Scaled Hypersonics Chief Engineer

Socket.dev; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 154,000 - 278,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos in Huntsville, AL is seeking a Scaled Hypersonics Chief Engineer to lead the technical execution of scaling hypersonic vehicle designs through development, test, production, and sustainment. You will guide multiple product lines as the technical authority, balancing near-term production needs with long-term technology advancement.

This senior role requires ABET-accredited BS in ME or AE, and 15+ years of design/analysis experience; you will mentor staff and coordinate with government

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 15+ years of design or analysis experience.
• Mission-focused and able to lead multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead your technical team to design a product that conforms to requirements, on schedule, within budget.
• Serve as the program’s technical lead for engineering execution, system performance, and compliance with requirements across multiple product lifecycle stages.
• Communicate technical progress, challenges, and opportunities to senior leadership and government stakeholders.
• Provide technical direction and oversight to subsystem leads, IPTs, and specialty engineering disciplines to ensure design maturity, integration, and risk mitigation.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or equivalent from ABET-accredited university

Job description

Leidos’ Defense Sector is seeking a Scaled Hypersonics Chief Engineer to join our team in Huntsville Alabama designing the next generation of hypersonic vehicles to protect America and its allies. You will lead the technical execution of scaling existing hypersonic vehicle designs to achieve levels of manufacturing, supply-chain integration, cost, and schedule never before achieved. You will guide the program through development, test, production, and sustainment activities. The Chief Engineer will serve as the technical authority across multiple product lines and configurations, ensuring design integrity, technical performance, and disciplined engineering execution. This role requires a systems-minded leader with the ability to balance near-term production needs with long-term technology advancement. This is not your average engineering position. You will work on a team of the most talented engineers in the region who push you to be better every day. This is a fast‑paced program with unique technical challenges that will be a rewarding milestone in any engineering career.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead your technical team to design a product that conforms to requirements, on schedule, within budget.

• Serve as the program’s technical lead for engineering execution, system performance, and compliance with requirements across multiple product lifecycle stages.

• Communicate technical progress, challenges, and opportunities to senior leadership and government stakeholders.

• Provide technical direction and oversight to subsystem leads, IPTs, and specialty engineering disciplines to ensure design maturity, integration, and risk mitigation.

• Mentor and develop technical staff, fostering a culture of innovation, rigor, and collaboration across the engineering organization.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent degree from an ABET-accredited university

• 15+ years of applicable experience in design and/or analysis of mechanical systems

• Mission-focused. Ready to contribute to a high-performing team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Candidates with experience leading large multi-disciplinary engineering design teams will be preferred.

• Candidates with graduate degrees will be preferred

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:

September 18, 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 $154,050.00 - $278,475.00

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.