Branch Manager Applied Engineering

Leidos is seeking a senior engineering leader to serve as the Applied Engineering integrator for a high-visibility low-rate developmental aerospace vehicle test program. This role is an enabler and organizational force multiplier who ensures the enterprise can repeatedly execute a complex build integrate test and operate cycle without organizational friction becoming the pacing item. The successful candidate blends deep technical credibility in aerospace systems development integration and modeling with strong business operations acumen and administrative leadership translating engineering and manufacturing realities into clear decision-ready information for program and functional leadership.

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 worlds toughest security challenges for customers with cant fail missions. To explore and learn more click here!

Manufacturing and Operational Readiness

• Track how developmental aerospace hardware moves from engineering definition through fabrication assembly integration test field operations and flight and independently assess whether manufacturing and operations teams are truly ready rather than relying solely on schedule or status reporting.
• Identify unplanned constraints early tooling facilities work instructions personnel training material test equipment inspection capacity configuration transportation and range support and drive resolution without directly managing the manufacturing organization.

Vehicle Integration and Test Leadership

• Apply hands-on experience in complex aerospace vehicle integration across propulsion structures avionics electrical systems GNC software instrumentation and/or energetic systems.
• Lead integration sequencing interface management configuration control test planning verification discrepancy resolution and retest; distinguish between a component being complete and being integration-ready.
• Support environmental functional ground captive-carry/range and flight-test activities always protecting downstream integration and test milestones.

Cross-Functional Integration

• Operate fluently across engineering manufacturing supply chain quality mission assurance operations finance contracts security facilities and IT and with senior leadership.
• Navigate Leidos business processes and tailor reporting to organizational requirements; build relationships that secure organizational support quickly.
• Judge when to resolve an issue informally when to stand up a repeatable process and when to escalate creating clarity across boundaries without requiring formal authority over every stakeholder.

Procurement and Supply Chain Fluency

• Understand the mechanics of procurement requirements definition requisitions sourcing RFQs supplier selection purchase orders lead times subcontracts receiving inspection nonconformance and supplier performance.
• Differentiate normal procurement cycle time from an emerging program threat and maintain a focused critical-material view rather than exhaustive reporting on every purchase.
• Work constructively with procurement to keep long-lead and schedule-critical items visible and prioritized.

Organizational Responsiveness

• Anticipate demand on shared enterprise resources (specialty engineering quality procurement facilities security test assets transportation technicians) before they become emergencies.
• Translate program needs into specific actionable requests to functional organizations and follow through on commitments without creating a parallel management structure.
• Respectfully challenge organizational processes when cycle time is incompatible with program needs.

Business Operations and Administrative Leadership

• Own high-value low-burden reporting: convert detailed program information into concise audience-tailored reporting that emphasizes exceptions trends decisions dependencies and required actions.
• Leverage existing program data rather than standing up duplicate reporting systems and shield engineers and operations personnel from unnecessary administrative churn.
• Develop a small set of meaningful indicators covering vehicle readiness critical procurements integration/test readiness organizational dependencies and emerging constraints.
• Provide business operations senior leadership for the Advanced Materials & Test Division including budget awareness staffing and resource planning and administrative processes that keep the technical organization running smoothly.

Schedule and Dependency Management

• Understand integrated schedules and critical-path thinking without needing to be the program scheduler; recognize second- and third-order dependencies.
• Recognize that a modest slip in an upstream activity can have outsized effects when it consumes integration or test margin and focus attention on true schedule drivers rather than treating every late activity equally.

Problem Solving and Leadership Posture

• Bring forward fully framed problems impact affected vehicle organizations involved realistic paths forward and the decision or support needed with a timeframe rather than simply reporting issues.
• Strengthen the Program Manager and Chief Engineer rather than compete with them; operate effectively through influence give credit freely and take ownership of messy cross-organizational problems.
• Know when to intervene and when to stay out of the teams way; represent the programs interests without creating another decision authority; elevate programmatic or technical decisions to the appropriate leader.

In addition to program integration duties this role carries direct people-management responsibility for engineers and section leads within the Applied Engineering branch.

• Serve as the direct-line manager for assigned section leads and engineers providing day-to-day people leadership separate from program task direction.
• Conduct regular one-on-ones with all direct reports to discuss workload career development performance and roadblocks.
• Mentor and develop section leads building their ability to manage their own teams run technical reviews and interface with program leadership.
• Own the performance management cycle for direct reports: goal-setting mid-year and annual reviews and documented feedback.
• Make and defend promotion recommendations ensuring they are well-justified calibrated across peers and aligned with corporate leveling guidelines.
• Recommend and administer merit increases and compensation actions in coordination with HR ensuring internal equity and market competitiveness.
• Support recruiting interviewing and onboarding to grow the branchs bench strength ahead of future program needs.
• Identify training certification and development opportunities for engineers and section leads including rotational or stretch assignments.
• Address performance issues and interpersonal conflicts within the branch promptly and constructively escalating to HR when appropriate.
• Balance branch staffing and workload across multiple programs or projects in coordination with other functional and program managers.
• Foster a healthy branch culture psychological safety technical rigor and pride of ownership that supports retention or high-performing engineers.

• Bachelors degree in Materials Science Mechanical Manufacturing Chemical or Aerospace Engineering or similar degree from an ABET-accredited institution
• BS degree and 12 years MS degree and 10 years or PhD and 8 years of total professional experience
• Experience in project management including cost schedule and technical direction responsibilities
• 5 years of experience leading technical teams
• 3 years of experience with direct personnel management including hiring employee development appraisals and staff assignment coordination responsibilities
• Must be a resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate to the Huntsville AL or surrounding area
• Working knowledge of manufacturing readiness procurement/supply chain fundamentals configuration management and integrated scheduling.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to tailor technical information for executive and cross-functional audiences.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the security clearance required for the program; U.S. citizenship required.

• Demonstrated experience integrating and testing complex aerospace vehicles or systems in a developmental (not solely mature-production) environment.
• Experience with hypersonic missile launch vehicle or other low-rate developmental flight test programs.
• Prior experience in a Chief of Staff Integration Lead Deputy Program Manager or similar force-multiplier role supporting a Program Manager and Chief Engineer.
• Familiarity with environmental functional ground captive-carry/range and flight-test operations.
• Business operations background (budgeting resource management business rhythms) in addition to technical engineering experience.

• Manufacturing and operational readiness assessment
• Vehicle integration and test leadership
• Cross-functional influence without direct authority
• Procurement and supply-chain fluency
• Organizational responsiveness and stakeholder management
• Business operations and administrative leadership
• Schedule and dependency intuition
• Comfort with developmental ambiguity
• Structured problem-solving and executive communication
• Supporting leadership posture and influence-based leadership

If youre looking for comfort keep scrolling. At Leidos we outthink outbuild and outpace the status quo because the mission demands it. Were not hiring followers. Were recruiting the ones who disrupt provoke and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. Were already at step 30 and moving faster than anyone else dares.

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand 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.