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Sensor Lead

AT Leidos
Leidos

Sensor Lead

Huntsville, AL

Description

Job Description:

Leidos is seeking a Sensor Lead to join our spacecraft and payload development teams in San Diego, CA or Huntsville, AL. This is an exciting opportunity to leverage your expertise in successfully deploying complex engineering projects, while contributing to our national defense mission, while working in San Diego.

We are looking for a proactive cross functional engineer that thrives in fast-paced environments leading and managing team members to accomplish payload integration, test and debug electrical components within a payload. While being an experienced engineer with Space DNA who has worked on LEO, MEO, and GEO is important, and we value and welcome those with experience working for organizations like SDA, RCO, or DARPA, we are most excited about candidates who have demonstrated success in delivering complex, reliable space systems under tight timelines.

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As a Sensor Lead, you will lead a team to integrate, test, and deliver components, subsystems and systems on multiple payloads, plus work with other disciplines and leadership team. In addition, you will use your experience to help manage, coordinate and determine staffing requirements, manage material needs and find ways to beat schedule goals. The ideal candidate will have space domain experience across the product lifecycle - from development, manufacturing, operations and sustainment.

Are you ready to join a team dedicated to a mission? Begin your journey of a flourishing and meaningful career - share your resume with us today!

Primary Responsibilities

  • The primary responsibilities involve managing cost, schedule, and technical performance within the assigned control accounts for the program(s). The lead is not necessarily the most technically knowledgeable person on the team, but they need to understand the technical needs for completeness and to manage team performance.
  • With support from the product's responsible engineers, define and establish the scope of work for the control account in alignment with program objectives.
  • Develop and maintain the control account plan, integrating cost, schedule, and technical requirements.
  • Ensure baseline changes are appropriately documented, reviewed, and approved according to the program's change control process.
  • Track schedule performance to ensure milestones are met on time.
  • Identify and manage risks to avoid schedule delays or budget overruns.
  • Evaluate earned value data to identify variances and provide root cause analysis.
  • Take corrective actions to mitigate any cost or schedule deviations.
  • Ensure that the work performed within the control account meets technical and quality standards.
  • Collaborate with engineering, procurement, and other Integrated Product Teams (IPT) to deliver the required outcomes.
  • Provide input to the Scheduler for the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS)
  • Provide regular status updates and reports to program management and stakeholders.
  • Work with functional managers to ensure the availability of skilled personnel and materials needed for the work. Optimize resource utilization to maintain efficiency.
  • Follow engineering standards and assist engineers in system, interface, and module development and documentation efforts.
  • Manage and track all changes to the bill of materials (BOM).
  • Participate, lead, and conduct recurring team and project meetings.
  • Identify potential roadblocks and develop solutions where the solution is not always well defined but always considers the customer first.
  • Work to improve performance metrics through critical planning and execution of development tasks.

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or Physics and 8 years of prior relevant experience or Master's degree with 6 years of prior relevant experience.
  • Demonstrable experience managing teams to successfully complete mission objectives.
  • Experience using Atlassian Tools (Confluence & Jira).
  • Experience with qualified space design, development, integration, and test of mechanical, optical, and opto-mechanical components.
  • Experience interfacing with subcontractors and suppliers including generating detailed specifications and test requirements, providing technical guidance, and performing issue resolution.
  • Familiarity with performing design trade studies and analyses to optimize mechanical and/or optical designs relative to performance, size, weight, and cost.
  • Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively interface with other teams, customers, and/or senior leadership.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD SECRET clearance. (U.S. Citizenship is required)
  • Ability and willingness to work onsite in San Diego, California, or in Huntsville, Alabama.
  • Experience working cross-functional teams for project-wide collaboration.
  • Possess strong and fluent communication, project focus, and execution skills.
  • Self-motivation and comfort working in a fast-moving high-tech environment.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Demonstrated experience working in small engineering teams.
  • Space Mechanical Systems familiarity.
  • US Citizen with current TS/SCI clearance.
  • Experience with space products (space vehicle or payload) design, manufacturing, or support that includes broad demonstrated experience in electrical, mechanical, software, and manufacturing engineering including product design, validation, test, troubleshooting, repair, and support evaluating unique space environment-induced designs through low power and stress calculations and for cost-effectiveness and ease of manufacture and maintenance.
  • Experience with US DoD Contract Data Requirements List (CDRLs) and mechanical-related documentation as required by US DoD Data Item Descriptions.

Original Posting:

June 25, 2025
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 $104,650.00 - $189,175.00

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.

Client-provided location(s): Huntsville, AL, USA
Job ID: Leidos-R-00161625-OTHLOC-PL-2D1270
Employment Type: Full Time

Perks and Benefits

  • Health and Wellness

    • Health Insurance
    • Health Reimbursement Account
    • Dental Insurance
    • Vision Insurance
    • Life Insurance
    • Short-Term Disability
    • Long-Term Disability
    • FSA
    • HSA
    • Pet Insurance
    • Mental Health Benefits
  • Parental Benefits

    • Birth Parent or Maternity Leave
    • Fertility Benefits
    • Adoption Assistance Program
    • Family Support Resources
  • Work Flexibility

    • Flexible Work Hours
    • Remote Work Opportunities
    • Hybrid Work Opportunities
  • Office Life and Perks

    • Company Outings
    • On-Site Cafeteria
    • Holiday Events
  • Vacation and Time Off

    • Paid Vacation
    • Paid Holidays
    • Personal/Sick Days
    • Volunteer Time Off
  • Financial and Retirement

    • 401(K) With Company Matching
    • Stock Purchase Program
    • Performance Bonus
    • Relocation Assistance
    • Financial Counseling
    • Profit Sharing
  • Professional Development

    • Promote From Within
    • Mentor Program
    • Access to Online Courses
    • Lunch and Learns
    • Internship Program
    • Leadership Training Program