Systems Engineer SME

Leidos; Englewood (CO); On-site; USD 131,000 - 237,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer SME to provide technical leadership for the Chinook Program, shaping architecture, modernization, and engineering excellence across the application. You’ll monitor performance, troubleshoot anomalies, and collaborate with security, cloud provisioning, and external interfaces.

You will present system documentation and brief end users and government managers, while mentoring engineers and driving ongoing improvements to ensure reliability and

Qualifications

• US citizenship required.
• 12–15 years of experience in systems engineering or 10–13 years with a Master’s.
• Experience leading technical teams and influencing engineering strategy.
• Experience in Agile and DevSecOps environments.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead for the customer application.
• Define system architecture, engineering standards, roadmaps, and modernization strategies.
• Manage cloud-based application systems for high availability and performance.
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues and develop effective solutions.
• Evaluate AI tools to enhance troubleshooting, monitoring, and operations.
• Lead requirements analysis, system design, integration, verification, and validation.
• Guide technical decision making across cross-functional teams.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend innovative solutions.
• Mentor systems engineers and promote engineering best practices.
• Partner with leadership to align technical solutions with mission objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement for performance, security, and maintainability.

Skills

Technical leadership

Systems thinking

Mentoring

Agile DevSecOps

Cloud proficiency

Python/C++

Education

Bachelor's degree in SE/CS

Master's degree

Tools

Linux

Cloud platforms

Python

C++

Job description

Description

Lead the Technical Vision. Shape the Future

Leidos is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer Subject Matter Expert (SME) to provide technical leadership for the Chinook Program supporting the customer’s application. This is a high impact leadership role for an engineering expert who enjoys solving enterprise-scale challenges, influencing technical strategy, and mentoring high-performing engineering teams.

As a Systems Engineering SME, you’ll serve as the technical authority for systems engineering activities, helping shape the architecture and future direction of an application while ensuring engineering excellence across the program. As a SME, you will monitor system performance throughout the day and troubleshoot system anomalies as they arise. You will interact with end users and support contractors responsible for security, cloud provisioning, and external system interfaces. You will also provide feedback to system technical development leads and test engineers to improve the effectiveness, reliability, and overall quality of the software and testing processes.

As a Systems Engineer, you will maintain system documentation and deliver presentations to end users and Government managers as required. You’ll also be expected to provide feedback to the system technical development leads and test engineers to make the software and testing more effective and reliable and maintain system documentation and make presentations to end users and Government managers.

Position may be performed in the following locations below.

• Gaithersburg, MD
• Alexandria, VA
• Chantilly, VA
• Englewood, CO
• St. Louis, MO
• Tucson, AZ

Clearance Level Required:

Active Top Secret/SCI with the ability to successfully pass a Polygraph examination.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Serve as the technical lead and systems engineering authority for the customer application.
• Define system architecture, engineering standards, technical roadmaps, and modernization strategies.
• Manage and maintain cloud-based application systems to ensure high availability, reliability, and performance.
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues and develop effective solutions to support system functionality and operational needs.
• Evaluate and identify opportunities to apply AI tools to enhance troubleshooting, system monitoring, and operational effectiveness.
• Lead requirements analysis, system design, integration, verification, and validation activities.
• Guide technical decision making across cross-functional engineering teams.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend innovative solutions to improve system capabilities.
• Lead technical risk identification, mitigation planning, and engineering trade studies.
• Mentor systems engineers and promote engineering best practices across the program.
• Partner with program leadership and stakeholders to align technical solutions with mission objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance system performance, scalability, security, and maintainability.

Basic Qualifications:

• US citizenship is required per contract.
• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 12-15 years of prior relevant experience or Master’s with 10-13 years of prior relevant experience. May possess a Doctorate in a technical domain.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical teams and influencing engineering strategy.
• Deep knowledge of systems architecture, integration, lifecycle engineering, and systems thinking.
• Experience leading engineering efforts within Agile and DevSecOps environments.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, collaboration, and technical mentoring skills.

12+ years of progressive systems engineering experience supporting software-intensive systems or enterprise systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting large-scale government or mission-focused programs.
• Demonstrated experience using AI tools to optimize system performance, or the ability to identify and articulate practical applications of AI to support the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
• Expertise in cloud-native architecture, distributed systems, and enterprise modernization.
• Systems Engineering Professional (SEP), INCOSE, CISSP, Security+ certification, or similar credentials.
• Proficient in Python or C++ software development, automation, and system support.
• Experience working with Linux operating systems in support of application deployment, automation, and systems support.
• Proven success leading multidisciplinary engineering teams across complex technical programs.

#Chinook

#NSBA

Original Posting:

October 15, 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

Pay Range 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.

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.