Lead Engineer

Description

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 sustainably. 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 Lead Mass Properties Engineer to join our team to create unique solutions for complex problems.

If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

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 !

Are you ready to make an impact? Share your resume with us today!

Primary Responsibilities

• Control, calculate, and communicate detailed mass properties (weight, balance, and inertia) of various flight vehicles.
• Develop, maintain, and improve Python-based mass properties tools.
• Plan, execute, and document mass properties testing and validation.
• Advise multidisciplinary teams on configuration and design trades to meet weight and balance requirements.
• Facilitate Mass Properties Control Boards and weight reduction teams.

Basic Qualifications

• Candidate must possess a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field from an ABET-accredited university, along with 4–8 years of relevant industry experience, or a Master's degree with 2–6 years of relevant industry experience.
• Proficiency in calculating the mass properties (mass, 3 axis centers of gravity, moments and products of inertia) of components and performing summation calculations into assemblies; developing simple software tools to perform these calculations.
• Understanding of mass moments of inertia, mass estimating relationships, and mass growth allowances.
• Experience leading mass budgets, risk mitigation, and configuration/change control for flight vehicles.
• Experience measuring weight, center of gravity, and inertia.
• Strong technical writing, presentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• U.S. citizenship and a current Final Secret Clearance—or eligibility to obtain and maintain one.
• Residence in, or willingness to relocate to, the Huntsville, Alabama area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field from an ABET-accredited institution.
• Proficiency in Python or Matlab; experience with data analysis packages such as Pandas or Polars is desired.
• Proficiency in database development such as SQL.
• Experience with Gitlab or Github.
• Experience with structural design or analysis.
• Knowledge and proficiency in applying industry standards (e.g., AIAA S 120 2015, TR-2018-01203, SAWE RP A-7, SAWE RP-9, SAWE RP-10, SAWE RP-11).
• Proficiency with commercial CAD tools (Creo, Solidworks, NX Unigraphics, CATIA, etc.).

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.

Original Posting:

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:

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. More details are available at .

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 .

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the .

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

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.