Principal Program Scheduler – Indirect Fires & Force Protection

Leidos; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Principal Program Scheduler to lead strategic scheduling across high-priority U.S. Government defense programs. You will shape program strategies, maintain complex IMS architectures, and align technical execution with cost and resource baselines.

This on-site role at Huntsville offers visibility and impact across critical contracts. You will collaborate with senior leadership and CAMs to drive schedule risk management, EVMS processes, and performance metrics, ensuring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 10–12 years in Aerospace & Defense scheduling leadership.
• Recognized expertise in programmatic scheduling and Earned Value Management (EVM).
• Advanced mastery of Microsoft Project and scheduling analytics.
• U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance.
• Experience integrating shop floor into enterprise schedules.

Responsibilities

• Serve as scheduling leader for major defense manufacturing contracts and shape program strategies.
• Partner with program leadership to influence decision-making and optimize program performance.
• Build and maintain Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) compliant with EIA-748 standards.
• Communicate schedule analysis and metrics clearly to leadership and stakeholders.
• Coordinate baselines, ETC forecasts, and schedule risk with cost baselines.

Skills

MS Project

EVM principles

CPM & critical path

Monte Carlo

Scheduling analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Project tools (SSI)

Milestones Professional

Job description

DescriptionLeidos is seeking an accomplished Principal Program Scheduler to provide strategic scheduling leadership on high-priority U.S. Government manufacturing and production programs. This role will directly influence program execution, delivery, and business outcomes across a portfolio of complex defense programs.

In this dynamic role, you will serve as a principal scheduling authority for mission-critical programs, trusted by senior leadership to anticipate risks, drive solutions, and ensure alignment between technical execution, resources, and program objectives. This highly visible role is ideal for a senior scheduling professional who thrives in fast-paced, high-impact environments and seeks to apply their expertise to programs that directly support national defense.

The Principal Program Scheduler will be an integral part of the larger enterprise-wide Leidos Corporate Earned Value Management (EVM) Center of Excellence (COE). The Leidos Corporate EVM COE is a team-leading and executing the core responsibilities of scheduling, planning, EVMS, the associated infrastructure and tools, implementations, training, and surveillance for Leidos.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a scheduling leader and advisor for major defense manufacturing contracts, shaping program strategies through advanced scheduling practices.
• Partner with program leadership, CAMs, and manufacturing leads to influence decision-making and optimizing program performance.
• Build and maintain complex Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) compliant with EIA-748 standards and industry best practices (PASEG, NDIA).
• Provide the “why” - demonstrating the ability to clearly communicate schedule analysis, execution metrics, and overall program understanding through a cost informed scheduling perspective.
• Drive the integration of technical, cost, and resource baselines to establish accurate forecasts, estimates-to-complete (ETC), and actionable insights for leadership.
• Present schedule insights, risks, and “what-if” scenarios to senior program and customer stakeholders, often shaping contract execution strategies.
• Ensure program scheduling rigor, governance, and compliance across multiple high-visibility contracts.
• Develop scheduling artifacts to meet contractual/project requirements.
• Must be able to collaboratively work onsite at our Huntsville location multiple days per week.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 10 - 12 years of progressive Aerospace & Defense scheduling leadership (or equivalent experience in lieu of degree).
• Recognized expertise in programmatic scheduling and Earned Value Management (EVM) principles, with proven success leading schedule management on large, complex programs.
• Advanced mastery of Microsoft Project and scheduling analytics.
• U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance.
• Extensive experience in manufacturing, production, or prototyping environments with a deep understanding of shop floor integration into enterprise schedules.
• Strong command of advanced scheduling practices, including:
• 14-Point Analysis and schedule health assessments
• Critical Path Method (CPM) and float management
• Schedule execution metrics (BEI, CEI, CPLI, SV, SPI, etc.)
• Resource loading, management, and alignment with cost baselines
• Schedule risk modeling and Monte Carlo simulations
• Baseline change control governance

Preferred Qualifications

• Structured Solutions Inc. (SSI) tools for Microsoft Project
• PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP) certification
• Milestones Professional experience
• Proficiency in MS Project macros and custom reporting
• Active DoD Secret clearance.