven expertise leading, architecting, and executing large-scale development programs.
• Compliance with DoD 8140 certification (e.g., CISSP-ISSAP).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in related field.
• Prior relevant experience with Defensive Cyber Weapon Systems.
• Experience managing projects using software development life cycle models (SDLC) such as CMMI, modern SELC models such as SAFe, Agile, and/ SecDevOps.
• Experience with an applied AI/ML for threat hunting, response automation, or user/entity behavioral analytics.
• Experience with AF defensive cyber systems, e.g., SIEM, SOAR, ELICSAR, ICAM, etc.
• Knowledge and experience with USAF or DoD plans, policies, standards, and methods aimed at the acquisition and support of software and computer resources.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and direct high- tempo, multi-team effort s while managing cost/schedule/risk for programs.

Pay Range

Pay Range $154,050.00 - $278,475.00

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.

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.

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.