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Leidos’ Defense Systems Aerospace Defense System Sector is seeking a IPT Lead – TPS to support an All-Up Round Prototyping and Demonstration Program in our Huntsville, AL, office. 

If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

Leidos Defense Systems Sector provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world’s toughest security challenges for customers with “can’t fail” missions. To explore and learn more, click here!

 The IPT Lead – TPS will lead an Integrated Product Team (IPT) of multidisciplinary engineers and technicians to design, develop, and integrate, a Thermal Protection System for hypersonic missile applications. The IPT Lead is accountable for technical direction, schedule and risk management, cross functional coordination (including packing commands), and ensuring manufacturability and testability through the missile construction and design lifecycle. .  Effective execution of this role will be measured by the following metrics:

• Timely delivery of design reviews and critical design milestones
• Closure of high-risk technical issues and demonstrable risk reduction
• Successful integration and acceptance test results meeting requirements
• Manufacturing readiness and smooth transition to production with minimal rework
• Effective cross functional collaboration and stakeholder satisfaction.
  
   

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary IPT (aerospace, structures, materials, integration, test, manufacturing, and quality) to deliver glide body requirements on scope, schedule, and budget
• Define and communicate technical strategy, system architecture, design trades, and risk posture for the glide body TPS
• Oversee the design, development, and integration of thermal protection solutions to ensure system reliability under extreme conditions. Key concepts include leading cross-functional teams, working with composite materials, and ensuring effective interface control for seamless system integration
• Drive design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR), interim technical reviews, and closure of action items; prepare and present technical artifacts to stakeholders
• Ensure compliance with system requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), safety policies, and applicable aerospace standards and regulations
• Collaborate with manufacturing and suppliers to ensure producibility, cost targets, and schedule commitments; resolve nonconformances and design-to-build issues
• Establish test plans and acceptance criteria for environmental, structural, and functional verification of TPS components and assemblies
• Manage technical risks through mitigation plans, verification of risk closure, and adjustment of schedule/requirements as needed
• Maintain program-level documentation, configuration control, and technical data packages required for sustainment
• Interface with program management, customers, and cross program IPTs to align priorities and report technical status
   

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a closely related discipline with 8 years of relevant aerospace/missile systems experience, with progressive technical leadership or IPT lead roles (Masters and 6 years of experience are also acceptable)
• Proven track record of leading product development from concept through production for flight hardware
• Experience working with government/defense customers and knowledge of program lifecycle and contractual considerations

• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams on complex aerospace or missile systems
• Strong systems engineering and design integration skills, with ability to lead trade studies and make technical decisions that balance performance, cost, schedule, and risk
• Practical knowledge of glide body aerodynamics, structures, materials, and relevant subsystem interactions
• Familiarity with packaging, transport, and handling requirements for missile hardware
• Experience with producibility, fabrication processes, inspection, and manufacturing acceptance criteria
• Proven ability to plan and run design reviews, verification/validation campaigns, and to coordinate acceptance testing
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to present complex technical information to diverse stakeholders
• Strong leadership, decision-making, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management skills
• Candidate must be a US Citizen and possess (and be able to maintain) a Final Secret Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Aerospace/Mechanical/Systems Engineering
• Prior experience specifically on glide bodies, reentry vehicles, or guided munitions
• Familiarity with relevant standards (e.g., MIL STD, AS9100) and environmental test protocols.
• Proficiency with engineering tools such as CAD, FEA, and requirements/ model-based systems engineering tools 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:

Pay Range:

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.