Systems Engineer SME

About the Role

Leidos is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer Subject Matter Expert (SME) to provide technical leadership for the Chinook Program supporting the customers' application. This is a high impact leadership role for an engineering expert who enjoys solving enterprise-scale challenges, influencing technical strategy, and mentoring high-performing engineering teams. As a Systems Engineering SME, you'll serve as the technical authority for systems engineering activities, helping shape the architecture and future direction of a mission-critical application while ensuring engineering excellence across the program.

Why Join Leidos

This is more than a systems engineering position, it's an opportunity to influence the technical direction of a high-visibility program while mentoring exceptional engineers and solving some of today's most complex engineering challenges. At Leidos, you'll work in a collaborative environment where innovation, technical excellence, and mission success go hand in hand.

Position may be performed in the following locations: Gaithersburg, MD; Alexandria, VA; Chantilly, VA; Englewood, CO; St. Louis, MO; Tucson, AZ.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead and systems engineering authority for the customer application.
• Define system architecture, engineering standards, technical roadmaps, and modernization strategies.
• Manage and maintain cloud-based application systems to ensure high availability, reliability, and performance.
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues and develop effective solutions to support system functionality and operational needs.
• Evaluate opportunities in the use of AI tools and how they can be applied to troubleshooting and system monitoring.
• Lead requirements analysis, system design, integration, verification, and validation activities.
• Guide technical decision making across cross-functional engineering teams.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend innovative solutions to improve system capabilities.
• Lead technical risk identification, mitigation planning, and engineering trade studies.
• Mentor systems engineers and promote engineering best practices across the program.
• Partner with program leadership and stakeholders to align technical solutions with mission objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance system performance, scalability, security, and maintainability.

Basic Qualifications

• US citizenship is required per contract.
• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 12-15 years of prior relevant experience or Master's with 10-13 years of prior relevant experience. May possess a Doctorate in a technical domain.
• 12+ years of progressive systems engineering experience supporting software-intensive systems or enterprise systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical teams and influencing engineering strategy.
• Deep knowledge of systems architecture, integration, lifecycle engineering, and systems thinking.
• Experience leading engineering efforts within Agile and DevSecOps environments.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, collaboration, and technical mentoring skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting large-scale government or mission-focused programs.
• Demonstrated use of AI tools to optimize systems or ideas of how AI tools could be deployed to manage tasks described in the job description.
• Expertise in cloud-native architecture, distributed systems, and enterprise modernization.
• Systems Engineering Professional (SEP), INCOSE, CISSP, Security+ certification, or similar credentials.
• Proficient in Python or C++ software development, automation, and system support.
• Experience working with Linux operating systems in support of application deployment, automation, and systems support.
• Proven success leading multidisciplinary engineering teams across complex technical programs.

Clearance Level Required

Active Top Secret/SCI with the ability to successfully pass a Polygraph examination.