Branch Manager - Materials and Process

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact? 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. Your greatest work is ahead! Leidos’ Defense Systems is seeking a Materials & Processes Engineering Branch Manager. The Advanced Materials and Test Division is a multi-disciplinary team that provides materials engineering expertise for every phase of a program. With backgrounds in materials science, chemistry/chemical engineering, physics, among others, the division has experience in executing a variety of efforts from R&D, to prototype development, to supporting design and build tasks for manufacturing. Beyond subject matter expertise, the department has the analysis equipment, multi-physics modelling capability and experimental lab space to support activities ranging from proof-of-concept experimentation to manufacturing support. 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! Are you ready to make an impact? The Advanced Materials & Test Division is a team of scientists, engineers, technicians, and program staff focused on the research, development, application, integration, and testing of advanced or niche materials and processes to solve some of our nation's most pressing needs. Within the Division, the Materials & Process Branch executes engineering, manufacturing, process development, and qualification work in support of the internal and external customers. Responsibilities will include: Playing a lead role in setting the Materials and Process Engineering roadmap for the Advanced Materials & Test Division based on an in-depth understanding of customer needs, industry and process technology developments, and group capabilities. This includes serving as Solution Architect on relevant programs and assisting in defining and leading IRaD efforts Engaging proactively with other divisions and product development organizations to understand their technical needs and connect them with the right Materials & Process (M&P) support, serving as a key liaison between the branch and its internal customers Forecasting the organization’s future M&P needs and positioning branch capabilities and expertise in the right technical domains ahead of demand, so project teams have the support they need to meet their objectives Performing or directly overseeing in-lab and production-floor process development, scale-up, and qualification activities to deliver engineering solutions as part of customer program or IRaD execution Providing technical oversight and mentorship to develop team members with an emphasis on developing future leaders, or coordinating and monitoring such mentorship when time constraints or technical domain require delegating this task Developing strong working relationships with team members to maximize productivity Personnel management including hiring, employee development, appraisals, and staff assignment coordination Tracking staff coverage to identify hiring needs, write job postings, coordinate screening of applicants, conduct interviews, and make hiring recommendations Performing, or delegating within the branch and overseeing program management for efforts primarily led or executed by the branch Supporting business development goals and initiatives by building and maintaining customer relationships and contributing to (or leading) proposals Providing technical input to program leadership during the planning and execution of engineering and advanced manufacturing projects Providing technical expertise to group safety procedure development and reviews, contributing to decisions on the appropriateness and acceptability of proposed procedures and policies Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Chemical, or Aerospace Engineering, or similar degree from an ABET-accredited institution BS degree and 12+ years, MS degree and 10+ years, or PhD and 8+ years of total professional experience Experience in project management including cost, schedule, and technical direction responsibilities 5+ years of experience leading technical teams 3+ years of experience with direct personnel management including hiring, employee development, appraisals, and staff assignment coordination responsibilities Must be a resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate to the Huntsville, AL or surrounding area Ability to obtain a DOW clearance - US Citizenship will be required Other Qualifications Demonstrated ability and/or past experience in technical problem solving and root cause analysis, particularly related to manufacturing processes and production issues Demonstrated ability to decompose system-level requirements into Materials & Process specifications and tasking Excellent written and verbal communication skills Capable of performing in a collaborative engineering environment working with multi-disciplinary teams Direct hands‑on or supervisory experience with hardware and process equipment (testing, fabrication, integration, operation, or maintenance) Strong skills and past experience growing customer relationships through a focus on delivering high‑value customer service and consistent positive customer interactions Substantial hands‑on experience and in‑depth technical expertise in Materials and Process Engineering, manufacturing, or production environments Preference will be shown to candidates who have experience and/or working knowledge of: Design, fabrication, procurement, AI&T, check‑out, and operation of materials processing or manufacturing systems Process qualification, statistical process control, and manufacturing readiness assessment Industrial or laboratory safety systems and procedures Direct personnel management of teams larger than 10 people Business development activities including developing briefings, white papers, and proposals Original Posting: August 28, 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. 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 Pay and Benefits Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. 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