Program Lead - Systems Engineer
About the job
- Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance.
- Current Security+ or SecurityX certification, or equivalent certifications or credentials compliant with DoD 8140 at the Systems Administrator, Intermediate level.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in a related discipline, or equivalent experience or combined education, with 12–15 years of professional experience; alternatively, 10–13 years of professional experience with a related Master’s degree.
- Experience in architecture, design, development, and delivery of data-driven operations capabilities within a Department of Defense environment.
- At least 2 years of management and supervisory experience.
- At least 5 years of project planning experience.
- At least 2 years of experience with Linux/Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating systems.
- At least 2 years of experience with Windows Server operating systems.
- Experience working with a highly technical team in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills to collaborate with customer representatives, domain experts, systems engineers, and architects.
- Ability to collaborate with people from different disciplines and with varying degrees of technical experience.
- Oversee management of system-level requirements and the performance of integration, verification, and user acceptance testing to ensure the design, deployment, integration, maintenance, and support of Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications Systems supporting Defense Information Systems Agency customers are fully operational.
- Perform Leidos supervisory duties for a team of managers leading 14 personnel, including providing guidance and direction on personnel issues; completing performance feedback and annual reviews; making salary recommendations; handling corrective and disciplinary actions; and submitting awards and recognition.
- Perform data gathering, requirements definition, use case development, gap analysis, functional specification, test planning, and design specification.
- Execute engineering activities, requirements analysis, implementation planning, third-party coordination, integration and testing, documentation, deployment, and system assessment.
- Employ a systems engineering approach to systems planning, design, execution, and sustainment.
- Lead definition of processes for technical platforms, system specifications, and input/output and working parameters for hardware or software compatibility.
- Lead development and maintenance of systems engineering documentation and diagrams or models using a systems engineering tool.
- Identify and manage related project task dependencies, risks, and possible mitigations.
- Collaborate with colleagues to monitor and report technical variances and facilitate resolution of technical issues that adversely affect successful product delivery.
- Report the technical status of product development to assigned leads on a consistent basis.
- Identify and manage external dependencies.
- Estimate level of effort in hours, days, and resources to outline and update a projected project schedule.
- Understanding of network routing devices and network device configurations.
- Understanding of ITIL Foundation or ITIL certification.
- Experience with operating system scripting using Perl, Python, or shell.
- Experience with databases, including SQL and Oracle, and database migrations.
About the company
Leidos develops technology and runs services for defense, intelligence and civilian agencies, as well as healthcare and commercial customers. It combines software and engineering work with systems integration, building secure networks and equipment used in demanding operations. Its portfolio includes medical services, energy infrastructure design and technology that supports military missions, linking specialist businesses under one parent. Customers pay through contracts for delivered systems and services, with payment tied to labor, costs or agreed project milestones. Leidos traces its roots to a company founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Reston, Virginia.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Reston, Virginia
Founded
1969
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Recognized sales are growing: Leidos reported fiscal Q2 revenue of $4.56 billion, up 7%, in August 2026.
- Technical study gets support: Leidos lists 4,092 certification prep courses and tuition assistance for full time employees.
- Future work includes funded contracts: Leidos reported $10.2 billion of funded backlog in August 2026.
What critics are saying
- Federal budgets dominate demand: Leidos' February 2026 filing attributed 87% of fiscal 2025 revenue to U.S. government work.
- Cleared cyber roles restrict access: Leidos' live Fort Meade analyst posting requires active Top Secret clearance with a polygraph.
- Cost overruns threaten margins: firm fixed price work accounted for 43% of Leidos' fiscal 2025 revenue.
What makes Leidos unique
- Runway capacity improves through software: Leidos and UK navigation provider NATS optimize landing spacing with Intelligent Approach.
- Leidos reaches patients directly: its QTC medical exam business connects over 15,000 providers with more than 90 clinics.
- Leidos builds battlefield hardware: it is the Army's prime contractor for Enduring Shield, a mobile air-defense launcher.
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Benefits
Medical, dental, & vision insurance
Health Savings account
Income protection
PTO
Paid parental leave
Jury duty pay
Bereavement leave
401(k) Retirement Plan
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Family Benefits
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
8%1 year growth
8%2 year growth
8%Blackstone Credit & Insurance (BXCI) is leading a $1 billion financing package for the merger of Analogic Corporation with three Leidos units: Security Enterprise Solutions, Ports & Borders, and Industrial Automation. The combined business will make imaging and detection technology for sectors such as aviation security and healthcare. BXCI is lead lender and joint lead arranger, alongside HPS, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo. Brad Colman, BXCI's head of healthcare investing, called the deal proof of its strength in building large credit strategies with flexible solutions. Analogic is based in Salem, New Hampshire. Leidos employs 50,000 people and earned $17.2 billion in fiscal 2026. BXCI managed $443 billion in assets at the end of 2025. Roughly 75% of Blackstone's credit assets are backed by institutional and insurance clients.
Blackstone is leading a $1bn private credit financing to support the combination of the security enterprise solutions businesses of Leidos Holdings and Analogic Corporation, Bloomberg reported. Blackstone Credit & Insurance is reportedly lead lender and joint lead arranger, alongside HPS Investment Partners, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo. Leidos, a listed engineering and technology services company based in Virginia, serves government and commercial clients. It generated $17.2bn in revenue in 2025. Analogic develops imaging, detection, artificial intelligence, and automation technologies. Private equity firm Altaris acquired it in a $1.1bn take-private deal in 2018. Blackstone was reportedly also among the lenders in a recent financing for Waymo, which was increased to $5bn.
Leidos is taking part in Reveille Forge, the US Army's new permanent integration and testing environment, to help spot technology integration problems sooner. The Army set up the site after its Operation Jailbreak exercise earlier this year. Reveille Forge replaces periodic events with a continuous "integrate-first" approach. Government, industry, and academia can test how technologies work together before they reach soldiers in the field. Leidos recently completed Jailbreak Sprint 1.5 at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. It followed the first sprint at Fort Carson, Colorado, in June, where the company tested its IFPC Inc 2, MXR, and ALPS systems. "Now, Reveille Forge gives the Army and industry an enduring environment to integrate early, test together and mature capabilities faster," said Matt Becker, a Leidos vice president.
X-Bow Systems, a US maker of solid rocket motors, has been selected by Leidos to develop and produce booster motors for the US Army's new Low-Cost Containerized Munition (LCCM), a low-cost cruise missile. The company announced the deal on October 12, 2026, at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting in Washington. X-Bow will handle design, qualification testing, and static fires before full-rate production in 2027. Leidos will build the munitions in large quantities under the Department of War's "Arsenal of Freedom" initiative. "Modern conflict is decided by how many rounds you can put downrange, not how exquisite each one is," said chief executive officer Jason Hundley. It is the sixth new propulsion program X-Bow has won in 2026. The company recently completed its first major production contract, delivering more than 2,100 rocket motors.
Founders and finance leaders shortlisted for Scotland Women in Technology Awards. Business founders, financial services executives and computing educators are among the finalists for the 2026 Scotland Women in Technology Awards, Why? Free to subscribe, no paywall, daily business news digest. Business founders, financial services executives and computing educators are among the finalists for the 2026 Scotland Women in Technology Awards, following more than 200 nominations across 10 categories. The shortlist was announced at headline sponsor Morgan Stanley's Glasgow office. Winners will be revealed at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel on Thursday 5 November. Now in their ninth year, the awards recognise contributions across career stages, from rising stars and career changers to mentors, innovators and leaders. They also recognise gender diversity allies, diversity initiatives and inclusive recruitment practices. Sheryl Newman, founder of Appetite for Business, is shortlisted for Inspirational Woman of the Year alongside Hypercube product manager Ivona Voroneckaja, dressCode founder and computer science teacher Toni Scullion, and ScottishPower cyber governance lead Emma Mackenzie. The Female Innovator category includes StructuredAF founder Alex Sheach, AffectiveHalo founder and chief executive Esma Benssassi, Morgan Stanley executive director Colette Robinson, and Megan Reutin, global head of data science, advanced analytics and AI at Grünenthal. Silka Patel, founder and chair of Scotland Women in Technology, said: "Since founding SWiT 18 years ago, I have been a big believer in the position that if you cannot see it, then you cannot be it. This year's incredible shortlist which includes computing teachers, tech associates, company founders and vice presidents at globally renowned firms highlights that representation does indeed exist, and gender championship is happening across the breadth of roles that exist within the tech sector - from the grassroots to global networks. I cannot wait to celebrate each of our finalists in November." Lloyds Banking Group, Leidos and Gigged AI are competing for Inclusive Recruiter of the Year. The Diversity Initiative shortlist comprises the ScotlandIS Scholarship with Education Academy Scotland, dressCode's Hopper Awards and the Ada Scotland Festival. Modulr's Chloe Masterson, whose role is in AI and automation, appears in both the Career Changer and Rising Star shortlists. Fellow Rising Star finalists are Asha Mullen, associate digital consultant at Storm ID, and Bolu Omosowon, software engineer at JPMorganChase. Other categories recognise unsung heroes, mentors, gender diversity allies and everyday leaders, with finalists working across organisations including Morgan Stanley, JPMorganChase, Adobe, Dropbox and Kaluza. Marina Carson, executive director at Morgan Stanley, said: "When women thrive in technology, innovation thrives. Morgan Stanley is proud to headline sponsor the Scotland Women in Technology Awards, recognising those breaking barriers, driving change, and shaping the future of our industry." In case you missed it: The Royal Bank of Scotland is the awards' gold sponsor. SWiT has also appointed Margaret Totten, chief revenue officer at Yavrio, as vice chair. A board trustee since 2019, she previously served as the organisation's treasurer.