Systems Engineer Lead

Leidos Inc; Virginia (IL); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 237,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking an experienced Secret-cleared Systems Engineer Lead to support the Air Force Battle Network and related infrastructure. You will handle day-to-day systems administration and long-term maturation of complex DoD systems, interfacing with the customer and partners to ensure technical feasibility.

Preferred locations include Northern Virginia, Dayton, OH, or Orlando, FL, with remote options possible but requiring onsite meetings as needed.

Qualifications

• Must have Top Secret clearance with ability to obtain SCI.
• BS degree and 12–15 years of experience or an MS with 10–13 years of experience.
• Demonstrable knowledge of systems engineering concepts for DoD programs.
• Strong written and verbal communication with customer and engineers.
• Experience with cross-functional planning and system integration activities.

Responsibilities

• Provide expertise in the SE Lifecycle for all lifecycle phases.
• Accountable for requirements, architecture and other artifacts.
• Interface with customer to ensure feasible requirements and objectives.
• Lead technical information exchange to support program objectives.
• Develop technical roadmaps with the technical program manager.
• Document risk, requirements and interfaces clearly.
• Provide feedback and execution guidance to direct reports.
• Foster collaboration and transparency across teams.

Skills

Clearance: Top Secret

Strong communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Agile execution

SysML

Education

BS degree in related field

Master's degree in related field

Tools

SysML

Agile program execution tools

Job description

Description

The Decision Advantage Business Area at Leidos has an opening for an experienced Secret cleared Systems Engineer Lead. Our team supports the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Battle Network and supporting infrastructure. The system administrator will be involved in day to day activities and strategic long-term maturation of complex systems.

Ability to work in Northern Virginia, Dayton, OH, or Orlando, FL is highly preferred. Candidate working from remote locations will also be considered but must be willing and able to go onsite for meetings.

Primary Responsibilities

Systems Engineer Lead responsibilities include the following:

• Provide expertise in the Systems Engineering Lifecycle for all phases of the lifecycle

• Responsible and Accountable for systems engineering artifacts including Requirements, Architecture, and other informative artifacts for product development

• Primary interface with customer and other partners to ensure requirements and operational objectives are technically feasible

• Facilitate and lead technical information exchange in support of program objectives

• Work with technical program manager to develop technical roadmaps to support objectives from customer

• Document risk, requirements, interfaces, constraints in an organized manner

• Provide performance feedback and program execution guidance to direct reports to plans coordinated with the technical program manager

• Build a culture of collaboration and transparency, ensuring all parties are aligned and informed

Basic Qualifications

• Must possess a minimum of Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain a SCI clearance.

• BS degree and 12 - 15 years of prior relevant experience or Masters with 10 - 13 years of prior relevant experience.

• Demonstrable knowledge of systems engineering concepts and applying these concepts to Department of Defense programs.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills to collaborate with customer representatives, domain experts, and other systems engineers in the development of complex DoD systems.

• Demonstrated ability to participate in cross-functional planning, coordination, and task execution situations involving the full spectrum of system integration activities.

• Ability to work well with people from many different disciplines with varying degrees of technical experience.

• Ability to remain flexible and agile to execute per customer needs

• Experience in SysML and Agile program execution tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience support Department of the Air Force programs.

• Previous experience working on complex multi-domain systems.

• Experience with large weapons systems and command and control platforms across the DoD portfolio.

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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 25, 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 $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

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. 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.

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.

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