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At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.
Leidos Defense provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Within the Defense, the Space Business Area provides advanced sensor products for the proliferated constellation product lines, inserting new technologies for space-based tracking solutions. Our team encompasses everything from design, prototyping and production of new systems, to ground based command and control operations support as well as data analytics and algorithm development. To explore and learn more, click here!
Your greatest work is ahead!
Leidos’ Defense Space Business Area is seeking a Sensor Engineering Manager to join our newly formed Engineering team. Come lead a cross functional team working Space Based IR Sensors. This team is responsible for seeing the design for the Sensor product line from beginning to end. Sensor Engineering will work with the SEIT, Electrical, Mechanical and Software teams to fully develop a solution that can be flown by our various customers. Within the Sensor Engineering team we have a mix of Optical, Electro-Optical, Opto-Mechanical and Image/Data processing engineers whose responsibility is to ensure we have a high-quality design that can be produced by our sister organization in Huntsville and supported through our Ground Operations teams. As the manager for this group of engineers, you will be helping to mold the culture, develop the people and help deliver product in a fast-paced environment.
Why Join Us?
Make an Impact Your work will directly support U.S. Space Operations.
Lead Innovation Be at the forefront of applying innovative technology and new solutions to real-world space based sensor platforms.
Work with Experts Collaborate with a top-tier team of engineers, scientists, and technicians located across the U.S.
Shape the Future Influence both the strategic and tactical direction of next-generation space sensor technologies.
Are you ready to make an impact? Share your resume with us today!
Primary Responsibilities:
Provide strategic and technical leadership for a engineers working Space based sensor programs.
Drive technical innovation and product improvements aligned with customer needs and mission goals.
Ensure a “design for manufacturing” focus during system development.
Guide sensor engineering efforts, including architecture, requirements derivation, and design integration.
Mentor a cross functional team of engineers through the full product lifecycle.
Work with the Space BA Solution Architect and Emerging Technologies teams to bring the needed technologies to the execution branches.
Basic Qualifications:
Typically requires BS degree and 12 – 15 years of prior relevant experience or Masters with 10 – 13 years of prior relevant experience. May possess a Doctorate in technical domain.
Candidates should have 5+ years of experience supervising or leading teams or projects.
Candidates will be required to have extensive knowledge of optical design practices, optical/opto-mechanical integration processes and best practices and an in-depth understanding of the methods for designing and building space based optical systems.
Candidate must be a US Citizen and possess (and be able to maintain) a Final Secret Clearance OR meet the eligibility to obtain (and maintain) a Secret Clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:
Candidates should have experience with Space Based Infrared Sensor Solutions and the associated image processing and products generated.
Candidate should have exposure to DoD program execution, including contract, financial, and subcontractor management.
Candidates will be required to have extensive knowledge of optical design practices, optical/opto-mechanical integration processes and best practices and an in-depth understanding of the methods for designing and building space based optical systems.
Candidates will be required to have knowledge of the tools used for Senor design and data analysis to include: Zemax, SolidWorks and MATLAB. Experience with CodeV and other optical modelling tools is a plus.
Candidate must have basic experience reading mechanical assembly drawings, electrical schematics, and other manufacturing documentation.
Candidate must have experience working with design engineers, manufacturing engineers, and technicians to develop a build strategy and identify any problems that could occur during assembly.
Candidate must have experience working in team environment and interacting with different functions project teams and productions teams.
Experience with manufacturing, assembly, integration & test processes, procedure development & implementation.
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 30, 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 $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.
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.
