Principal Mission Engineering Analyst at Leidos in Reston

Principal Mission Engineering Analyst

Location: Reston, VA

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact?

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.

Your greatest work is ahead!

The Defense Sector Office of Technology is seeking an experienced Principal Mission Engineering Analyst. As a Mission Engineering Analyst you will be required to develop solutions that are highly innovative and achieved through research and integration of industry best practices. The ideal candidate will have experience modeling multi-domain operational scenarios in the Advance Framework for Simulation, Integration, and Modeling (AFSIM) software with a deep understanding of military operations at the mission and/or campaign level. You will work alongside other technical leaders to develop complex, representative scenarios, integrate Leidos software within the AFSIM framework, and conduct innovative analysis. You will influence development of solutions that impact strategic project/program goals and business results. You will resolve highly complex problems using significant application of technical knowledge, conceptualizing, reasoning and interpretation. You will interact daily with various technical resources across different vendors which are fulfilling technical requirements for the customer. This role offers the opportunity to make significant contributions to our projects and gain hands-on experience in a cutting-edge technology environment.

Primary Responsibilities:

• • Develop models of multi-domain systems of systems and software in mission-level simulations using AFSIM, with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making.
  • Create advanced models of space, air, maritime, and ground systems and their behaviors. Conduct model evaluation and validation.
  • Apply Object-Oriented Programming techniques to maximize M&S environment scalability and extensibility
  • Analyze simulation results to communicate system and software effectiveness in-context of their real-world applications.
  • Collaborate with SMEs, software engineers, and analysts in the Defense Sector and across Leidos to maximize Operational Analysis activity productivity
  • Participate in code reviews and provide constructive feedback to peers to maintain high coding standards
  • Document model development processes, results, and best practices for knowledge sharing and reproducibility
  • Stay updated with the latest advancements in AFSIM capabilities
  • Assists in creating technical documentation and presentations to communicate findings and progress to stakeholders

Basic Qualifications:

• • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Computer Science or related field and 12+ years of prior relevant experience. Masters degree in the above areas and 10+ years is also acceptable.
  • 7+ years of experience in modeling, simulation, and analysis, preferably using AFSIM
  • Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or MATLAB
  • Deep understanding of military operations at the mission and/or campaign level, informed by experience working on DoD programs
  • Expertise in modeling military systems and their behaviors in multiple domains
  • Familiarity with Agile DevSecOps practices
  • Possess strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to troubleshoot complex technical issues and design effective solutions.
  • Possess effective communication and be able to collaborate with Customers, and cross-functional teams, document technical processes, and present solutions to stakeholders.
  • Must be able to prioritize tasks effectively, manage deadlines, and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Excellent organizational skills and keen attention to detail, with the ability to multitask and prioritize effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
  • Enthusiasm for learning and adapting to new technologies and methodologies
  • US citizenship with a Top Secret clearance, SCI eligible
  • This positions requires 50% in office work at one of these locations. You will need to reside within commuting distance of one of these locations.
    • Arlington, Virginia
    • Reston, Virginia
    • Huntsville, Alabama
    • Beavercreek, Ohio
    • San Diego, California

Preferred Qualifications:

• • Masters degree or PhD in a relevant field
  • Experience with programming languages like C, C++, R, or Java and Object-Oriented Programming practices
  • Experience with modeling space-based sensing systems, communications systems, and/or space domain awareness systems
  • Experience modeling military combat scenarios/vignettes
  • Experience integrating multiple tools in a singular environment
  • Agile-based knowledge and skill, including experience with Scrum Ceremonies and work management tools (e.g., (JIRA, Confluence).

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:

September 24, 2026

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.