
Program Overview
SURTASS mission provides an on-demand, mobile, and active/passive maritime surveillance capability in support of Joint and Naval Task Force commanders via a towed acoustic sensor system. The ships and installed SURTASS equipment are designed for extended duration and independent operations in remote geographic areas.
Leidos Defense is seeking a proactive and highly adaptable Learning Experience Designer (LXD) to join our training department as part of the SURTASS team. This role supports a diverse, geographically dispersed workforce operating within a high-tempo maritime environment.
The ideal candidate is an agile creator who thrives in a "brief-and-execute" workflow. You must be comfortable receiving initial direction and then working with high autonomy to deliver polished products, while remaining flexible enough to pivot as we adapt to shifting customer needs and technical challenges.
This isn't just a desk job; you will be on the front lines, capturing the footage and insights needed to keep our technicians ready for anything. This is a full-time, on-site contract position that includes 10–20% travel, both domestically and overseas, in support of filming events and audits.
Core Responsibilities
Field Content Capture: Travel overseas and domestically to participate in filming events; capture technician work and "day-in-the-life" procedures onboard customer platforms in port.
Agile Multimedia Development: Transform raw field footage and technical concepts into high-impact microlearning video content using Adobe Premiere (or equivalent industry software).
Dynamic Content Generation: Design and edit curriculum materials, including engaging PowerPoints, instructional aids, and interactive simulations that address evolving solution sets.
Instructional Design & Strategy: Apply tested theories (ADDIE, SAM) to create storyboards and scripts that ensure high knowledge retention for a remote workforce.
SME & Customer Interaction: Work directly with Subject Matter Experts and customers to identify training needs in a fast-paced, shifting environment.
Program Support: Manage essential training administration, including data entry, grading exams, and rigorous quality control of all materials.
Basic Qualifications
Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree with 2+ years of relevant experience; OR a Master’s degree with less than 2 years of relevant experience. Additional experience, education, or training may be considered in lieu of a degree.
Relevant Experience: 2+ years of experience in instructional design, multimedia content development, and/or training development. Experience should include video production, microlearning content, storyboarding, script writing, curriculum design, and collaboration with subject matter experts (SMEs).
Technical Skills:
Advanced: Adobe Premiere; Microsoft Office (expert-level PowerPoint design required)
Intermediate: Adobe Photoshop (layout design, basic image manipulation, asset preparation)
Experience with the Adobe Creative Suite is preferred; candidates with instructional design experience using tools such as Articulate 360, Storyline, Captivate, or Camtasia will also be considered.
Adaptability: Demonstrated ability to work independently in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with rapidly changing priorities and requirements.
Field Readiness: Willingness and ability to travel internationally and work in maritime or industrial environments, including onboard vessels in port.
Communication: Excellent writing, verbal, and scripting skills; with the ability to translate complex technical tasks into clear, concise instructional content.
Security Clearance: U.S. citizenship required; ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
Preferred "Plus" Qualifications
Authoring Tools: Experience with Adobe Captivate, Articulate Storyline, or Camtasia.
Web/LMS: Familiarity with HTML, CSS, or JavaScript; experience with Moodle LMS.
Navy Standards: Familiarity with NAVEDTRA 130B & 131B or Navy Training System Plans (NTSP).
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.
March 26, 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 $52,000.00 - $94,000.00
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.

Leidos is a Fortune 500® innovation company rapidly addressing the world’s most vexing challenges in national security and health. The company's global workforce of 48,000 collaborates to create smarter technology solutions for customers in heavily regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $15.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023.
Leidos was cited for the meaningful work employees perform that is challenging, impactful, and aligned with our customers’ missions as reasons professionals want to work and stay at our company. Leidos has also been named to lists including Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity, Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Women, Military Times Best for Vets Employers, and Ethisphere Institute’s World's Most Ethical Companies®.
Employees enjoy career enrichment opportunities available through mobility and development and experience rewarding relationships with supportive supervisors and talented colleagues and customers. Employees appreciate our flexible work environment, allowing for and encouraging a true work-life balance. Our professionals are also excited about our Employee Resource Groups, like the Collaborative Outreach with Remote and Embedded Employees (CORE), which strives to create an environment where every employee, regardless of location, feels fully engaged as a valued employee of Leidos.
Your most important work is ahead, visit careers.leidos.com for our latest opportunities.