Sr Mechanical Engineer

Leidos; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 154,000 - 278,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Wellness programs

Competitive compensation

Retirement benefits

Paid Leave

Job summary

Leidos Defense Systems Sector seeks an experienced mechanical engineer to architect and lead development of avionics, LRUs, and missile system interfaces. You will collaborate with IPTs, translate military standards into hardware requirements, and provide technical write-ups, work breakdowns, and schedule estimates for EVM and major proposals.

Ideal candidates have 10+ years in aerospace/defense, strong systems engineering ownership, and capable communication with leadership and customers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years with a bachelor’s, or 8+ years with a master in mechanical engineering for aerospace/defense systems.
• Experience owning end-to-end systems engineering on large/complex projects.
• Experience with missile or high-speed flight systems.

Responsibilities

• Architect, lead, and deliver avionics, LRUs for missile systems and launch platforms.
• Design for flight structures, manufacturability, and electronics packaging.
• Bill of Materials development and component specification.

Skills

End-to-end systems engineering

Cross-functional leadership

Technical writing & briefing

Communication skills

DoD clearance (preferred)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

DOORS

MBSE concepts

CAD: SolidWorks/Creo

Job description

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 sustainable. 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.

Leidos Defense Systems Sector

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

• Architect, lead, and deliver state-of-the-art avionics, weapon interfaces, and custom/COTS Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) for missile systems, and fieldable launch platforms.
• Design for flight structures and mass optimization studies.
• Design for manufacturability and assembly optimization.
• Design for electronics packaging.
• Bill of Material development and component specification composition.
• Contribute to all phases of a development cycle: planning, design and development, implementation, test and delivery.
• Direct multi-disciplinary Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) for structures.
• Act as the primary internal technical authority, hosting weekly technical interchange meetings with external subcontractors to maintain design consistency.
• Partner with systems engineering teams to translate military standards into rigorous hardware requirements. support Control Account Managers (CAMs) by providing precise technical write-ups, work breakdowns, and schedule estimates for Earned Value Management (EVM), CapEx initiatives, and major competitive proposals.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience with a bachelor’s degree, or 8+ years with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering for complex aerospace, missile, or defense systems.
• Demonstrated experience owning end-to-end systems engineering (requirements, architecture, interfaces, integration, verification, and validation) on large or complex projects.
• Experience with missile, high-speed flight, or advanced weapon systems (e.g., hypersonics, ballistic missiles, interceptors, or similar).
• Experience with requirements and configuration management tools (e.g., DOORS or equivalent); familiarity with MBSE concepts and tools.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams and resolve complex technical issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience briefing leadership and customers.
• Active DoD Top Secret or TS/SCI preferred.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Candidate must be a resident of or be willing to relocate to the Albuquerque, NM or Huntsville, AL area

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline.
• Direct experience on hypersonic boost-glide, air-breathing hypersonic, or other high-Mach flight test or weapon programs.
• Experience with responsibility for technical scope, cost, and schedule on government contracts.
• Direct experience with ND systems and components
• Experience designing and executing experiments for strategic environments
• Experience in mechanical engineering within the NNSA nuclear complex
• Proficiency with CAD software for complicated mechanical designs – solidworks, creo, etc
• Experience in design and analysis with structural components and mounts
• Finite Element Analysis and simulation experience
• Familiarity developing prototypes, and their testing and validation
• Experience with testing and analysis of thermal, shock, and vibration
• Experience integrating subsystems into next level of assembly systems
• Experience with weapon systems and weapon system teams
• Experience with material selection for systems in strategic environments
• Experience with blast tubes, sled tracks, drop tests, and vibrafuge testing
• Experience with uncertainty quantification and approaches

Appkinetic

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

November 4, 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

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.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [e-mail].

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

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.