Principal Systems Engineer / Technical Program Manager

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

Job summary

Leidos Defense seeks a Principal Systems Engineer / Technical Program Manager to lead advanced defense programs. You will guide system architecture across multi-contractor teams, liaise with government stakeholders, and drive lifecycle activities from concept to production while balancing cost, schedule, and performance.

The role requires active security clearances, strong MBSE experience, and expertise in EVMS and requirements negotiation across IPTs. Travel 10–20% is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in ABET accredited Engineering discipline with 12+ years of systems engineering/PM experience or Master’s with 10+ years.
• Experience defining complex problem spaces and managing cost, schedule and performance for high‑end defense platforms.
• Knowledge of MBSE methods, risk and opportunity management, EVMS, and requirements traceability.

Responsibilities

• Define complex problem spaces, operational needs, and mission requirements for high‑speed atmospheric weapon systems.
• Lead system architecture definition and integration across multi-contractor environments.
• Oversee full lifecycle from concept through design-for-manufacturability and production transitions.
• Host technical interchange meetings and drive risk/opportunity management to maintain program momentum.

Skills

Systems engineering

Program management

MBSE

Risk management

EVMS

Education

ABET accredited engineering degree

Master’s degree in engineering

Tools

IBM DOORS

SysML

Job description

Principal Systems Engineer / Technical Program Manager

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 is seeking a highly skilled, visionary Principal Systems Engineer / Technical Program Manager role to join our multi-disciplinary engineering organization. This role, you will encompass aspects of both senior technical leadership and program management by helping customers define complex problem spaces, drive system architecture in multi-contractor environments, define/help refine programmatic concerns and guide high-performance platforms from concept through design-for-manufacturability and production for critical Department of War (DoW) initiatives. As a Principal contributor, you will act as a primary technical liaison with government stakeholders and contractor collaborators, translating complex customer concepts into executable architectures. You will provide strategic technical direction across multi-functional Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), identify communication bottlenecks, manage high-level engineering complexities, and guide teams through the entire lifecycle from theoretical development to the production floor. 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.

Primary Responsibilities.

Collaborate with government customers and stakeholders to define complex problem spaces, operational needs, and mission requirements for advanced high-speed atmospheric weapon systems and associated high-performance platforms operating under extreme thermal, aerodynamic, and environmental conditions. Lead system architecture definition and integration across multi-contractor collaborative environments, establishing clear interfaces, conducting trade studies, and driving technical consensus among government, prime, and subcontractor teams using systems engineering best practices and MBSE methods. Oversee the full program lifecycle from theoretical concepts, requirements negotiation, and early analysis through design maturation, verification, design-for-manufacturability (DFM) implementation, production transition, and factory floor execution while maintaining cost, schedule, and technical performance. Identify and resolve communication bottlenecks, interface gaps, and organizational misalignments between government personnel, contractors, and functional teams to ensure efficient decision-making, reduce risk, and maintain program momentum. Direct multi-disciplinary Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and serve as primary technical liaison with government customers; host regular technical interchange meetings, negotiate requirements, ensure traceability, and drive risk/opportunity management to maintain alignment across all partners. Partner with systems engineering and Control Account Managers (CAMs) to establish program baselines, develop work breakdown structures, provide rigorous EVM inputs, support competitive proposals, and implement change management processes that prevent scope creep while enabling smooth technology transition from development to full-rate manufacturing.

Basic Qualifications.

Active Secret Clearance, with the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance Bachelor’s degree in ABET accredited Engineering discipline with a mix of 12+ years of systems engineering and/or technical program management experience, or a Master’s degree and 10+. Proven background helping customers define complex problem spaces, developing baselines, and managing cost, schedule and performance for high-performance defense platforms operating in extreme thermal, aerodynamic, and environmental conditions Comprehensive working knowledge of systems engineering best practices, Risk and Opportunity Management, Earned Value Management, Change management, and requirements negotiation with customers to ensure traceability through all levels Demonstrated experience leading, organizing and collaborating with various Subject Matter Experts, Functional members and managers (all non-direct reports) while working closely with the customer and government personnel to identify project risks/opportunities U.S. Citizenship is strictly required Ability to travel 10–20%

Preferred Qualifications.

Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies, SysML concepts, or requirements tools such as IBM DOORS. Prior experience developing competitive proposals that led to major program awards ($4M+) and executing programs under budget with EVMS metrics. Hands-on experience designing experiments for failure analysis, design verification, design trade studies, and root cause resolution. Demonstrated success implementing production cost models, Six Sigma methods, and additional change management processes while transitioning complex systems in multi-contractor environments. Extensive experience with Technology Development, Transition to Manufacturing, and Full Manufacturing including design-for-manufacturability

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.

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.

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.

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.