Lead Mechanical Engineer
About the job
- A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution with 4+ years of relevant experience, a Master’s degree in Engineering with 2+ years of relevant experience, or a high school diploma with 8+ years of relevant experience.
- Familiarity with 3D computer-aided design tools such as Creo, CATIA, AutoCAD, or SolidWorks.
- Working knowledge of ASME Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing principles, including the ability to perform tolerance stack-up analyses.
- Understanding of engineering drawings, specifications, and configuration management processes.
- Experience identifying, troubleshooting, and resolving technical issues in a manufacturing or production environment.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and assignments while meeting challenging deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
- Ability to work independently, collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, and provide technical guidance to others.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to travel to the Colorado Springs, Colorado manufacturing location up to 20% of the time.
- Ability to support second-shift manufacturing operations from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM CST for approximately the first nine months, with occasional second-shift support thereafter.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense Secret clearance.
- Lead and coordinate mechanical engineering activities for the Thermal Protection System.
- Work with the design agent to incorporate design changes that enhance manufacturability, quality, and production efficiency.
- Collaborate with operations teams to identify and resolve technical issues and production bottlenecks affecting manufacturing flow and delivery.
- Work closely with manufacturing engineering to develop and refine work instructions, streamline processes, and optimize production operations.
- Provide direct support to technicians during Thermal Protection System installation and integration activities, including periodic onsite work within classified environments.
- Disposition nonconforming hardware and support Root Cause and Corrective Action investigations.
- Support the Failure Review Board process to resolve technical issues.
- Interface with customers and internal stakeholders to communicate technical status, engineering activities, and manufacturing issues.
- An active Secret security clearance.
- Experience supporting Department of Defense programs related to missile systems, reentry vehicles, or hypersonic technologies.
- Experience with the design, integration, or manufacturing of Thermal Protection Systems for hypersonic vehicles.
- Experience in composite design, analysis, or manufacturing.
- Experience supporting assembly, integration, or testing of missile systems.
- Experience supporting rapid development, prototyping, or fast-paced engineering programs.
- Familiarity with AS9100 aerospace quality management systems.
- Understanding of cost, schedule, and programmatic impacts associated with engineering deliverables.
About the company
Leidos is a large technology and engineering company that serves defense, intelligence, healthcare, and civil government customers. It provides scientific, engineering, and IT solutions to help ensure safety, health, and efficiency, from upgrading air traffic control to strengthening cybersecurity for critical missions. The company delivers integrated systems and services—software, research, cyber defense, and digital modernization—through programs that span government and commercial clients. Leidos stands out through its long history as SAIC’s split-off and rapid growth via major acquisitions, creating a broad, mission-focused portfolio across defense, space, intelligence, and civilian sectors. Its overarching goal is to help customers solve hard problems with advanced technology, enabling safer operations and better public services.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Reston, Virginia
Founded
1969
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Leidos raised 2026 guidance after Q2 revenue reached 4.6 billion and bookings hit 4.9 billion.
- Leidos won 926 million for Navy networks and 127 million to extend ARTEMIS through 2027.
- Jeff McElfresh joined the board October 1, 2026, strengthening infrastructure, cybersecurity, and transformation credibility.
What critics are saying
- Leidos lost the CBP cyber operations center recompete, triggering 84 Ashburn layoffs starting November 23, 2026.
- Leidos still relies on huge federal incumbencies; any recompete loss quickly hits revenue and staffing.
- If Navy or Army renewals slip in 2027, Leidos loses mission-critical scale and credibility.
What makes Leidos unique
- Leidos pairs federal mission work with productized AI, like UpHold Effect, launched September 29, 2026.
- Leidos runs sticky, scale contracts: Navy networks, ARTEMIS, and Department of War cyber operations.
- Leidos combines defense, civil, health, and intelligence delivery across 50,000 employees and 48.7 billion backlog.
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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%Leidos has appointed Jeff McElfresh, AT&T's chief operating officer, to its board of directors effective 1 October. McElfresh brings over 30 years of experience at AT&T, where he currently oversees a $250 billion nationwide advanced connectivity infrastructure transformation. His expertise in cybersecurity, data management, and infrastructure aligns with Leidos' digital operations and expanding energy infrastructure business. Before AT&T, McElfresh worked as a defence technology engineer on aerospace and maritime projects. With McElfresh's addition, Leidos' board expands to 11 members. He will serve on the Corporate Governance and Ethics and Technology and Information Security committees. Leidos, headquartered in Reston, Virginia, employs 50,000 people globally and reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended 2 January 2026.
Leidos Holdings, Inc. introduces UpHold Effect? Agentic SOC Automation. Published on 09/29/2026 at 03:43 pm EDT S&P Capital IQ Leidos Holdings, Inc. introduced UpHold Effect? Agentic SOC Automation, a capability that uses AI agents around the clock to help security operations center teams identify threats requiring immediate action amid a deluge of cyber alerts. UpHold Effect? Agentic SOC Automation helps federal security teams move from alert overload to clear guidance and automated response while keeping human analysts in control. Around-the-clock investigation: AI agents can triage alerts, gather context and assemble findings for analysts to review. Integration with existing tools: The capability is designed to work with current security technology rather than require agencies to replace their existing systems. Customer-controlled autonomy: Organizations decide what the AI can investigate, recommend or act on. Auditable decisions: Recommendations and actions create records showing what the AI observed, concluded and proposed or did. Federal deployment options: A FedRAMP Class D (High) deployment option is available. The capability can also provide a pathway toward Department of war Impact Level 4 and 5 environments with appropriate government sponsorship. UpHold Effect? Agentic SOC Automation works across an organization's existing security tools to investigate alerts, gather information and recommend next steps. Customers determine how much authority the AI receives based on their mission, risk tolerance and governance requirements. Agentic SOC Automation is a feature within UpHold Effect?, Leidos' offering for agentic cyber response and part of the UpHold? product suite. UpHold Effect? applies automation across areas including adversary detection, cyber deception, cloud security and threat hunting while allowing customers to set governance and operational controls. (C) S&P Capital IQ - 2026
Leidos has launched UpHold Effect Agentic SOC Automation, an AI-powered platform designed to help federal security teams respond faster to cyber threats. The system uses AI agents to triage alerts, gather context, and assemble findings for human analysts to review around the clock. The platform integrates with existing security tools rather than requiring system replacements. Organisations control what the AI can investigate, recommend, or act upon, with all decisions creating auditable records. A FedRAMP Class D deployment option is available, with pathways to Department of war Impact Level 4 and 5 environments possible with government sponsorship. "Cyber teams need to keep pace with threats without giving up control," said Steve Hull, president of Leidos Digital. The platform aims to reduce investigative workload whilst allowing analysts to focus on threats requiring human judgement. Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended 2 January 2026.
Leidos has secured a contract worth up to $127 million to continue providing the Airborne Reconnaissance and Targeting Exploitation Multi-Mission Intelligence System (ARTEMIS) for the U.S. Army. The contract extends ARTEMIS intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations within the U.S. European Command area of responsibility through summer 2027, with two additional option years. Leidos has supported the mission since 2020. The company provides a comprehensive Contractor-Owned, Contractor-Operated ISR capability built around a modified Bombardier Challenger 650 aircraft, including the aircraft, mission systems, flight operations, and support services. Originally fielded as a technology demonstrator, ARTEMIS has evolved into a globally deployable, high-altitude ISR platform that strengthens the Army's intelligence collection capabilities whilst providing flexibility to support operations across multiple theatres.
Former Leidos executive Kim Denver named KBR contracts, supply chain SVP. * Denver will lead a newly created contracts and supply chain organization * He spent more than 13 years at Leidos, most recently as global chief supply chain officer * He previously served as deputy assistant secretary of the Army for procurement KBR has named Kim Denver senior vice president of contracts and supply chain, putting him in charge of a newly created organization combining both functions. The company announced the appointment Monday in a LinkedIn post, noting that Denver will focus on growth, strategic partnerships and commercial practices. Who is Kim Denver? Denver spent more than 13 years at Leidos, most recently as senior vice president and global chief supply chain officer and chief contracts executive. He joined the company in 2013 as corporate contracts director and held successive roles covering contracts, procurement and pricing. Before that, he served as deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Army for procurement, directing more than 8,000 military and civilian contracting personnel and overseeing more than 270 Army contracting offices worldwide. He held that post from 2011 to 2013. Denver earlier led the Army Corps of Engineers' National Contracting Organization, serving as principal contracting adviser to the chief of engineers. From 2003 to 2008, he was the principal assistant responsible for contracting at the Army's Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation. He holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Central Florida and a bachelor's in business administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Why does the role matter for KBR? KBR cited Denver's experience supporting the U.S. Antarctic Program in announcing the appointment. The company won a potential $8 billion contract from the National Science Foundation in June to support the program, covering logistics, infrastructure and scientific mission support across three year-round research stations. The 20-year, single-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract followed a full and open competition NSF launched in 2025. Its scope spans management and planning, laboratory services, vessel operations, IT and communications, infrastructure maintenance, and medical services.