Principal Nuclear Engineer - TS/SCI Polygraph Required

About the role

Leidos' Analysis Solutions business area is seeking a highly accomplished Principal Nuclear Engineer Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support critical national security missions in Reston, Virginia. This role offers the opportunity to apply advanced nuclear engineering expertise to some of the nation's most challenging counterproliferation and nuclear survivability problems.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will lead technical assessments of foreign nuclear weapons infrastructure, reverse engineer protective hardening measures, and identify vulnerabilities across facilities, processes, and supply chains. This unique position combines computational physics, engineering analysis, and all-source intelligence methodologies to deliver actionable insights that strengthen national security.

• Serve as the organization's recognized expert in nuclear engineering, nuclear effects, and counterproliferation analysis.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and strategic guidance across complex national security initiatives.
• Conduct high-fidelity technical reverse-engineering assessments of domestic and foreign facilities, stockpiles, supply chains, and production processes.
• Analyze the effects of nuclear weapons on facilities, infrastructure, equipment, and operational workflows.
• Develop protective design criteria using physics-based modeling of radiation environments, electromagnetic pulse (EMP), and other nuclear effects.
• Employ advanced multi-physics modeling and simulation tools to assess structural, thermal, electronic, and operational degradation resulting from weapons effects.
• Produce high-quality technical reports, assessments, and executive briefings.
• Present findings, methodologies, and recommendations to senior government stakeholders and technical review boards.

Requirements

• MUST possess an active and in-scope TS/SCI Polygraph clearance for consideration.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Master's degree with 15+ years of relevant experience, or Doctorate with 13+ years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

Recognized authority in advanced nuclear technologies, scientific principles, and engineering concepts. Extensive experience with nuclear weapon production, fabrication, storage, deployment, and supply-chain logistics.

• Demonstrated expertise in assessing vulnerabilities within nuclear-related facilities, stockpiles, and supply chains, and developing mitigation strategies.
• Deep understanding of fault-tree analysis, hazard analysis, and risk assessment methodologies.
• Advanced knowledge of the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear weapon effects, radiation damage mechanisms, and electromagnetic shielding architectures.
• Experience developing and executing physics-based simulations using tools such as MCNP, SCALE, ORIGEN, and COMSOL, supplemented by data analytics and modeling in Python, MATLAB, and/or C++.

Skills

• Ability to develop sound technical judgments from incomplete or ambiguous information.
• Experience defending analytical conclusions and communicating uncertainty under rigorous peer review.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage senior leaders, intelligence professionals, and technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Military, Department of Defense, or Department of Energy experience.
• Familiarity with ICD 203 (Analytic Standards) and ICD 206 (Sourcing Requirements).
• Experience with protective design methodologies and survivability requirements for sensitive nuclear facilities.
• Advanced understanding of EMP and other non-kinetic nuclear effects.

Pay

The Leidos pay range for this job level is $154,050.00 - $278,475.00. 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.

Benefits

Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.