Lead Systems Engineer
About the job
- A bachelor's degree in engineering, information technology, computer science, or a related field and at least four years of relevant experience, or a master's degree with at least two years of experience.
- Demonstrated experience producing detailed infrastructure documentation.
- Practical understanding of data center or lab infrastructure, including structured cabling, power distribution, rack systems, and network hardware.
- Experience commissioning, validating, or accepting infrastructure installations.
- Familiarity with networking fundamentals sufficient to make port-assignment and connectivity decisions, including switching, VLANs, patching, and fiber/copper media selection.
- Proficiency with Visio, CAD, or equivalent diagramming tools for rack layouts, floor plans, and wiring diagrams.
- Ability to work across multiple concurrent projects with shifting priorities and compressed timelines.
- Willingness to learn complex, non-standard environments.
- Clear verbal and written communication and ability to translate complex architectural intent into unambiguous, executable work products.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a favorable Public Trust investigation.
- U.S. citizenship.
- Develop low-level infrastructure designs from approved architectural concepts, including rack elevation drawings, wiring lists, port/patch-panel assignments, cable schedules, and bills of material.
- Produce installation work packages, including methods of procedure, sequencing, prerequisites, and acceptance criteria, that enable technicians to execute independently and satisfy corporate and customer deliverable and audit requirements.
- Commission new installations and own punch-list resolution by confirming implemented state matches design intent, coordinating with system administrators on readiness verification, and driving discrepancies to closure.
- Maintain authoritative as-built documentation and configuration baselines by processing redlines, reconciling drawings against physical state, keeping version control current, and tracing design, implementation, and change history.
- Provide technical work direction to hardware technicians onsite by assigning tasks from active work packages, monitoring progress, resolving field questions against design intent, and redirecting effort when priorities shift.
- Serve as the engineering escalation point for physical and integration troubleshooting, including Layer 1 failures, patching discrepancies, optic faults, power-feed issues, and documentation mismatches.
- Lead design reviews for the environments, prepare and present review packages, defend implementation decisions, and drive findings to resolution before construction proceeds.
- Interface with procurement and engineering departments on hardware delivery and RMA.
- Develop and improve engineering standards, templates, labeling schemes, and repeatable deployment processes.
- Support compliance implementation by ensuring physical installations conform to applicable security standards, network segmentation requirements, cable-path separation, and labeling standards.
- Experience with AI-assisted engineering workflows and tool-building, such as Claude Code, Copilot, or custom automation leveraging large language models for documentation generation, validation, or data extraction.
- Net+, CCNA, or equivalent network implementation experience.
- Experience with infrastructure source-of-truth platforms such as NetBox or similar.
- Experience with scripting or automation applied to infrastructure documentation, validation, or data extraction.
- Familiarity with configuration management and change-control processes in regulated or quality-managed environments, such as ISO 9001 or equivalent.
- Experience in a technical leadership capacity.
- Familiarity with data center infrastructure design standards such as TIA-942 or similar.
- Prior experience in FAA, civil aviation, or government lab environments.
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
- TSA awarded Leidos a potential $672.5 million checkpoint contract on September 28, 2026.
- ARTEMIS extended through summer 2027, preserving Leidos' airborne ISR relevance in Europe.
- Leidos reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $17.2 billion, up 3% year over year.
What critics are saying
- Leidos will lay off 84 Ashburn employees November 23 after losing CBP cyber work.
- Accenture Federal Services now owns the CBP SOC contract, stripping Leidos of sticky cyber revenue.
- A severe federal procurement pause would crush Leidos' revenue base and hiring pipeline.
What makes Leidos unique
- Leidos' March 30, 2026 ENTRUST acquisition doubled its energy infrastructure footprint.
- UpHold Effect launched September 29, 2026, giving federal SOCs auditable agentic automation.
- October 1, 2026 board addition Jeff McElfresh brings AT&T-scale connectivity and cybersecurity experience.
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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%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.
Leidos Australia recognised as MRO Business of the Year at the Australian Aviation Awards. October 7, 2026 Leidos Australia is proud to announce that its Mission Equipment Service Centre (MESC) has been recognised as MRO Business of the Year at the 2026 Australian Aviation Awards. The award highlights the critical role the MESC plays in supporting the availability, reliability and performance of airborne mission systems used in national security, emergency response and defence operations across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Based in Cairns, the Mission Equipment Service Centre is a unique sovereign capability, delivering advanced maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for complex mission and surveillance systems installed on specialised aircraft. Over many years, the facility has grown into a leading centre of technical excellence, providing customers with responsive support and reducing reliance on overseas repair facilities. As the only facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the MESC provides sovereign support for radar, electro-optical, avionics and integrated mission systems, helping customers maximise aircraft availability and mission readiness while maintaining critical capabilities within Australia. Supporting organisations including the Australian Border Force, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Defence, State Police and Fire Services, alongside international customers such as the Indonesian Navy, Singapore Ministry of Defence and Royal New Zealand Air Force, the MESC has established a reputation for technical excellence and responsive customer support. The centre is CASA Part 145 certified, operates to ISO 9001 and AS9110 quality standards, is an OEM-authorised L3Harris WESCAM service centre and a Raytheon SeaVue Surveillance Radar Intermediate Level Maintenance facility. Beyond maintenance and repair services, the MESC delivers a comprehensive sustainment capability, supporting research and development, fleet modifications, system upgrades, obsolescence management, flight testing and remote technical support. This end-to-end approach enables customers to sustain and evolve complex mission systems throughout their operational life. Recent projects have further demonstrated the depth of expertise within the team and its ability to solve complex technical challenges. The MESC recently expanded its sovereign capability through several significant achievements, including entry into the US Navy's Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) program following endorsement by L3Harris WESCAM. The team also developed an innovative in-house repair solution for Auxiliary Fuel Probes on the Dash 8 fleet after the original manufacturer deemed the components irreparable. By engineering a local repair capability, the team restored critical aircraft capability at a fraction of the cost and time of external repair, returning 11 fuel probes to service in less than one week rather than the several months typically required through traditional repair pathways. The MESC's commitment to continuous improvement is reflected in its operational performance. In 2025, the team achieved an average repair turnaround time of just 15 days, well below its internal 30-day target and significantly faster than the industry norm of approximately 90 days. The facility also recorded zero early field failures, zero foreign object debris (FOD) detections, zero maintenance errors and zero negative customer feedback, demonstrating exceptional quality and reliability. Leidos Australia's Vice President Airborne Solutions, Adrian Pettifor, said the award recognises the expertise, innovation and dedication of the people behind the capability. "This recognition is a credit to our Mission Equipment Service Centre team, whose technical expertise, commitment to innovation and customer focus continue to set the benchmark for mission systems sustainment." "Every day they support the systems that enable critical surveillance, emergency response and national security operations. Their work strengthens Australia's sovereign aerospace capability while delivering exceptional outcomes for our customers." The recognition also reflects the strong partnerships the MESC has built across industry. L3Harris WESCAM has described the facility as "a benchmark of excellence in the MRO sector," recognising not only its technical capability but also its culture of accountability and continuous improvement. While the award recognises outstanding performance over the past year, it also highlights the growing importance of sovereign mission systems sustainment capabilities in supporting customers operating in demanding and often mission-critical environments. Leidos Australia congratulates all finalists and winners recognised at this year's Australian Aviation Awards and thanks its customers, partners and suppliers for their continued trust and collaboration. Most importantly, this recognition reflects the dedication, expertise and professionalism of the Mission Equipment Service Centre team, whose work continues to support critical aviation operations across Australia and the region.
Leidos has appointed Stephen Vather as senior vice president of investor relations. Vather joins from Leonardo DRS, where he served as senior vice president of corporate development and investor relations, helping lead the company's return to public markets. Previously, he spent nine years at ManTech leading mergers and acquisitions and investor relations, starting his career in investment banking. Vather will succeed Stuart Davis, who rejoined Leidos in 2021 and will continue through the third-quarter earnings cycle before retiring in March. Davis has held investor relations roles at Perspecta, CSRA, ManTech and SRA International over his 42-year career. 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.
Navy selects three firms for 30 vessel MUSV push at $40 million each. The Navy selected three companies to build 30 medium unmanned surface vessels at an average cost of $40 million each, with first deliveries planned before fiscal year 2027 ends and phase two testing already underway. October 2, 2026 * The Navy selected Galliano Marine Services, Huntington Ingalls Industries and Saronic Technologies to provide 10 MUSVs each. * Each agreement carries an average procurement cost of $40 million per vessel, with initial deliveries scheduled before fiscal year 2027 ends. * The Navy plans to expand its unmanned surface vessel fleet from four to 30 vessels by 2030 in the Indo-Pacific. * Phase two removes the high speed requirement and does not require refueling at sea. The U.S. Navy is moving ahead with plans to procure 30 medium unmanned surface vessels after seven companies competed for contracts under its new autonomous maritime robotics initiative. Three firms emerged from the first phase of testing at sea with production agreements. Galliano Marine Services, Huntington Ingalls Industries and Saronic Technologies received the contracts after completing phase one testing for the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel Family of Systems program. Each company is set to provide 10 vessels. "Each agreement includes the procurement of 10 MUSVs, at an average procurement cost of $40 million per vessel," the Navy said. "The first MUSVs are scheduled to be delivered to the Navy prior to the end of fiscal year 2027." Sea Machines, Leidos, PacMar Technologies and Birdon also completed testing at sea and competed for the Navy work. Those four companies ultimately were not selected to produce vessels under the announced agreements. Sea Machines, Leidos and PacMar Technologies still received $15 million for completing testing at sea. The three companies will now be hosted on the War Department's drone marketplace, where they remain eligible to receive other contracts. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao praised the awards as evidence that the Navy was placing a priority on moving quickly to modernize its fleet. The contracts represent another step in the service's effort to expand its use of autonomous maritime systems. During phase one, the Navy evaluated whether the MUSVs could understand a maritime environment, maneuver without assistance from an operator and deploy at sea for extended periods. Those requirements formed the first competitive hurdle for participating companies. Following recent reports that Congress is considering a nationwide voter ID requirement for federal elections, do you support requiring voters to show identification before casting a ballot? By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from Objectivist.co, occasional offers from its partners and that you've read and agree to its privacy policy and legal statement. Image Credit: Beachside Stock The Navy announced the beginning of phase two testing on Sept. 23 as it continued the procurement process for autonomous systems. Christopher Miller said the next phase will use less demanding requirements than those applied during phase one. "Obviously with phase one, there were some more challenging requirements that they had to meet and so I'm trying to back off of those so that I can have a healthy competitive industrial base," Miller said during a media roundtable on Tuesday. Miller said phase two will not establish a high speed requirement for the MUSVs. The second phase also will not require the vessels to demonstrate refueling at sea. The service is attempting to grow its unmanned surface vessel fleet from four vessels to 30 by 2030 in the Indo-Pacific. That expansion remains a central numerical target as the Navy moves through testing and procurement. The Navy announced its MUSV marketplace in March, replacing the Modular Attack Surface Craft program. Several companies had already been competing for work through that earlier program when it was closed in favor of the marketplace approach. Blue Water Autonomy and Saildrone initially participated in the Modular Attack Surface Craft program. After they were not selected to continue in the MUSV program, the two companies sued the Navy and alleged that they had been unfairly excluded. The marketplace solicitation issued in March called for MUSVs capable of traveling 2,500 nautical miles at 25 knots. It also required the vessels to carry a load of 25 tons on the payload deck while operating in moderate conditions. The push to accelerate autonomous systems research, development and solicitation followed a June report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The report said the Navy needed to quickly rethink how it invested in robotic systems to address urgent fleet needs. Image Credit: DoW Leadership of the Navy's robotic and autonomous systems effort also changed during the procurement campaign. Rebecca J. Gassler, who previously spearheaded the program, was fired on Aug. 5 after serving for only 8 months. Christopher Miller replaced Gassler and assumed duties as acting Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Robotic and Autonomous Systems. The Navy created that role on the same day Gassler was removed, placing Miller in charge as phase two testing moved forward. The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Objectivist. Contact Objectivist for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.
Leidos to lay off 84 workers in Ashburn. Cuts related to U.S. Customs and Border Protection contract loss Reston-based federal contractor Leidos expects to lay off 84 employees in Ashburn beginning Nov. 23, the company informed the state this week. The layoffs are related to the end of a federal contract to support the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Cyber Security Operations Center. Accenture Federal Services, the Arlington County-based federal arm of Irish consulting giant Accenture, received a $121.4 million, five-year contract that went into effect Thursday. Leidos previously held the contract awarded by the Department of Homeland Security. Leidos spokesperson Brandon Ver Velde said in a statement that some of the laid-off workers will likely join Accenture Federal Services to continue working on the new contract. "We know this situation is difficult for our affected employees," Ver Velde said. "There are opportunities elsewhere in Leidos for some, while others are expected to join the company taking over the Customs and Border Protection program we lost. Colleagues who are laid off will have access to many resources that can help them through their transitions." The entire facility at 22001 Loudoun County Parkway will not close, according to the Sept. 28 notice to the state, which was sent in compliance with the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. Bumping rights do not exist, Leidos stated. In 2025, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Information and Technology announced it was seeking proposals for a recompete of a potential $100 million contract. Leidos was the incumbent contractor, and earlier this year, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office awarded the company a six-month bridge contract that ended Sept. 23. Leidos has about 47,000 employees globally and reported about $17.2 billion in revenue for fiscal 2025, a 3% increase from the previous year.