Senior systems engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

Leidos National Security Sector combines technology-enabled services and mission software capabilities in the areas of cyber, logistics, security operations, and decision analytics to support our defense and intel customers’ mission to defend against evolving threats around the world. Our team’s focus is to ensure our customers have the right tools, technologies, and tactics to keep pace with an ever-evolving security landscape and succeed in their pursuit to protect people and critical assets.

The Intelligence Production Solutions Division (IPSD), part of the Decision Advantage Solutions Business Area, is currently seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Systems Engineer for the Chinook Program. The selected candidate will lead systems engineering activities across the enterprise to help the Customer develop and deliver mission-critical geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) capabilities.

You will be responsible for providing strategic engineering support across the full systems engineering lifecycle, ensuring technical rigor, mission alignment, and operational efficiency of Customer's systems and processes.

Position may be performed in the following locations below. Please note Gaithersburg, MD is the program’s primary work location.

Gaithersburg, MD

Alexandria, VA

Chantilly, VA

Aurora, CO

St. Louis, MO

Tucson, AZ

Clearance Level Required :

Top Secret with SCI eligibility and able to obtain a Polygraph.

Primary Responsibilities :

Serve as a senior technical lead and advisor to government stakeholders on enterprise systems engineering strategies, architectures, and processes.

Develop and manage system requirements, design documentation, interface control documents (ICDs), and verification strategies.

Lead technical working groups, engineering reviews, and decision boards in coordination with the Customer's, mission partners, and other contractors.

Conduct architectural assessments and trade studies to evaluate system performance, risk, and compliance with enterprise frameworks.

Integrate emerging technologies, including cloud-based services and data analytics tools, into operational GEOINT workflows.

Oversee implementation of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) practices using tools like Cameo.

Mentor mid-level and junior engineers and provide guidance on best practices and standards in system development and integration.

Basic Qualifications :

US citizenship is required per contract.

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 8-12 years of prior relevant experience or Master’s with 6-10 years of prior relevant experience.

Deep knowledge of systems engineering principles, tools, and techniques across the entire lifecycle.

Proven experience in large-scale, complex government or defense programs, preferably in the IC or DoD.

Familiarity with the Customer's mission, architecture, and data systems.

Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams in technical execution and project delivery.

Strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications :

Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP), INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP), CISSP, Security+ certification, or similar credentials.

Hands-on experience with Agile, SAFe, or DevSecOps environments.

Experience working on the Customer's specific programs.

Proficiency with MBSE tools (Cameo), architecture frameworks (DoDAF, UAF), and modeling languages (SysML).

Familiarity with Amazon Web Services (AWS), C2S, or similar government cloud platforms.

#Chinook

Come break things (in a good way). Then build them smarter.

We're the tech company everyone calls when things get weird. We don’t wear capes (they’re a safety hazard), but we do solve high-stakes problems with code, caffeine, and a healthy disregard for “how it’s always been done.”

Original Posting : October 10, 2025

For U.S. Positions : While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range :

Pay Range $104,650.00 - $189,175.00

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.