Principal Systems Engineer

Principal Systems Engineer (LEAD)Leidos is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer (LEAD) to join the Air Traffic Business Area within the Homeland Sector, supporting the development of the Leidos Common Automation Platform (L-CAP). L-CAP is a mission-critical, future-ready automation platform built on a hybrid cloud data mesh architecture, enabling next-generation air traffic management capabilities. You will lead systems engineering across a four-ART engineering organization, providing technical governance for requirements, interfaces, integration, verification, and safety analysis. We are building with an AI-first engineering mindset, embracing emerging AI capabilities and modern development practices to accelerate delivery, improve software quality, and continuously evolve how we design and build mission-critical systems. This position supports government programs and requires the ability to obtain and maintain a favorable Public Trust investigation.This role is part of a growing program, and hiring will depend on available funding. We review applications on a rolling basis, but the timeline for interviews and offers may vary. In some cases, we may extend contingent offers that become active once funding is confirmed.This position is located in Gaithersburg, MD; Egg Harbor Township, NJ; or Eagan, MN. This is an opportunity to contribute to projects that impact millions of air travelers.This is a hybrid position requiring 3 days onsite and 2 days remote work. Candidates should reside a commutable distance to one of the above locations.What You'll DoLead cross-program systems engineering activities across four ARTsEstablish and govern requirements management processes and standardsDefine and manage interface control documents and integration specificationsDevelop verification and validation (V&V) strategy and execution plansMaintain requirements traceability from stakeholder needs through implementationLead system integration planning and execution across the platformConduct safety analysis including hazard identification and mitigationSupport certification activities and regulatory compliance evidenceDefine and enforce SE process standards and best practicesLead technical reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRREnsure cross-ART architectural consistency by establishing shared systems engineering standards and interface governanceLead modernization planning from a systems engineering perspective including decomposition strategies and transition sequencingGovern interfaces between legacy and modernized services maintaining technical coherence across the programChampion an AI-first engineering culture by identifying and applying AI-assisted development capabilities, automation, and emerging software engineering practices that improve developer productivity, code quality, testing, and delivery.Core Technical Qualifications:Bachelor's degree with 12+ years of relevant experience or Master's degree and 10+ years of experience or equivalent experience.Systems engineering leadership for large-scale, complex programsRequirements management expertise including decomposition and allocationVerification and validation planning and execution at the enterprise levelInterface management across multiple subsystems and teamsMBSE and SysML modeling experience for complex system architecturesSystem integration planning and execution for distributed platformsSafety-critical systems engineering including hazard and risk analysisAviation or defense domain systems engineering experienceProficiency with DOORS, Jama, or equivalent requirements management toolsAbility to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance; US citizenship required; subject to government background investigationExperience ensuring architectural consistency across multiple development teams or release trainsDemonstrated leadership in systems engineering for large-scale modernization programsU.S. citizenship requiredSuccessful completion of background investigations as required by the government customerPreferred / Desired QualificationsFAA certification experience (DO-178C, DO-254, DO-278A)DO-178 and DO-254 compliance and evidence developmentINCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP)Large program SE leadership across 100+ engineersModel-based systems engineering approachesFormal verification and validation methodsExperience governing interfaces between legacy and modernized services in complex system-of-systems environmentsWhy Leidos?You'll work on systems where performance, precision, and reliability matter — every second. This is not experimental AI for prototypes. This is disciplined, responsible AI applied to mission-critical software that supports national infrastructure.If you're excited by solving complex problems in regulated, real-world environments — and using AI as a force multiplier rather than a shortcut — we'd like to talk.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.