Systems Engineer - Missile Systems Mission Planning

Leidos; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Wellness programs

Retirement plan

Paid Leave

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Systems Engineer to support the NAVAIR customer in Alexandria, VA, as well as additional locations in California, MD, and Virginia Beach, VA. The role focuses on systems engineering, analysis, and supporting software development for acquisition, design, test, and operations. Up to 25% travel is required.

The ideal candidate will transition requirements, define algorithms, and lead testing and milestones while communicating complex analyses to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Engineering, Computer Science, or other related fields.
• Active Top Secret clearance with ability to obtain TS/SCI.
• Willingness to travel 25%.
• Demonstrated initiative and ownership of deliverables.
• Experience leading working groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Transition requirements to support prototype mission planning.
• Collaborate to define algorithms and architecture for mission planning and strike planning.
• Explain and integrate algorithm design, software implementation and testing into tools.
• Provide engineering design and analysis assessments.
• Draft system specifications and develop roadmaps.
• Coordinate and lead technical exchange meetings with vendors and customers.
• Lead system test events and evaluate proposals.

Skills

Initiative and ownership

Public speaking

Written communication

System engineering analysis

SAFe agile

Ambiguity tolerance

Education

B.S. in Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

DOORS

JAMA

Jira

MagicDraw

Job description

Systems Engineer Location: Alexandria, VA, California, MD, Virginia Beach, VA Clearance: Top Secret The Decision Advantage Business Area within Defense at Leidos is seeking a Systems Engineer to support our NAVAIR customer in Alexandria, VA, California, MD, or Virginia, VA The ideal candidate will have experience performing systems engineering, systems analysis, and supporting software development activities in support of acquisition, design, test and operations.

This position requires up to 25% travel.

Position Responsibilities:

• Transition of requirements from current requirements to support prototype mission planning requirements.
• Collaborate with the government and teams to define algorithms and architecture for operational mission planning and strike planning.
• Understand and facilitate algorithm design, software implementation and testing, quality control, documentation, and integration into tactical mission planning tools.
• Provide engineering design and analysis assessments
• Validate system and customer requirements
• Draft system specifications
• Develop Roadmap and release planning
• Support Formal software and system milestone reviews
• Recommend CONOPS changes and use case development
• Conduct and lead system test events
• Evaluate vendor design and requirements specifications, hardware proposals and software solutions
• Coordinate and lead technical exchange meetings with vendors, customers and system operators
• Ability to work in ambiguous situations relying on creativity to deliver products
• Ability to explain and effectively communicate complex engineering analyses and studies to government and corporate management

Required Qualifications:

• B.S. in Engineering, Computer Science, or other related fields.
• Active and current Top Secret clearance with ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI.
• Must be willing and able to travel 25%.
• Demonstrated initiative and strong ownership of deliverables.
• Demonstrated experience leading working groups.
• Very comfortable speaking to groups.
• Strong writing skills.
• Model Based System Engineering experience.
• SAFe agile experienc.e
• Integrated development tool experience, such as DOORS, JAMA, Jira, Magic Draw, etc.
• Ability and willingness to travel 25%.

Desired Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience conducting engineering analysis, modeling, and simulation
• 4+ years of experience working in the defense and/or intelligence industry
• TS/SCI clearance
• Experience with the TLAM weapon system or other weapon systems
• Experience with imagery-based mission planning navigation products TMPC DABAOPP1

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: October 27, 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 only and 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.

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 $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026.

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 here.

Securing Your Data

Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information at any part of the employment application process. And Leidos will communicate with you only through emails that are sent from a Leidos.com email address. If you receive an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information, please report the email to [e-mail].

Commitment and Diversity

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.