V2X Systems Engineer

Leidos; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Leidos Health and Services Sector is seeking a V2X Systems Engineer in McLean, VA to design the future of connected transportation—from concept to field deployment. You will bridge big-picture systems thinking with hands-on technical execution across lab and field environments.

Lead ConOps and system architectures, collaborate with software and transportation researchers, and develop verification strategies and test procedures to ensure project objectives are met nationwide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 6+ years of engineering experience involving complex systems.
• 3+ years experience developing system requirements using the systems engineering process.
• Ability to efficiently plan and execute integration, verification, or validation testing.
• Understanding of the relationship between system requirements and testing; hands-on troubleshooting hardware/software.
• Comfort working with Linux and Windows environments.
• Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, R, or similar analysis tools.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance (three years’ continuous U.S. residency required).
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel up to 15%.

Responsibilities

• Develop Concepts of Operations (ConOps), User Needs, and system architectures and requirements using established systems engineering practices.
• Translate operational needs into clear technical requirements.
• Collaborate with software developers, communications engineers, and transportation researchers.
• Review technical documentation to ensure requirements remain complete, verifiable, and aligned with project objectives.
• Develop verification strategies, test plans, and test procedures.
• Integrate communications hardware and software in laboratory and field environments.
• Execute integration, verification, and validation testing.
• Analyze system performance and troubleshoot technical issues.
• Document results and communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Evaluate emerging transportation technologies.
• Support field demonstrations and deployments throughout the United States.
• Contribute to transportation research that influences national connected vehicle initiatives.

Skills

Systems Engineering

Requirements Development

Lab Testing

Troubleshooting

Linux

Windows

Python

Public Trust clearance

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

MBSE

SysML

Cameo

Jira

Confluence

SET-IT

ARC-IT

NS-3

Job description

The Leidos Health and Services Sector is seeking a V2X Systems Engineer, contingent upon contract award to work in McLean, VA. Candidates MUST: Have the ability to work full-time on-site in McLean, VA, and be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance (three years’ continuous U.S. residency required) and a valid driver’s license.

Design the future of connected transportation—from concept to field deployment. The future of transportation depends on engineers who can bridge big-picture systems thinking with hands‑on technical execution.

At Leidos, we're developing the next generation of connected and automated vehicle technologies that improve roadway safety, mobility, and operational efficiency. Our work spans vehicle-to‑everything (V2X) communications, intelligent transportation systems, roadside infrastructure, and emerging transportation technologies that are shaping how people and goods move.

Our team operates the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory (STOL), a USDOT research lab. STOL is a research and development center advancing the science of connected and automated vehicle technologies and digital roadway infrastructure. Our mission is to improve transportation safety, mobility, and environmental outcomes through innovation, testing, and real‑world demonstrations. Learn more about STOL at https://highways.dot.gov/turner-fairbank-highway-research-center/labs/STOL!

We're looking for a Systems Engineer who enjoys more than writing requirements. This role is for an engineer who wants to own the engineering process—from understanding customer needs and developing system requirements to integrating hardware, executing tests, analyzing data, and validating system performance. If you enjoy solving difficult technical problems, working with multidisciplinary teams, and seeing your engineering decisions come to life in the lab and in the field, we'd like to talk with you.

Systems of Interest

• Vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I)
• vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V)
• vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communications
• Connected and Automated Vehicles
• Traffic Operations
• Intelligent Transportation Systems
• Hardware- and Software-in-the-Loop Simulation

What You'll Do

• Develop Concepts of Operations (ConOps), User Needs, and system architectures and requirements using established systems engineering practices.
• Translate operational needs into clear technical requirements.
• Collaborate with software developers, communications engineers, and transportation researchers.
• Review technical documentation to ensure requirements remain complete, verifiable, and aligned with project objectives.
• Develop verification strategies, test plans, and test procedures.
• Integrate communications hardware and software in laboratory and field environments.
• Execute integration, verification, and validation testing.
• Analyze system performance and troubleshoot technical issues.
• Document results and communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Evaluate emerging transportation technologies.
• Support field demonstrations and deployments throughout the United States.
• Contribute to transportation research that influences national connected vehicle initiatives.

Why This Role Is Different

Many Systems Engineering positions stop at requirements. This one doesn't. You'll have the opportunity to follow your work from concept through deployment. One week you may be developing system requirements with customers. The next, you'll be configuring roadside communications equipment, executing vehicle testing, analyzing performance data, or troubleshooting an integration issue alongside software developers.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 6+ years of engineering experience involving complex systems.
• 3+ years experience developing system requirements using the systems engineering process.
• Ability to efficiently plan and execute integration, verification, or validation testing.
• Understanding of the relationship between system requirements and testing Hands-on experience troubleshooting integrated hardware and software systems.
• Comfort working with both Linux and Windows environments.
• Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, R, or similar analysis tools.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance (three years’ continuous U.S. residency required).
• Valid driver's license.
• Willingness to travel up to 15%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Solid written and verbal communication skills.
• Hands‑on experience working in a lab environment.
• Experience with SET-IT, ARC-IT, MBSE and related tools, such as SysML, or Cameo.
• Experience with productivity tools like Jira and Confluence.
• Experience with Connected Vehicles and Intelligent Transportation Systems.
• Knowledge of communication standards, such as IEEE 802.11/1609, SAE J2735/J2945, LTE, or 5G.
• Experience with C, C++, C#, Java, and Bash.
• Experience with simulation of GPS, networking (e.g., NS-3), or vehicle dynamics.

Why Leidos

Own engineering work across the full systems lifecycle. Balance analytical systems engineering with hands‑on integration and testing. Work on nationally significant transportation research. Collaborate with experts across software, communications, and transportation engineering. Help shape the future of connected and automated transportation.

Anticipated salary range for this role is $95,000-$130,000

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 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 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 here.

Pay Range: Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00 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.

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.

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.