IFPC Principal Mechanical Engineer

Leidos; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 131,000 - 237,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Defense Systems is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to support the IFPC Inc 2 program. You will develop the Army’s mobile ground-based air defense system using Creo CAD and Windchill PLM, transitioning designs to hardware and supporting testing and integration.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams, mentor engineers, and coordinate with design agents and suppliers to ensure manufacturability, quality, and on-time delivery. A security clearance is preferred.

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited engineering degree with 12+ years of experience; or Master's degree with 10 years of experience.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams/IPTs responsible for complex mechanical subsystem design, development, integration, or production.
• Experience planning and coordinating engineering activities, managing technical deliverables, and addressing program risks and schedules.
• Proficiency with CAD tools such as Creo, CATIA, AutoCAD, or SolidWorks.
• Experience working in PLM environments and knowledge of GD&T (ASME Y14.5).

Responsibilities

• Contribute to engineering activities for the IFPC Hardware IPT, including execution and issue resolution.
• Develop and maintain engineering plans and schedules and coordinate deliverables.
• Define mechanical assembly components and TDP contents.
• Lead technical peer reviews and resolve complex issues.
• Coordinate with design agent and Industry IPT to align engineering decisions.

Skills

Creo

CATIA

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

PLM

GD&T

Leadership

Customer interface

Microsoft Office

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Master's degree

Tools

Windchill PLM

Microsoft Office

Job description

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact? At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainably. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business. Your greatest work is ahead! Leidos’ Defense Systems is seeking a talented Principal Mechanical Engineer to support the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC Inc 2) Program. In this role, you will help develop the Army’s newest mobile, ground‑based air defense system, using Creo CAD and Windchill PLM to create designs and work with production to transition them into hardware. You may also support hardware integration, installation, and testing. You’ll join a high-performing engineering team in a fast-paced environment with unique technical challenges and strong opportunities for growth. If you are up for the challenge of joining this team, then. If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading! Leidos Defense Systems Sector provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world’s toughest security challenges for customers with “can’t fail” missions. To explore and learn more, Are you ready to make an impact?

Primary Responsibilities

• Contribute to engineering activities for the IFPC Hardware Integrated Product Team (IPT), including technical execution, engineering deliverables, and issue resolution.
• Develop and maintain engineering plans and schedules, manage technical risks, and coordinate deliverables to support program objectives.
• Ensure complete and accurate definition of mechanical assembly components, subsystems, and ground support equipment within the Technical Data Package (TDP).
• Lead technical peer reviews and drive resolution of complex engineering issues.
• Serve as a primary technical interface with the design agent and Industry IPT, coordinating technical activities and driving alignment on engineering decisions and issue resolution.
• Work with the design agent to incorporate design changes that enhance manufacturability, quality, and production efficiency.
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineering, operations, and liaison engineering to resolve production bottlenecks, improve processes, and support hardware delivery.
• Coordinate with supplier program managers to ensure timely hardware delivery, resolve technical issues, and support supplier producibility improvements.
• Provide technical oversight of nonconforming hardware dispositions within established MRB authority and support Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations.
• Lead the Failure Review Board (FRB) process to resolve technical issues.
• Identify, assess, and communicate program risks and improvement opportunities to the Risk and Opportunity (RIO) Board.
• Serve as a senior technical representative to the customer, providing program status updates and communicating engineering and manufacturing activities.
• Mentor less experienced engineers and provide technical guidance across the IPT.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET accredited institution with 12+ years of relevant experience; or Master's degree and 10 years' experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams or Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) responsible for complex mechanical subsystem design, development, integration, or production.
• Experience planning and coordinating engineering activities, managing technical deliverables, and addressing program risks and schedules.
• Proficiency with CAD tools such as Creo, CATIA, AutoCAD, or SolidWorks.
• Experience working within Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) environments.
• Working knowledge of GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Understanding of engineering drawings, specifications, and configuration management processes.
• Experience leading technical investigations and resolving complex engineering issues in development or production environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical reviews and make sound engineering recommendations.
• Understanding of cost, schedule, and technical risk impacts associated with engineering decisions.
• Experience interacting directly with customers and external engineering organizations to coordinate activities and resolve technical issues.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and mentor other engineers.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• U.S. citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret-level security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active security clearance.
• Experience supporting DoD programs related to missile systems, reentry vehicles, or hypersonic technologies.
• Prior technical leadership experience in the design, development, qualification, or integration of missile system mechanical subsystems.
• Experience coordinating technical activities with external design agents, suppliers, and industry partners.
• Experience supporting rapid development, prototyping, or fast-paced engineering programs.
• Familiarity with AS9100 aerospace quality management systems.
• Knowledge of MIL-STD-31000 Technical Data Package (TDP) development, engineering release processes, and configuration control.
• Experience creating and reviewing engineering drawings and complex CAD assemblies using PTC Creo and managing engineering data within Windchill.
• Experience supporting Material Review Board (MRB), Failure Review Board (FRB), and Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) processes.

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.

Original Posting: November 5, 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 $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

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.

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 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.