Program Engineer

Leidos•Huntsville, AL

About The Position

Leidos Defense Systems Defense Sensors is seeking a highly motivated and organized Program Engineer to support execution of a complex, fast-paced defense modernization effort. The role supports multiple tasks in parallel, contributes to and leads team environments, and communicates with management, coworkers, and customers. The engineer leads cross-functional engineering activities, manages technical baselines, tracks deliverables, and serves as an integration focal point across Systems, Software, Mechanical, Electrical, Test, and Program Management teams. The role partners with the integrated product team lead to develop and maintain the development schedule, create task networks, monitor execution progress, update estimates to complete, and document the drivers behind cost and schedule variances. The position focuses on producing high-quality products on time and within budget. The role directly supports the program management office in executing program cost, schedule, procurement, integration, and resource management activities. It coordinates engineering schedules, deliverables, risks, resources, suppliers, subcontractors, integration, and test planning, and communicates status to engineering teams and senior leadership. It operates in a collaborative program office environment supporting a large-scale defense modernization effort, with coordination across engineering, manufacturing, operations, and customer stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, systems engineering, or a related technical discipline from an accredited school and at least 8 years of direct experience, or a master’s degree from an accredited school and at least 6 years of direct experience.
Demonstrated experience supporting large defense development programs or production programs.
Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to work in a team and develop cooperative relationships.
Hands-on experience with engineering schedule management, integrated master schedules, or project planning tools.
Ability to track multiple tasks and prioritize work independently.
Ability to lead technical discussions, drive decisions, and maintain momentum within cross-functional teams.
Experience with supply chain management and working with suppliers to help them meet hardware and non-hardware deliverable requirements.
Ability to obtain and maintain a secret-level security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting missile defense, radar, integrated air and missile defense, or other complex defense systems programs.
Familiarity with Integrated Master Scheduling (IMS), Earned Value Management (EVM), and risk management processes.
Experience supporting gate reviews, technical baseline management, or production/program integration activities.
Understanding of hardware development, manufacturing integration, and system test execution.
Experience working with subcontractors, including statement of work development and technical oversight.
Familiarity with Microsoft Project, Jira, Confluence, or similar program execution tools.
PMP certification or equivalent program management training.

Responsibilities

Support the program management office in execution of program cost, schedule, procurement, integration, and resource management.
Collaborate with program management on staffing forecasts, estimate-at-completion and estimate-to-completion planning, and engineering services hours tracking.
Develop, maintain, and track engineering schedules, technical deliverables, risk items, and action plans.
Identify, document, and mitigate engineering risks and technical issues.
Work with technical leads to define and evaluate the resources and schedule required to complete work.
Manage personnel performing detailed work scope, monitor progress and issues, and elevate issues when support is needed.
Support supplier management, subcontractor coordination, and integration of directed subcontractor activities.
Assist with technical documentation, system engineering management plan elements, verification plans, and integration schedules.
Capture and communicate status across engineering teams and senior leadership, including weekly metrics, dashboards, and risk registers.
Participate in system integration and test planning events, including readiness assessments and deficiency resolution.
Review resources and cost charging to the control account and assure accuracy.
Prepare control account variance analysis reports addressing cause, impact, and corrective action.
Participate in applicable integrated product team meetings to assure technical integration.
Lead cross-functional engineering activities and serve as an integration focal point among Systems, Software, Mechanical, Electrical, Test, and Program Management teams.
Partner with the integrated product team lead to develop and maintain the development schedule, create task networks, track execution, update estimates to complete, and capture cost and schedule variance drivers.