Data Center Design Lead

Leidos is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Data Center Design Lead to support the SMIT contract, the Navy's largest IT services program. Under SMIT, Leidos is modernizing the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet by unifying shore-based networks and enhancing data management to increase capability and reduce costs. In this role, you will lead the design and development of cutting-edge, scalable, and energy-efficient data center infrastructure.
You will oversee a multidisciplinary team of up to 10 designers, drafters and database administrators, collaborating across project management, construction, and technical teams to ensure successful, on-budget, and timely project delivery.

Primary Responsibilities:
Design & Technical Leadership

• Lead the end-to-end design of data center infrastructure including electrical, mechanical, and networking systems.
• Develop and enforce design standards, best practices, and technical specifications.
• Evaluate and integrate new technologies to enhance scalability, energy efficiency, and performance.
• Review and approve technical deliverables to ensure regulatory and quality compliance.

Project & Team Management

• Manage, supervise and mentor a team of up to 10 design professionals, providing clear technical direction and support.
• Manage multiple concurrent data center projects, ensuring milestones, budgets, and timelines are met.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including project managers, construction staff, and vendors.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies to address design challenges.

Documentation & Compliance

• Oversee preparation of design documentation (e.g., schematics, blueprints, specifications).
• Ensure timely submission of Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) documentation.
• Maintain compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree preferred in STEM or relevant field plus 5+ years of applicable experience, or a Master's degree with 3+ years of related experience, additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
• Requires 2+ years of experience leading teams or Enterprise IT Infrastructure projects.
• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in Data Center or Infrastructure design.
• U.S. Citizen with an active DoD Secret Clearance.
• Proven leadership experience managing design teams.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical concepts.
• Experience working in high-paced, deadline-driven environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PMP, SCRUM, or other relevant certifications.
• Experience with cloud infrastructure or virtualized environments.
• Familiarity with construction and vendor management processes.
• Proficiency with tools such as Microsoft Access, Excel, SharePoint, DCDDB.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving capabilities.
• Prior NMCI experience (preferred).

Physical Requirements:

• Correctable vision to 20/20 and normal color vision for interpreting technical diagrams and schematics on-screen.

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:
January 27, 2026

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 $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

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.