Hypersonics Chief Engineer

The Defense Sector has an opening for a Hypersonics Chief Engineer for air-breathing in our King of Prussia, PA, Shalimar, FL, or Beavercreek, OH office. The candidate will provide High Speed vehicle technical leadership within Leidos and Department of Defense customer community to capture and execute air-breathing missile system design programs. In this technical position, the candidate will be expected to also apply deep domain knowledge to develop concepts for business development, marketing, and proposal activities to grow the Leidos air-breathing hypersonics program portfolio, providing prototype sub-systems and systems for our nation's defense.

Primary Responsibilities
The Chief Engineer, will lead development and execution of new missile system concepts to capture and execute programs for the design of high-speed weapon systems. You will lead technical execution across all system activities, from concept development through prototyping. You will also develop discriminating Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis techniques through contract and internal R&D.

The successful candidate will drive technical innovation in the Hypersonics and Counter-Hypersonics systems business area:
1) Grow the Concept Development business by integrating advanced air-breathing propulsion systems into novel missile systems. This will involve developing work that moves progressively up the TRL chain from concept/systems analysis to prototype development.
2) Create discriminating MS&A capabilities via contracts and internal research and development. Develop approaches, market to customers and internal stakeholders, win and execute programs.
Success is to refine air-breathing vehicle concepts or MS&A programs to proposal level for multiple opportunities within 1 year.

Basic Qualifications
Impact & Complexity: Impacts functional strategy by developing new solutions, processes, standards or operational plans that position Leidos competitively in the marketplace. Leads the development of highly innovative products/solutions, achieved through collaboration and dialogue with other experts in the field.

Communication: Must communicate with Leidos personnel and interact daily with customer program leadership and team members and end users. Must develop a clear understanding of customer goals and objectives and shape work to achieve those goals. Typically negotiates and compromises to convince internal and external parties to accept concepts, practices and approaches of the area.

Knowledge: Requires highest knowledge and mastery of highly advanced technologies, scientific principles, theories and concepts. Viewed as a subject matter expert in the field by peers within and outside the organization. Domain specific knowledge in the areas of air-breathing propulsion such as turbine engines, ramjets, dual mode ramjets, and rotary detonation engines, Hypersonics, super/hypersonic Aerothermodynamics, Modeling and Simulation, and Weapons Systems Engineering is desired.

Education: Requires a Master's degree or Ph.D. degree in Aerospace, Mechanical or similar discipline and 10+ years' experience.
Independence: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to operate independently with limited supervision and feedback.

Travel: Ability to travel on an as needed basis

Preferred active TS clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

Leadership and Program Management: Prior experience in managing DOD research efforts is a plus. Preference given to candidates with experience in managing research efforts funded by AFRL, DARPA, ONR, and similar. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple simultaneous efforts while keeping efforts on schedule and on budget. Past experience in leading a diverse team with successful outcomes.

Business Development Acumen: Strong candidates will have prior experience in leading successful business development campaigns. Skills desired include the ability to effectively communicate with customers, understand their needs, and develop white papers and proposals. The ability to also develop and communicate a strategy for new business with management is also desired.

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:
February 4, 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 $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

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.