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At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.

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Leidos Defense Systems is seeking a highly motivated Sr Mechanical Engineer who loves collaboration and being a part of something big, to join our team. This role drives the implementation of Value Driven Design and advanced Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) workflows across complex, high-priority DoD portfolios. As a Leidos Sr Mechanical Engineer, you will bridge systems architecture, parametric lifecycle modeling, and cross-functional engineering execution.

Leidos Defense Systems Sector provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world’s toughest security challenges for customers with “can’t fail” missions. To explore and learn more, click here!

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Primary Responsibilities:

• Architect, lead, and deliver state-of-the-art avionics, weapon interfaces, and custom/COTS Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) for missile systems, and fieldable launch platforms.
• Design for flight structures and mass optimization studies.
• Design for manufacturability and assembly optimization.
• Design for electronics packaging.
• Bill of Material development and component specification composition.
• Contribute to all phases of a development cycle: planning, design and development, implementation, test and delivery.
• Direct multi-disciplinary Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) for structures.
• Act as the primary internal technical authority, hosting weekly technical interchange meetings with external subcontractors to maintain design consistency.
• Partner with systems engineering teams to translate military standards into rigorous hardware requirements. support Control Account Managers (CAMs) by providing precise technical write-ups, work breakdowns, and schedule estimates for Earned Value Management (EVM), CapEx initiatives, and major competitive proposals.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience with a bachelor’s degree, or 8+ years with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering for complex aerospace, missile, or defense systems.
• Demonstrated experience owning end-to-end systems engineering (requirements, architecture, interfaces, integration, verification, and validation) on large or complex projects.
• Experience with missile, high-speed flight, or advanced weapon systems (e.g., hypersonics, ballistic missiles, interceptors, or similar).
• Experience with requirements and configuration management tools (e.g., DOORS or equivalent); familiarity with MBSE concepts and tools.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams and resolve complex technical issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience briefing leadership and customers.
• Active DoD Top Secret or TS/SCI preferred.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Candidate must be a resident of or be willing to relocate to the Albuquerque, NM or Huntsville, AL area

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline.

• Direct experience on hypersonic boost-glide, air-breathing hypersonic, or other high-Mach flight test or weapon programs.
• Experience with responsibility for technical scope, cost, and schedule on government contracts.
• Direct experience with ND systems and components
• Experience designing and executing experiments for strategic environments
• Experience in mechanical engineering within the NNSA nuclear complex
• Proficiency with CAD software for complicated mechanical designs – solidworks, creo, etc
• Experience in design and analysis with structural components and mounts
• Finite Element Analysis and simulation experience
• Familiarity developing prototypes, and their testing and validation
• Experience with testing and analysis of thermal, shock, and vibration
• Experience integrating subsystems into next level of assembly systems
• Experience with weapon systems and weapon system teams
• Experience with material selection for systems in strategic environments
• Experience with blast tubes, sled tracks, drop tests, and vibrafuge testing
• Experience with uncertainty quantification and approaches

Appkinetic

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:

Pay Range:

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.