Senior Systems Engineer

Leidos Holding$107K — $195K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, systems engineering, or related field with 8 years experience, or Master's with 6 years experience
  • Strong experience in Agile development environments and methodologies
  • Proven track record in systems engineering across the development lifecycle
  • Deep understanding of engineering processes in regulated environments
  • Effective collaboration skills with cross-functional teams and stakeholders
  • Experience in technical documentation and requirements management
  • Familiarity with cloud-based systems and modern software architectures

Responsibilities

  • Review FAA requirement documents to extract intent and acceptance criteria
  • Translate operational requirements into detailed system requirements for Agile activities
  • Collaborate with teams to refine backlog items and ensure traceability
  • Engage stakeholder to identify use cases emphasizing completeness and validation
  • Decompose high-level requirements into capability statements with performance criteria
  • Develop and maintain requirements traceability for compliance outcomes
  • Support design discussions and document trade-offs and risks

Benefits

  • Work with innovative technologies in a mission-critical environment
  • Opportunity to contribute to the modernization of air traffic systems
  • Collaborative work within a Scaled Agile software development framework
  • Potential long-term impact on aviation safety and operations
  • Possibility for career advancement in a growing sector
Full Job Description

Senior Systems Engineer – Agile Team Systems Engineering

Leidos is seeking Senior Systems Engineers to join the Air Traffic Business Area within the Homeland Sector, supporting the development of next-generation flight service and air traffic systems. This work aligns with the FAA’s broader initiative to modernize legacy flight service capabilities, replacing aging infrastructure with scalable, cloud-based platforms designed to improve safety and operational efficiency—particularly in remote and high-dependency aviation environments. These efforts focus on delivering mission-critical, future-ready solutions that provide safety-critical flight services to the pilot community.

Please note, this exciting position is currently unfunded and is in anticipation of future work.

As a member of a Scaled Agile software development organization, you will contribute to the technical execution of a program that integrates proven, globally deployed technologies with modern cloud-native capabilities. You will work alongside cross-functional teams and technical leaders to deliver predictable outcomes in a highly regulated, safety-critical environment.

In this position, you will serve as the dedicated Systems Engineer for an Agile/SAFe development team, partnering closely with Product Owners, architects, software engineers, testers, DevSecOps engineers, and customer stakeholders to define, refine, and validate system capabilities. You will ensure that operational needs, regulatory requirements, and system-level behaviors are fully understood, traceable, testable, and aligned to program objectives throughout the development lifecycle. This position supports government programs and requires the ability to obtain and maintain a favorable Public Trust investigation.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Review FAA requirement documents, advisory circulars, and applicable regulations (e.g., 14 CFR parts) to extract intent, constraints, interfaces, and acceptance criteria.
  • Translate operational and regulatory requirements into detailed, testable system requirements, features, and acceptance criteria that support Agile development activities.
  • Collaborate with Product Owners and development teams to refine backlog items, clarify system behaviors, and ensure technical completeness and traceability.
  • Engage with customer stakeholders, operators, and subject matter experts to identify use cases with an emphasis on completeness, testability, alignment with operational workflows, and readiness for validation trials.
  • Decompose high-level regulatory and operational requirements into specific capability statements with measurable performance criteria and traceability to FAA compliance outcomes.
  • Develop and maintain requirements traceability between stakeholder needs, system requirements, architecture artifacts, implementation tasks, and verification activities.
  • Support system design discussions by evaluating technical approaches, documenting trade-offs, identifying integration impacts, and assessing operational or regulatory risks.
  • Prepare and review technical documentation, including system specifications, interface definitions, use cases, operational workflows, verification plans, and requirements traceability matrices.
  • Participate in Agile ceremonies, technical interchange meetings, structured reviews, and system inspections.
  • Coordinate with software engineering, test, cybersecurity, and DevSecOps teams to ensure system requirements are fully implemented, validated, and operationally supportable.
  • Assist in defining verification and validation strategies, including support for demonstrations, integration testing, operational assessments, and customer reviews.
  • Systematically capture and communicate design decisions, performance trade-offs, compliance rationales, and risk assessments to support program transparency and technical governance.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, systems engineering, or a related field and at least 8 years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree with at least 6 years of experience
  • Experience working within Agile development environments, including familiarity with Agile methodologies, principles, and tools
  • Experience performing systems engineering activities across the system development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, decomposition, traceability, integration, and verification
  • Strong understanding of disciplined engineering processes and attention to detail in highly regulated or mission-critical environments
  • Experience collaborating with cross-functional technical teams, customers, and stakeholders to define and refine system capabilities
  • Experience preparing and maintaining technical documentation and requirements artifacts
  • Familiarity with software development concepts, architectures, interfaces, and integration considerations
  • Clear and effective verbal and written communication skills
  • Experience with cloud-based systems and modern software architectures
  • Ability to obtain SF-85 Public Trust suitability determination
  • US Citizenship

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with Java, Python, React, and scripting languages
  • Knowledge of AI-assisted development workflows and tools (i.e., Claude Code, Codex, etc.)
  • Knowledge of DevSecOps practices and CI/CD pipelines
  • Knowledge of air traffic control systems, general aviation, and/or flight services
  • Practical knowledge of FAA/DoD systems, technical policies, standards, and orders
  • Experience leveraging requirements-management and model-based engineering tools (e.g., Cameo, DOORS, Jama, Jira with traceability plugins, etc.)
  • Experience supporting verification and validation activities in regulated environments
  • Familiarity with systems integration, interface management, and operational testing in large-scale distributed systems



Original Posting:
June 24, 2026

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 $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand 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.

About Leidos Holding

Leidos Holding Careers

Joining Leidos Holding presents an unparalleled opportunity to advance one's career with a leader in innovation and technology. The company offers a plethora of job opportunities aimed at fostering professional growth and development in a diverse and inclusive environment.

Explore Career Opportunities

Leidos Holding is actively seeking skilled professionals who are passionate about leveraging their expertise to drive innovation and leadership in their fields. With a variety of open positions, Leidos Holding provides a platform for individuals to challenge themselves in a dynamic work environment.

Innovation and Professional Growth

At Leidos Holding, innovation is at the core of everything they do. Employees are encouraged to think creatively and push boundaries. The company supports this drive for innovation through comprehensive professional development and diversity training programs that are designed to enhance skills and foster leadership.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Leidos Holding is committed to creating a workplace where diversity is not only recognized but celebrated. With a culture that values and promotes diversity, Leidos Holding ensures that all team members have the opportunity to contribute, learn, and grow.

Internship Programs

For those starting their career, Leidos Holding offers internship programs that provide a robust foundation in the industry. Internships are a great way to develop essential skills, gain valuable work experience, and build professional networks.

Benefits and Culture

Employees at Leidos Holding enjoy a range of benefits designed to support their professional and personal lives. The company culture is built on a foundation of respect and integrity, providing a supportive and collaborative environment where every team member is valued.

Join the Team

Leidos Holding is hiring! Explore job opportunities that match your skills and interests. Leidos Holding looks for driven, curious, and innovative individuals to join their team. Positions are available across various disciplines and experience levels.

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Prepare for Your Interview

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Networking and Career Advancement

Leidos Holding encourages its employees to engage in networking within the company to discover new opportunities for career advancement. The leadership team at Leidos Holding is dedicated to supporting employees in their career paths with ample opportunities for networking and growth.

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Discover the exciting career opportunities at Leidos Holding today. With a commitment to employee growth, innovation, and diversity, Leidos Holding is the perfect place to advance your career. Check out the latest job listings and find your perfect fit at Leidos Holding.

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