A&D Director/Chief Architect, SME

R-00180567

Description

A&D Director / Chief Architect, SME

Location: Colorado Springs, CO (On-site)

Make a Meaningful Impact with Leidos

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the dedication of our diverse and talented teams. We empower our people, strengthen our communities, and operate with integrity and sustainability. Guided by our Mission, Vision, and Values, we are committed to doing what’s right—for our customers, our employees, and the world around us.

Your greatest work is ahead.

We are seeking an accomplished Chief Architect and Design Lead to support the NISSC III program. In this role, you will work with mission-critical systems essential to spaceflight safety and national security. This is a full-time, high-visibility position for a technical leader who thrives in complex environments and is passionate about excellence in system architecture and design.

If you have a keen eye for detail, a commitment to high standards, and a desire to contribute to a dynamic and innovative environment, we want you on our team.

Responsibilities: 

• Serve as the single point of contact for system architecture and design across the NISSC III program
  
• Establish and maintain in-depth design knowledge of the NISSC III programs
  
• Analyze, develop, and maintain sustainment-covered requirements in collaboration with the Government Program Office 
  
• Maintain requirements documentation and metadata, including traceability, within a Digital Engineering environment
  
• Conduct system analysis, requirements development, design reviews, root cause analysis, and impact assessments 
  
• Recommend corrective or mitigating actions to resolve technical issues
  
• Execute Technical Baseline Integrity tasks to identify, evaluate, and mitigate risks to system sustainment of NISSC III covered systems 
  
• Review, validate, and release configuration items—including documents and drawings—while identifying gaps or discrepancies 
  
• Verifies conformance to specifications, drawings, interface control documents, as defined with the program’s configuration management
  
• Audit system modifications, installations, hardware, and software against baseline artifacts 
  
• Support Engineering Review Boards (ERBs) and Configuration Control Boards (CCBs); ensure timely submission of required reports
  
• Assist in documenting and implementing hardware, software, and network configuration management processes and procedures
  
• Ensuring compliance with contractual requirements and applicable government standards, including: 
  
  • Correct markings 
    
  • Security labels 
    
  • Distribution statements 
    
• Perform leadership roles for the NISSC III contract. 
  
• Other tasking as required 
  

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field with 12+ years of relevant experience; Additional experience, training, and/or certifications may substitute degree requirement.
  
• Strong desire to grow and learn new technologies in the missile warning and space systems fields.  
  
• Demonstrated experience writing and editing government documentation.    
  
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a collaborative team in a highly dynamic work environment.  
  
• Demonstrated creative and technical initiative and resourcefulness.  
  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools including Microsoft Suite and SharePoint and other Document Management, Engineering and Collaboration Tools. 
  
• Ability to lead and mentor more junior systems engineers. 
  
• US Citizen; Currently possessing an Active DoD Secret clearance with ability to upgrade to TS/SCI upon hire.  
  

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree in related field with 10+ years of experience
  
• Active DoD TS/SCI clearance.  
  
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to communicate and advocate discipline-related knowledge, services, and programs.
  
• Proven experience managing and delivering projects on schedule and within budget
  
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall)
  
• Deep technical knowledge of software development, engineering, and networking concepts
  
• Significant experience with Space Force systems and elements
  
• Experience working in a Digital Engineering environment; familiarity with NoMagic CAMEO is a plus
  

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: April 10, 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: 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.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com .

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits .

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com .

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission .

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.