Lead Systems Engineer

The Force Protection Division is looking for a Lead Systems Engineer to serve as the technical lead for the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) Increase Access Prototype and is responsible for overall technical planning, systems integration, requirements management, architecture implementation, and execution of the integrated force protection solution.

The Lead Systems Engineer directs the technical team throughout the prototype lifecycle and serves as the primary technical authority responsible for ensuring all technologies, subsystems, communications infrastructure, OT/ICN interfaces, software platforms, and operational workflows are successfully integrated into a cohesive layered protection ecosystem.

The position works directly with the Program Manager, Solution Architect, Government stakeholders, subcontractors, and technical leads to ensure the solution is delivered on schedule, within budget, and aligned with operational objectives.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the technical execution of the prototype effort.
• Direct and coordinate technical activities across all workstreams.
• Provide technical guidance to engineering, software, communications, cybersecurity, and field integration personnel.
• Serve as the senior technical advisor to the Program Manager.
• Lead system-of-systems integration activities.
• Oversee integration of sensors, communications, software platforms, OT/ICN interfaces, and operational workflows.
• Ensure interoperability across Government, Leidos, and teammate-provided technologies.
• Resolve technical integration issues and interface conflicts.
•  Support Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) development and maintenance.
• Identify technical dependencies and critical path activities.
• Support milestone planning and operational readiness activities.
• Lead technical validation efforts.
• Oversee interoperability testing, integration testing, and operational validation activities.
• Support Operational Readiness Reviews (ORRs).
• Support Government demonstrations and technical evaluations.
• Ensure technical teams remain aligned to program objectives and milestone commitments.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 12 – 15 years of prior relevant experience or Masters with 10 – 13 years of prior relevant experience.
• Systems Engineering leadership on complex DoD programs.
• System-of-systems integration experience.. 
• Ability to simplify complex technical issues and lead diverse technical teams in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. 
• Multi-vendor interoperability and interface management experience.
• Operational test and evaluation experience.
• Ability to communicate with executive leadership (internally or client) regarding matters of significant importance to the organization/project. 
• Bias for action and problem resolution and collaborative decision-maker
• Knowledge of agile development methodologies and management
• US citizenship and current secret clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Physical security or force protection systems experience.
• Command and Control (C2) integration experience.
• Operational Technology (OT) / Industrial Control Network (ICN) integration experience.
• Experience supporting USA or other DoW customers

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Original Posting:

June 23, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

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.