Program Lead, Systems Engineer

Leidos; Odenton (MD); On-site; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Wellness programs

Income Protection

Paid Leave

Retirement

Job summary

Leidos in Odenton, MD is seeking a Program Lead/System Engineer to oversee system-level requirements, integration, verification, and user acceptance testing for JWICS solutions supporting DISA customers. You will manage a 14-person team, drive performance reviews and awards, coordinate with DoD stakeholders, and lead definition of processes, specifications, and test plans.

The role requires TS/SCI clearance, DoD 8140-compliant certs, and 12–15 years of related experience.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance required.
• Current Security+ or DoD 8140 compliant certification.
• Bachelor’s degree with 12–15 years of experience; or Master’s with 10–13 years.
• Experience in architecture, design, and delivery of data-driven operations in a DoD environment.
• 2+ years of management and supervisory experience.
• 5+ years of project planning experience.
• 2+ years with Linux/RHEL and Windows Server.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of managers overseeing 14 personnel and drive performance reviews and awards.
• Data gathering, requirements definition, use case development, gap analysis, and test planning.
• Execute engineering activities including planning, third-party coordination, integration, testing.
• Apply Systems Engineering approach for planning, design, execution, and sustainment.
• Lead in defining processes for hardware/software compatibility and system specs.
• Develop and maintain system engineering docs and diagrams using SE tools.
• Identify and manage task dependencies, risks, and mitigations.
• Collaborate with colleagues to monitor variances and resolve technical issues.
• Report technical status of product development to leads; manage external dependencies.
• Estimate effort and update projected project schedules.

Skills

Security clearance TS/SCI

Security+ or DoD 8140 cert

Leadership

Requirements analysis

Systems engineering

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline

Master’s degree in related field

Tools

Linux/RHEL

Windows Server

SE Tools/Diagrams

Job description

Description

The Program Lead/System Engineer position will oversee the management of the system level requirements, and the performance of integration, verification, and user acceptance testing to ensure that the design, deployment, integration, maintenance, and support for Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications Systems (JWICS) supporting DISA customers is fully operational.

Primary Responsibilities

The successful candidate primary responsibility will be:

• Perform Leidos supervisory duties for a team of managers leading 14 personnel. Provide guidance and direction for personnel issues including completing performance feedbacks, annual reviews, salary recommendations, corrective action, disciplinary actions, submission for awards and recognition, etc…
• Data gathering, Requirements Definition, Use Case Development, Gap Analysis, Functional Specification, Test Plans, and Design Specification

• Execution of engineering activities, requirements analysis, implementation planning, third party coordination, integration and test, documentation, deployment, and system assessment.
• Employing Systems Engineering approach for systems planning, design, execution, and sustainment.
• Lead in defining processes for technical platforms, system specifications, input/output and working parameters for hardware and/or software compatibility
• Lead in the development and maintenance of systems engineering documentation and diagrams/models through use of SE tool.
• Identifying and managing related project task dependencies, risks & possible mitigations.
• Collaborating with colleagues to monitor and report technical variances; facilitating resolution of technical issues that adversely impact successful product delivery
• Reporting the technical status of product development to assigned leads on a consistent basis.
• Identifying and managing external dependencies.
• Estimating level of effort (hrs/days/resources) to outline & update a projected project schedule.

Basic Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI security clearance
• Current Security+ or SecurityX certification, or equivalent certifications/credentials in compliance with DoD 8140 at the Systems Administrator, Intermediate level.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in a related discipline, or equivalent experience/combined education, with 12-15 years of professional experience; or 10-13 years of professional experience with a related Master’s degree.
• Experience in architecture, design, develop, and delivery of data driven operations capabilities, within a DoD environment.
• 2+ years of management and supervisory experience
• 5+ years of project planning experience
• 2+ years with Linux/RHEL OS systems
• 2+ years with Windows Server OS systems
• Experience working with a highly technical team and in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are required to collaborate with customer representatives, domain experts, systems engineers and architects
• Ability to work well/collaborate with people from many different disciplines with varying degrees of technical experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of network routing devices and network device configurations
• Understanding of ITIL foundation or ITIL certified
• Experience with OS scripting (perl, python, shell)
• Experience with Databases (SQL, Oracle) & DB migrations

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:

August 28, 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 $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand 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.

• competitive compensation
• Health and Wellness programs
• Income Protection
• Paid Leave
• 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.