Chemical/Mechanical Engineer

The Defense Sector at Leidos currently has an opening for an experienced Engineer to provide research and development engineering support to the Propulsion Development Branch, DEVCOM Armaments Center, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ.

Primary Responsibilities.

• Research, design, and develop new products and processes by applying engineering principles to improve existing technologies.
• Identify / analyze / evaluate potential solutions, conduct trade studies, develop detailed specifications, design / develop / manufacture prototypes, conduct laboratory and field testing, and analyze test data and create test and technical reports. 
• Provide recommendations for appropriate courses of action from many acceptable alternatives; and conduct technical analyses and fieldwork to achieve desired products or services.
• Exercise versatility, judgment, and perception to identify and interpret diverse factors, situations, and conditions; understand interrelationships among different strategies, standards, and activities; explain and justify determinations, recommendations, and implemented actions; and assess implemented and planned actions for accuracy, feasibility, and/or adequacy in meeting objectives. 
• Integrate and implement statistical analysis, modeling, and simulation tools where appropriate to thoroughly assess production and performance challenges.
• Interact with diverse team including installation/plant officials, contractors, architects, technicians, and engineers to obtain, clarify, or exchange information or facts needed to complete assignments or training objectives. 
• Document and report technical information and data to senior level engineers and other officials from related organizations.
• Work requires regular and recurring out of state travel to project sites, involving considerable walking, stooping, bending, lifting, and climbing. The work may require working around hot, noisy operating equipment.
• Work is performed primarily in an office setting, with numerous visits to project sites up to approximately 50% of the time.

Basic Qualifications.

• - BS/ MS degree in engineering, preferably in mechanical or chemical engineering
• 10 plus years of relevant experience
• Development of Prototypes – knowledge of engineering processes (requirements definition, trade studies, concept development, subscale testing, prototyping) and actual experience in multiple phases
• Ability to define required engineering tasks, lead/contribute to small teams to execute engineering tasks
• Ability to work in an Integrated Product Team (IPT) environment, helping to define and manage roles and responsibilities
• Ability to organize project plans, manage schedules, and track actions and resources
• Ability to define and execute Design of Experiments (DOEs), conduct and manage modeling and simulation, work with SMEs, define and execute subscale and full-scale testing (test planning/ test matrixes/test reporting)
• Ability to conduct engineering analysis (researching and interacting with SMEs)
• Risk Management - Ability to identify/manage program risks and develop plans and execute tasks to decrease program issues 
• Understanding of engineering management – Technical performance, cost, and schedule
• Understanding of agile product development / ability to adapt to changing environment.
• Understanding of engineering workflow, process maps
• Software Tools – MS Project, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Communications
  • Writing skills: Document progress through reports / briefings (technical and management), draft white papers, and publish technical reports (peer and non-peer)
  • Oral skills: Provide directions and feedback to peers and SMEs, covering technical and programmatic matters
• US citizenship required.

Preferred Qualifications.

Prior experience handling energetic materials, munitions, propulsion related technologies/projects preferred.

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 $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.