Principal Systems Engineer

Leidos has a new and exciting opportunity for a Principal Systems Engineer in our National Security Sector's (NSS) Cyber & Analytics Business Area (CABA).  Our talented team is at the forefront in Security Engineering, Computer Network Operations (CNO), Mission Software, Analytical Methods and Modeling, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Cryptographic Key Management. At Leidos, we offer competitive benefits, including Paid Time Off, 11 paid Holidays, 401K with a 6% company match and immediate vesting, Flexible Schedules, Discounted Stock Purchase Plans, Technical Upskilling, Education and Training Support, Parental Paid Leave, and much more.  Join us and make a difference in National Security!  

Are you seeking a new and challenging position supporting a complex Program for the Warfighter, which implements the latest technology? Well, look no further! This is an exciting time to contribute to a mission-critical program with lasting impactful results. Leidos is currently looking to add a Principal Systems Engineer (SE-3) to a growing task. The SE will work closely with the team of software developers, Subject Matter Experts, and analysts to perform requirements derivation and refinement. The candidate must be a proactive, self- starter with significant technical leadership experience and excellent communication skills.

Primary Responsibilities

• Derive functional, system, and performance requirements
• Develop various systems engineering artifacts (CONOPs, architecture diagrams, etc.)
• Develop schedules for features; Perform backlog grooming
• Write or review documentation
• Serve as team lead
• Create various status reports

Basic Qualifications

• Twenty  (20) years' experience as a SE in programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity is required. Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering Science, Engineering Management, or related discipline from an accredited college or university is required. Five (5) years of additional SE experience may be substituted for a bachelor's degree.
• Clearance Requirement: Top Secret/SCI with Polygraph

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in planning and leading Systems Engineering efforts
• Participate in an Integrated Product Team to design new capabilities based upon evaluation of all necessary all development and operational considerations
• Support the planning and test analysis of the DoD Certification/Accreditation Process (as well as other Government Certification and Accreditation (C&A) processes)ed.
• Experience with Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence)
• Agile experience
• Experience with MS Project and/or Visio

CONMD

CSSRC

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 19, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $154,050.00 - $278,475.00

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.