Principal Systems Engineer

Leidos; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 131,000 - 237,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

11 paid Holidays

401K with 6% company match

Flexible schedules

Discounted Stock Purchase Plans

Technical Upskilling

Education and Training Support

Parental Paid Leave

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to lead analysis of user requirements, CONOPS, and system architectures for scalable solutions across Linux server environments, containerized platforms, and NexGen architectures. The ideal candidate will leverage GOTS products and Apache NiFi to support data-driven mission capabilities.

This role provides technical leadership in requirements development, system design, and integration, developing system architecture documentation and collaborating

Qualifications

• Twenty years of Systems Engineering experience in programs of similar scope.
• Demonstrated leadership in modernized NexGen architectures.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field; substitution allowed with experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and allocate system requirements across hardware, Linux servers, containers, and NiFi data flows with traceability.
• Design and evaluate NexGen architectures using GOTS products and enterprise server environments.
• Derive and manage detailed, verifiable requirements aligned with mission needs.
• Establish and maintain configuration and change management, including design reviews.
• Lead development and review of system engineering documentation for Linux/container architectures.
• Support integration, verification, and validation across server-based and containerized environments with security in mind.
• Coordinate across Integrated Product Teams to deliver scalable, secure solutions.

Skills

Linux servers

Container technologies

Systems engineering

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering

Tools

Apache NiFi

Job description

Description

Leidos has a new and exciting opportunity for a Principal Systems Engineer in our Intelligence Sector's Cyber & Analytics Business Area (CABA). Our talented team is at the forefront in Security Engineering, Computer Network Operations (CNO), Mission Software, Analytical Methods and Modeling, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Cryptographic Key Management.

At Leidos, we offer competitive benefits, including Paid Time Off, 11 paid Holidays, 401K with a 6% company match and immediate vesting, Flexible Schedules, Discounted Stock Purchase Plans, Technical Upskilling, Education and Training Support, Parental Paid Leave, and much more. Join us and make a difference in National Security!

Program Summary

Leidos delivers advanced technical, engineering, and system administration expertise in direct support of a high-priority foreign engagement mission. This established effort leverages solutions, alongside tailored engineering approaches, to enable mission-critical capabilities within a secure, high-trust environment. The program supports a complex and evolving mission where experienced cleared professionals operate side-by-side with the customer to architect, integrate, modernize, and optimize systems that directly drive operational outcomes.

Job Summary

Leidos is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to lead the analysis of user requirements, CONOPS, and system architectures to design and deliver scalable solutions across Linux server environments, containerized platforms, and NexGen architectures. The ideal candidate will leverage GOTS products and Apache NiFi to support modern, data-driven mission capabilities.

This role provides technical leadership in requirements development, system design, and integration of distributed technologies. The candidate will develop system architecture documentation, support integration and testing efforts, and collaborate with Government stakeholders to resolve technical challenges. The Senior Systems Engineer will ensure the integrity of engineering deliverables while working closely with cross-functional teams and program leadership.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and allocate system and functional requirements across hardware, Linux servers, containerized platforms, and NiFi data flows, ensuring traceability and completeness
• Design and evaluate NexGen system architectures leveraging GOTS products, container technologies, and enterprise server environments
• Derive and manage detailed requirements, ensuring they are verifiable, unambiguous, and aligned with mission and stakeholder needs
• Establish and maintain configuration and change management processes, including participation in CCBs and design reviews
• Lead development and review of system engineering documentation, ensuring alignment with Linux, container, and distributed system architectures
• Support system integration, verification, and validation efforts across server-based and containerized environments, including security requirements implementation
• Provide technical leadership and coordination across Integrated Product Teams, ensuring delivery of scalable, secure, and operationally effective solutions

Qualifications

• Twenty (20) years of Systems Engineering experience in programs of similar scope, including experience with Linux server environments, container technologies, GOTS product integration, and data flow tools such as Apache NiFi
• Demonstrated experience leading system engineering efforts in modernized (NexGen) architectures
• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering Science, Engineering Management, or related discipline
• Five (5) years of additional Systems Engineering experience may be substituted for a bachelor's degree

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.

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.

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.