Configuration Management (CM) SME

Leidos•Huntsville, AL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Leidos Defense Systems Sector is seeking a talented Configuration Manager (CM) SME to join a diverse team to create unique solutions for complex problems. With offices across the United States engaging in the defense, space, cyber and commercial fields. Leidos Defense Systems provides responsive, cost-effective engineering, scientific and IT solutions. The Configuration Management Subject Matter Expert (SME) serves as the senior authority responsible for the strategy, governance, and execution of configuration and change management for a large, complex program. This role combines deep design engineering experience with advanced configuration and data management expertise to ensure accurate product definition, controlled change implementation, and lifecycle integrity from development through production, fielding and maintenance. The Configuration Management SME provides technical and functional leadership over program-assigned Configuration Management Analysts, Configuration Management Data Analysts and Product Configuration Managers, establishing and enforcing standardized processes for configuration identification, control, status accounting, and verification in alignment with corporate standards, industry standards, program requirements and customer expectations. This individual is accountable for maintaining the integrity of product structures, including As-Designed, As-Built, As-Maintained, and As-Configured baselines, ensuring full traceability across hardware, software, and system-level configurations throughout the program lifecycle. A key responsibility of this role is serving as the program’s SME in change and effectivity management. This includes developing and executing strategies for incorporating engineering changes into units in production and fielded systems, managing serial number effectivity, and planning phased implementations and retrofit activities. The Configuration Management SME ensures that changes are introduced in a controlled, efficient manner that minimizes disruption to production, supply chain, and field operations while maintaining compliance and product integrity. The SME will collaborate with program technical leads to develop product roadmaps and cut-in strategies for technology insertions and pre-planned product improvements (P3I). This role works closely with program leadership and cross-functional teams—including engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, logistics, and customer stakeholders, to resolve complex configuration issues, drive alignment between design intent and delivered product, and support program execution objectives. The Configuration Management SME oversees Product Lifecycle Management system activities at the program level, including governance of product structures, item records, and change records (e.g., CDRLs, SDRLs), ensuring completeness, accuracy, and proper authorization. Additionally, the Configuration Management SME is responsible for implementing and tailoring program CM policies and processes to meet program-specific needs while maintaining corporate compatibility for AS9100 compliance, leading audits and compliance activities, and driving continuous improvement of CM practices within the program. Operating in a dynamic environment, this role provides both strategic direction and hands-on leadership to ensure configuration control excellence across all phases of the program lifecycle.

Requirements

Relevant applicable degree plus 15+ years combined CM/DM experience and 5 years lead/mgmt. experience (Actual mgmt. experience preferred)
Resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate to the Huntsville - North Alabama, AL area.
Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance in the future. (U.S. Citizenship is required)
Minimum of 10 years’ design engineering experience on Government or commercial high component count or large assembly products
Detailed knowledge of and ability to apply standards, principles, theories, concepts and techniques of technical domain and develops solutions to complex technical issues and problems that impact multiple areas or disciplines.
Detailed knowledge and SME level experience in configuration change management principles and record types, along with managing product effectivities for both production and fielded items
Detailed knowledge of mechanical, electrical, software and other CM practices as detailed in SAE EIA-649 (series and associated handbooks), ASME Y14 (series), ISO 9001, MIL-STD-31000, MIL-HDBK-61, DODM 5200.01 (series), DODI 5200.48 etc.
Detailed knowledge and a minimum of five (5) years’ experience using Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools. (Agile PLM, Oracle Agile, PTC Windchill, Dassault ENOVIA, Siemens Teamcenter, Aras, etc.)
Detailed knowledge and experience with interchangeability as defined in ASME Y14.100, MIL-I-8500D and EIA-649 Series.
Detailed knowledge of bill of materials, technical documents, product drawings, 3D models, schematics, Gerber files, diagrams and specifications.
Detailed knowledge of mechanical and electrical/electronic Computer Aided Design (CAD) software such as CREO, Solidworks, etc.
Proficient in Microsoft office products (primarily Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Visio experience is a plus)
Proficient in Adobe PDF editing software or equivalent
Proficient in Microsoft SharePoint collaboration software
Capable of performing in a collaborative engineering environment working closely with multi-disciplinary teams, customer representatives and external contacts.

Nice To Haves

Experience and/or working knowledge with: NDIA CDM, CMII or other Configuration Management/Data Management certification.
Active DoD Secret clearance

Responsibilities

Serves as the senior authority responsible for the strategy, governance, and execution of configuration and change management for a large, complex program.
Provides technical and functional leadership over program-assigned Configuration Management Analysts, Configuration Management Data Analysts and Product Configuration Managers.
Establishes and enforces standardized processes for configuration identification, control, status accounting, and verification.
Accountable for maintaining the integrity of product structures, including As-Designed, As-Built, As-Maintained, and As-Configured baselines.
Ensures full traceability across hardware, software, and system-level configurations throughout the program lifecycle.
Serves as the program’s SME in change and effectivity management.
Develops and executes strategies for incorporating engineering changes into units in production and fielded systems.
Manages serial number effectivity, and plans phased implementations and retrofit activities.
Collaborates with program technical leads to develop product roadmaps and cut-in strategies for technology insertions and pre-planned product improvements (P3I).
Works closely with program leadership and cross-functional teams to resolve complex configuration issues, drive alignment between design intent and delivered product, and support program execution objectives.
Oversees Product Lifecycle Management system activities at the program level, including governance of product structures, item records, and change records.
Implements and tailors program CM policies and processes to meet program-specific needs while maintaining corporate compatibility for AS9100 compliance.
Leads audits and compliance activities, and drives continuous improvement of CM practices within the program.
Provides both strategic direction and hands-on leadership to ensure configuration control excellence across all phases of the program lifecycle.