Systems Engineer

Leidos; Tewksbury (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Systems Engineer in the Aviation organization to provide system-level engineering support for advanced X-ray scanners in the security industry. You will bridge the gap from concept to production, integrating electrical, mechanical, and software components while analyzing performance and reliability in lab settings.

Primary responsibilities include electrical design execution, production refinement, BOM optimization, subsystem integration, and lifecycle management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with 2+ years of experience, or Master’s with 1–2 years of experience.
• Proficient understanding of PC hardware including CPU, RAM, GPUs, hard drives, and internal power supply.
• Strong documentation skills and acute attention to detail.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Proven background in designing power distribution systems, electrical circuits, and cabling.
• Solid foundational knowledge of analog and digital design.
• Advanced expertise reading and interpreting engineering schematics.

Responsibilities

• Electrical design execution: development, integration, testing, measuring, and analysis/simulation of products.
• Refine production designs with connectors, cables, and wiring to meet criteria.
• Design alternatives to reduce BOM costs.
• Integrate and test electrical, mechanical, electro‑mechanical, and software subsystems.
• Lifecycle management: identify and source replacements for EOL components.
• Diagnose and resolve complex system-level performance and reliability issues.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineers to resolve production issues and with Field Support Engineers to optimize performance.
• Replicate reported field problems in a lab to determine root causes.
• Create custom test fixtures and define evaluation procedures.
• Author documentation and submit ECOs.

Skills

Electrical design

Schematic literacy

System troubleshooting

Hardware debugging

Power distribution

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering

Master’s in Electrical Engineering

Tools

PLC programming

Linux OS

FPGA programming

Job description

Description

Leidos Security Enterprise Solutions (SES) is seeking a Systems Engineer in the Aviation organization. This is a great opportunity for an experienced engineer to engage in hands‑on work while developing a deep understanding of aviation security products. The role is highly impactful because the products being developed make travel and trade safer, healthier, and more efficient on a global level.

Working in a diverse and collaborative R&D environment, this position is responsible for providing system‑level engineering support to maintain and enhance advanced X-ray scanners in the security industry. In this role, you will bridge the gap between initial concept and production, driving the integration and evaluation of complex electrical, mechanical, electro‑mechanical, and software components. You will analyze system‑level performance and reliability, replicate field issues in the lab, and collaborate across engineering disciplines to optimize our products. If you are a collaborative problem‑solver with a strong background in power distribution, troubleshooting, and hands‑on hardware debugging, we want to hear from you.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Electrical Design Execution: Perform fundamental engineering duties in electrical design efforts, including the development, integration, testing, measuring, and analysis/simulation of various products.
• Production Design Refinement: Refine conceptual designs into complete production designs, incorporating appropriate connectors, cables, and wiring to meet strict design criteria.
• Cost Optimization: Design alternative engineering solutions to reduce Bill‑of‑Materials (BOM) costs.
• Subsystem Integration: Integrate and test electrical, mechanical, electro‑mechanical, and software subsystems.
• Lifecycle Management: Identify, evaluate, and source suitable replacements for end‑of‑life (EOL) components.
• System Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve complex, system‑level performance and reliability issues.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner with Manufacturing Engineers to resolve production line issues and work alongside Field Support Engineers to optimize system performance.
• Root Cause Analysis: Replicate reported field problems in a laboratory environment to determine root causes.
• Test Infrastructure: Create custom test fixtures and define procedures to evaluate system components.
• Engineering Documentation: Author comprehensive documentation for system modifications and officially submit Engineering Change Orders (ECOs).

Basic Qualifications:

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (or a closely related field) with 2+ years of relevant experience, OR a Master’s degree with 1–2 years of experience. Equivalent professional experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
• PC Hardware Literacy: Proficient understanding of PC architecture and hardware computing components, including CPU, RAM, GPUs, hard drives, and internal power supply.
• Process Discipline: Strong documentation skills, rigorous process discipline, and acute attention to detail.
• Communication: Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Core Design Background: Proven background in designing power distribution systems, electrical circuits, and cabling.
• Technical Fundamentals: Solid foundational knowledge of both analog and digital design.
• Schematic Literacy: Advanced technical expertise in reading, interpreting, and analyzing technical drawings and engineering schematics.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prototyping: Hands‑on experience with rapid prototyping and hardware debugging.
• Automation & Control: Development experience with Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs).
• OS Competency: Proficiency working within Linux operating system environments; Windows experience is a plus.
• Programmable Logic: Familiarity with reading and programming FPGAs from a computer interface or host file.

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 23, 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 $69,550.00 - $125,725.00

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, 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.

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 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.