R&D Chief Engineer

Leidos is seeking a Research and Development (R&D) Chief Engineer (Senior Level) to join our Beavercreek Ohio, Pentagon Blvd. office. This is an exciting opportunity to use your experience helping the Air Force Research Labs (AFRL) Sensors Directorate, Rapid Technology Development & Demonstrations (RTD2) program perform research and development in the areas of open systems architecture (OSA) and rapid integration and demonstration of ISR technologies. In support of this multi-year high visibility program, this position will primarily be to support USAF programs at Wright Patterson Air Force Base through a combination of laboratory, ground, and flight testing, characterizing sensor(s)/system(s) performance and ensuring system readiness and operation.

This position will report to the Director of Engineering and work alongside a technically diverse and talented team of professional engineers across various disciplines including Mechanical, Electrical, Software, and Model Based Systems Engineers and supported by cross-functional Configuration Management (CM), Test, Cyber, and Logistics. If selected, candidate will lead work directly with contract Program Managers and Financial Analysts to organize and lead multiple high visibility projects from concept through implementation to successful conclusion. This position will design, develop, oversee and manage the day-to-day execution aspects of current and future R&D projects while serving as a liaison between Portfolio Leadership and Government Customers. In addition to direct customer support, this position will provide guidance and expertise on the planning and execution of Leidos funded Internal Research and Development (IR&D) efforts.

Primary Responsibilities

•  Develop solutions to highly complex requirements, selling new ideas and concepts in support of operational goals and objectives.

•  Integrate and translate complex concepts into tactical action plans.

•  Work with customers to strategize and plan the development and integration of an architectural framework for sensor-based systems and Systems of Systems.

•  Provides leadership, direction and guidance for developing solutions to engineering problems.

•  Advise on and direct the planning for the implementation of engineering solutions including strategic objectives and timetables.

•  Develop and maintain production and maintenance of system hardware and software documentation, including as-built documentation, capacity/performance plans, as well as all other areas of system life-cycle planning.

•  Enable business growth by successful technical execution, innovation and customer engagement.

•  Support proposal capture and development activities

•  Provides leadership in representing the technical capabilities of the R&D portfolio

•  Functions as an influential presence in attracting and retaining engineering business as well as key professional staff

•  Stay up-to-date on state-of-the-art technologies relevant to AFRL and other relevant customers

Day-to-Day Tasking

•  Directly interface with customers/stakeholders to elicit requirements and provide up-to-date status on program progress, issues, and risks

•  Generate and maintain project-level schedules and forecasting labor, material, and other direct costs (to include Subk if applicable) in close coordination with Program Management

•  Work with Program Management to stand-up and kickoff new projects, manage execution through identified milestones, and perform closeout activities after successful completion

•  Brief Portfolio Leadership on program/project status as risks/issues are identified and mitigated

•  Brief customers/stakeholders at milestones to include design reviews, test readiness reviews, and other identified reviews

•  Facilitate technical team execution by identifying and removing roadblocks slowing/halting progress from being made

•  Review and approve technical briefings/material, designs, implementations, and reports as needed and drafted during execution of project activities

Basic Qualifications

• This position typically requires a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; 8 to 12 years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree, 6 - 10 years of experience with a Master’s degree, or 4 - 8 years with a PhD

• Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or Computer Engineering/Science or related field preferred

• Demonstrated experience leading projects requiring multi-discipline teams to produce advanced sensors/systems based solutions with experimental/operational relevance

• Knowledge of and experience with Digital Engineering / MBSE processes and technologies including Cameo

• Experience in sensor phenomenologies (EO/IR, EW, Radar, MTI, etc) and advanced processing (e.g. imaging, fusion, characterization, etc)

• Knowledge of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems and operations

• Experience with leading technical concept development, R&D environment, technical presentations, developing technical whitepapers, and proposals

• Experience with high profile briefings to internal executives and customers• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills

• Ability to communicate and interact effectively at all levels of staff and management

Security Clearance Requirements

• Must have an active DoD Secret clearance and the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret / SCI clearance

• Must be a U.S. Citizen

Preferred Qualifications

• Active DoD Top Secret / SCI Clearance

• Demonstrated experience leading AFRL Sensors Directorate projects

• Demonstrated lab and field test experimentation, measuring sensors/systems/algorithm performance

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 25, 2025

Pay Range:

Pay Range $126,100.00 - $227,950.00

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.