Lead Mechanical Engineer

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Leidos’ Defense Systems is seeking a talented Mid-Level Mechanical Engineer to join its Hypersonics line of business. With offices across the United States engaging in the defense, space, cyber and commercial fields, Leidos provides responsive, cost-effective engineering, scientific and IT solutions. The selected candidate will support hypersonic development programs, contributing to advanced weapon system development efforts that are critical to maintaining U.S. technological superiority in this rapidly evolving domain.

If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

Leidos Defense Systems Sector 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. To explore and learn more, click here!

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Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate mechanical engineering activities for a key hypersonic vehicle subassembly.

• Coordinate and contribute to the design and development of mechanical components and assemblies for advanced hypersonic missile systems.

• Communicate technical and program requirements to external partners and suppliers, ensuring requirements are clearly understood and incorporated into their designs.

• Serve as the primary technical interface for external design partners, coordinating design activities, interfaces, deliverables, technical decisions, and issue resolution.

• Develop and maintain engineering plans and schedules, track progress against commitments, and communicate status, risks, and recovery plans to program leadership.

• Own and coordinate mechanical interfaces between the assigned subassembly and adjacent subsystems, ensuring interface requirements are defined, documented, communicated, and verified.

• Coordinate the development, review, and release of Technical Data Package (TDP) artifacts, including drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and specifications.

• Develop mechanical designs with consideration for functionality, manufacturability, assembly, inspection, and producibility.

• Apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) principles in accordance with ASME Y14.5 and applicable engineering drawing standards.

• Perform tolerance analyses and engineering calculations to support design decisions and verify component and assembly requirements.

• Plan, facilitate, and participate in design reviews, peer reviews, drawing reviews, and other technical meetings throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Support prototype fabrication, assembly, integration, and testing activities by troubleshooting mechanical issues, coordinating issue resolution, and implementing engineering solutions.

• Evaluate engineering changes for impacts to design, interfaces, manufacturing, cost, schedule, and downstream hardware.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including structural, thermal, systems, manufacturing, quality, and test engineering, to develop and mature mechanical designs.

• Perform work in both classified and unclassified environments as required.

Basic Qualifications

• Active DoD Secret security clearance.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited institution with 4+ years of relevant experience or Master’s degree with 2+ years of relevant experience or high school diploma with 8+ years of relevant experience.

• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools such as Creo, CATIA, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar software.

• Experience working within Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) environments.

• Working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) in accordance with ASME Y14.5 and basic tolerance stack-up analysis.

• Understanding of engineering drawings, specifications, and configuration management processes.

• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles, including statics, mechanics of materials, materials science, and manufacturing processes.

• Demonstrated ability to facilitate technical meetings and drive technical decisions with internal and external stakeholders.

• ​Experience interacting directly with customers, suppliers, or external engineering partners and representing an engineering organization in technical discussions. 

• Demonstrated understanding of cost, schedule, and programmatic impacts associated with engineering decisions and deliverables.​ 

• Ability to communicate technical information effectively through written documentation, drawings, presentations, and verbal communication.

• Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.

• ​Self-starter with a demonstrated ability to work independently and in team environments, as well as ability to provide clarification and instruction to others. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting DoD programs involving missile systems, reentry vehicles, hypersonic systems, or other advanced aerospace technologies.

• Experience leading a mechanical assembly, subsystem, work package, or similar engineering scope through design, development, integration, and/or production.

• Experience coordinating engineering activities with suppliers, subcontractors, or external design partners.

• Experience supporting rapid development, prototyping, or fast-paced engineering programs.

• Experience creating 3D models and engineering drawings using PTC Creo and managing data within Windchill.

• Familiarity with aerospace materials and manufacturing processes, including machining, composites, additive manufacturing, welding, bonding, and mechanical fastening.

• Hands-on experience supporting hardware fabrication, assembly, integration, or testing.

• Familiarity with structural and/or thermal analysis as it relates to mechanical design.

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:

August 27, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00

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.