Systems Engineer

The Defense Sector at Leidos currently has an opening for an experienced Systems Engineer to provide research and development engineering support to the Propulsion Development Branch, DEVCOM Armaments Center, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ.

• Implement requirements definition, functional decomposition, and trade studies to advance multidisciplinary concepts from initial formulation to an allocated prototype baseline
• Optimize system design and ensure technical baseline closure by tracking and balancing Technical Performance Measures (TPMs) against cost and schedule constraints
• Plan and manage systems engineering execution in MS Project; developing Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), mapping critical paths, and tracking schedule milestone
• Guide multidisciplinary Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) through formal Systems Engineering Technical Reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, PRR), establishing entry/exit criteria, synthesizing technical data packages, and driving discrepancy resolution for advanced defense systems
• Identify, quantify, and manage technical and programmatic risks, developing actionable burn-down and mitigation plans while maintaining and briefing dynamic RIO registers at milestone reviews and Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs)
• Guide end-to-end prototyping and test execution, including subscale feasibility testing, modeling and simulation (M&S) coordination, fabrication oversight, and full-scale test reporting (test matrices, plans, and qualification)
• Leverage Microsoft productivity and analytics tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI) to author formal technical reports, white papers, and qualification plans, model engineering datasets, develop interactive performance dashboards, and deliver executive milestone briefing

• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical, Systems, or related engineering discipline required;
  Master of Science (MS) or higher preferred1
• 10 plus years of relevant experience
• Expert knowledge of system engineering principles and practices
• Demonstrated abilities in the areas of responsibilities listed above
• High level of expertise with MS Project, Excel, and Power Point
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• US citizenship required.

Direct experience with energetic materials, munitions, ordnance, propulsion systems, or related defense technologies.

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.

September 16, 2026

Pay Range $ - $

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit

• Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement.

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