COMFORT SYSTEMS
Description
The Leidos Innovations Center (LInC) has an opening for a
Hypersonics Chief Engineer
for air-breathing in our King of Prussia, PA, Shalimar, FL, Huntsville, AL, or Beavercreek, OH office.
The candidate will provide High Speed vehicle technical leadership within Leidos and Department of Defense customer community to capture and execute air-breathing missile system design programs. In this technical position, the candidate will be expected to also apply deep domain knowledge to develop concepts for business development, marketing, and proposal activities to grow the Leidos air-breathing hypersonics program portfolio, providing prototype sub-systems and systems for our nation’s defense.
Primary Responsibilities
Lead development and execution of new missile system concepts and technical execution across all system activities, from concept development through prototyping, while developing discriminating Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis techniques via contract and internal R&D.
Grow the Concept Development business by integrating advanced air‑breathing propulsion systems into novel missile systems, moving progressively up the TRL chain from concept/systems analysis to prototype development.
Create discriminating MS&A capabilities via contracts and internal R&D, market to customers and internal stakeholders, win and execute programs.
Success is to refine air‑breathing vehicle concepts or MS&A programs to proposal level for multiple opportunities within 1 year.
The successful candidate will drive technical innovation in the Hypersonics and Counter‑Hypersonics systems business area:
Basic Qualifications
Impact & Complexity:
Impacts functional strategy by developing new solutions, processes, standards or operational plans that position Leidos competitively in the marketplace. Leads the development of highly innovative products/solutions, achieved through collaboration and dialogue with other experts in the field.
Communication:
Must communicate with Leidos personnel and interact daily with customer program leadership and team members and end users. Must develop a clear understanding of customer goals and objectives and shape work to achieve those goals. Typically negotiates and compromises to convince internal and external parties to accept concepts, practices and approaches of the area.
Knowledge:
Requires highest knowledge and mastery of highly advanced technologies, scientific principles, theories and concepts. Viewed as a subject matter expert in the field by peers within and outside the organization. Domain specific knowledge in air‑breathing propulsion such as turbine engines, ramjets, dual mode ramjets, and rotary detonation engines, hypersonics, super/hypersonic aerothermodynamics, modeling and simulation, and weapons systems engineering is desired.
Education:
Requires a Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Aerospace, Mechanical or similar discipline and > 15 years’ experience or BS and 20+ years of related experience.
Independence:
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to operate independently with limited supervision and feedback.
Travel:
Ability to travel on an as‑needed basis.
Clearance:
Must be a U.S. Citizen with an existing Secret clearance. Preferred active TS clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
Leadership and Program Management:
Prior experience in managing DOD research efforts is a plus. Preference given to candidates with experience in managing research efforts funded by AFRL, DARPA, ONR, and similar. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple simultaneous efforts while keeping efforts on schedule and on budget. Past experience in leading a diverse team with successful outcomes.
Business Development Acumen:
Strong candidates will have prior experience in leading successful business development campaigns. Skills desired include the ability to effectively communicate with customers, understand their needs, and develop white papers and proposals. The ability to also develop and communicate a strategy for new business with management is also desired.
Competitive Benefits Leidos offers competitive benefits http://www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits, including 4 or more weeks Paid Time Off, 11 paid Holidays, 401K with a 6% company match and immediate vesting, Flexible Schedules, Discounted Stock Purchase Plans, Technical Upskilling, Education and Training Support, Parental Paid Leave, and much more. Join us and make a difference in Advanced Warfare Technology!
Pay Range Pay Range $154,050.00 - $278,475.00
About Leidos 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 www.Leidos.com .
Employment Equity Statement All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.
Securing Your Data Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com .
If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/) .
Original Posting December 31, 2025
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Hypersonics Chief Engineer
for air-breathing in our King of Prussia, PA, Shalimar, FL, Huntsville, AL, or Beavercreek, OH office.
The candidate will provide High Speed vehicle technical leadership within Leidos and Department of Defense customer community to capture and execute air-breathing missile system design programs. In this technical position, the candidate will be expected to also apply deep domain knowledge to develop concepts for business development, marketing, and proposal activities to grow the Leidos air-breathing hypersonics program portfolio, providing prototype sub-systems and systems for our nation’s defense.
Primary Responsibilities
Lead development and execution of new missile system concepts and technical execution across all system activities, from concept development through prototyping, while developing discriminating Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis techniques via contract and internal R&D.
Grow the Concept Development business by integrating advanced air‑breathing propulsion systems into novel missile systems, moving progressively up the TRL chain from concept/systems analysis to prototype development.
Create discriminating MS&A capabilities via contracts and internal R&D, market to customers and internal stakeholders, win and execute programs.
Success is to refine air‑breathing vehicle concepts or MS&A programs to proposal level for multiple opportunities within 1 year.
The successful candidate will drive technical innovation in the Hypersonics and Counter‑Hypersonics systems business area:
Basic Qualifications
Impact & Complexity:
Impacts functional strategy by developing new solutions, processes, standards or operational plans that position Leidos competitively in the marketplace. Leads the development of highly innovative products/solutions, achieved through collaboration and dialogue with other experts in the field.
Communication:
Must communicate with Leidos personnel and interact daily with customer program leadership and team members and end users. Must develop a clear understanding of customer goals and objectives and shape work to achieve those goals. Typically negotiates and compromises to convince internal and external parties to accept concepts, practices and approaches of the area.
Knowledge:
Requires highest knowledge and mastery of highly advanced technologies, scientific principles, theories and concepts. Viewed as a subject matter expert in the field by peers within and outside the organization. Domain specific knowledge in air‑breathing propulsion such as turbine engines, ramjets, dual mode ramjets, and rotary detonation engines, hypersonics, super/hypersonic aerothermodynamics, modeling and simulation, and weapons systems engineering is desired.
Education:
Requires a Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Aerospace, Mechanical or similar discipline and > 15 years’ experience or BS and 20+ years of related experience.
Independence:
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to operate independently with limited supervision and feedback.
Travel:
Ability to travel on an as‑needed basis.
Clearance:
Must be a U.S. Citizen with an existing Secret clearance. Preferred active TS clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
Leadership and Program Management:
Prior experience in managing DOD research efforts is a plus. Preference given to candidates with experience in managing research efforts funded by AFRL, DARPA, ONR, and similar. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple simultaneous efforts while keeping efforts on schedule and on budget. Past experience in leading a diverse team with successful outcomes.
Business Development Acumen:
Strong candidates will have prior experience in leading successful business development campaigns. Skills desired include the ability to effectively communicate with customers, understand their needs, and develop white papers and proposals. The ability to also develop and communicate a strategy for new business with management is also desired.
Competitive Benefits Leidos offers competitive benefits http://www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits, including 4 or more weeks Paid Time Off, 11 paid Holidays, 401K with a 6% company match and immediate vesting, Flexible Schedules, Discounted Stock Purchase Plans, Technical Upskilling, Education and Training Support, Parental Paid Leave, and much more. Join us and make a difference in Advanced Warfare Technology!
Pay Range Pay Range $154,050.00 - $278,475.00
About Leidos 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 www.Leidos.com .
Employment Equity Statement All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.
Securing Your Data Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com .
If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/) .
Original Posting December 31, 2025
#J-18808-Ljbffr