Lead Hypersonics Systems Engineer
Leidos· enterprise· Defense· Oct 22, 2026 · 5d ago
Huntsville, AL
In office
Full-time
Lead
$108K–$195K
8+ years exp
Job description
Are you ready to lead cutting-edge systems engineering for one of the most exciting technologies in defense?
At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainably. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.
Your Greatest Work is Ahead!
Leidos Defense is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to lead systems engineering for an active Hypersonics production program. In this role, you ll be the technical leader ensuring a hypersonic system transitions seamlessly from development to production, leading verification efforts that prove requirements translate flawlessly to test and manufacturing environments.
Your Mission: Lead a focused team (1-2 engineers) in requirements verification, interfacing with Hardware Development, Integration, and Test teams to identify engineering efficiencies that position the program for follow-on success. You ll develop and review systems engineering artifacts including Requirements Specifications, Manufacturing Procedures, Engineering Reports, and MBSE content (nice-to-have—build on an existing model or chart your own path).
Why This Role Stands Out: Work on hypersonics technology in a matrixed organization supporting multiple programs across diverse engineering fields. When this program completes, transition seamlessly to other exciting programs in our engineering portfolio. Candidates with experience in Test, MBSE, Human Factors, Risk Management, or Reliability Analysis will find additional opportunities to contribute. However, strong traditional systems engineering and technical leadership skills are what s required.
If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!
Leidos Defense provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world s toughest security challenges for customers with can t fail missions.
Are you ready to make an impact? Share your resume with us today!
Basic Qualifications
•Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent degree from an ABET-accredited university with 8 years of experience or an MS with 6 years.
•Experience in deriving requirements for integration, manufacturing, and production systems.
•Position requires candidates to be capable of performing in a collaborative engineering environment working closely with multi-disciplinary teams.
•Demonstrated experience effectively communicating within a team environment.
•Resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate to the Huntsville - North Alabama, AL area.
•Possess a secret clearance, or have the ability to obtain a secret clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
•Experience developing manufacturing processes and procedures.
•MagicDraw and/or other Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) modeling tools.
•Demonstrated experience effectively leading a team of engineers.
•Demonstrated cross-discipline collaboration.
•Demonstrated experience accurately estimating the engineering effort (i.e. hours) associated with Systems Engineering tasks.
•DOORS and/or other requirements database tools.
•Understanding of the DoD acquisition processes and methods.
•Experience supporting one or more DoD programs.
•Object Management Group (OMG) Certified System Modeler Professional (OCSMP) certification.
•INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) certification (ASEP or CSEP).
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 22, 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.
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