Chief Engineer- Space Payloads

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.Are you ready for your next career challenge?Leidos Defense 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.The Emerging Space Systems Division at Leidos currently has an opening for a Chief Engineer to work in our San Diego, CA office. This is an exciting opportunity to use your experience to develop novel EO/IR sensors for Space-based missions, including Missile Warning/Tracking, Missile Defense, Space Domain Awareness, and others. In this mission, we design and mature next-generation space-based payloads, transitioning critical technology from laboratory environments to flight-ready hardware. This role focuses on the end-to-end development of prototype optical sensors, bridging the gap between TRL 4 and TRL 7 to ensure mission success in orbital environments.Primary ResponsibilitiesServe as the primary technical authority for the design, integration, and testing of space-qualified optical sensor systems.Lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams, providing technical direction across mechanical, electrical, thermal, algorithm development, and software engineering workflows.Lead hardware maturation efforts to transition technologies from breadboard validation (TRL 4) through space-qualified prototyping and demonstration (TRL 7).Direct the integration of complex sensor processing algorithms into flight software architectures, ensuring real-time performance and data integrity.Conduct rigorous trade studies and design reviews (PDR, CDR) to ensure sensor performance meets stringent mission requirements for sensitivity, resolution, and SWaP-C.Oversee environmental testing protocols, including thermal vacuum (TVAC), vibration, and radiation hardening, to validate flight readiness.Basic QualificationsEducation & Experience: Bachelor’s degree with 12+ years of applicable experience, or a Master’s degree with 10+ years of experience. Additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.Security Clearance: Must have a Secret security clearance to be considered for the position.Subject Matter Expertise: Must be a Subject Matter Expert (SME) within IR optical or opto-mechanical engineering (e.g., precision mechanisms, optical housing design, or opto-thermal stability).Technical Breadth: Demonstrated working knowledge of associated engineering disciplines, including software development, algorithm maturation, and electrical systems.Space Flight Heritage: Proven track record of leading space-based payload development programs through the full flight qualification lifecycle.Active SECRET clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.Preferred QualificationsSpace-Based IR Analytical Expertise:Experience leading Radiometric Performance Modeling (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) analysis, Noise Equivalent Differential Temperature (NEDT), and stray light suppression studies).Proficiency in Thermal-Optical-Mechanical (STOP) Analysis to predict sensor performance under extreme orbital thermal gradients.Familiarity with Non-Uniformity Correction (NUC) and Bad Pixel Replacement (BPR) algorithm development for focal plane arrays (FPAs).Experience conducting Stray Light and Ghosting Studies using tools like FRED or ASAP to ensure high-fidelity IR sensing against bright backgrounds.Mission-Specific Studies:Leading Jitter and Line-of-Sight (LOS) Stability analyses to ensure sub-microradian pointing accuracy during dynamic maneuvers.Conducting Radiation Effects Analysis (TID, SEE) for cryogenically cooled IR detectors and associated readout integrated circuits (ROICs).Standards & Interfaces: * Deep familiarity with SDA (Space Development Agency) standards and optical communication terminal (OCT) specifications.Experience managing Cryocooler Integration and vibration isolation studies for long-wave infrared (LWIR) or mid-wave infrared (MWIR) missions.Tools: Expertise in specialized design software such as Zemax, Code V, or MATLAB/Simulink for system-level performance simulation.Proficiency in digital signal processing (DSP) or computer vision algorithms related to optical sensing.Expertise in the procurement and management of high-reliability (Hi-Rel) space components and sub-tier supplier technical oversight.Expertise in hyperspectral imaging, seekers, laser communications, or other sensing modalities or missions.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:April 30, 2026For 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 $131,300.00 - $237,350.00The 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.SummaryLocation: San Diego, CAType: Full time