Principal Mission Engineering Analyst
Leidos
Listing collected from Leidos's career site. NextChapter is independent of Leidos.
Reston, VA · Posted November 9, 2026
Just laid off? Start here: a plan for the first weeks
More in Virginia job market · Technology & Software · Engineering jobs
More roles at Leidos
- Data Scientist · Odenton, MD
- Senior Program Financial Analyst · Huntsville, AL
- Configuration Management Analyst · Huntsville, AL
- Senior Analytic Developer (SWE-3)
- Research Engineer · Pittsburgh, PA
- Material Planning Manager · Reston, VA
Similar jobs
- Principal Modeling & Simulation Software Engineer · Trinzic · Reston, VA
- Principal Modeling & Simulation Engineer · Trinzic · Reston, VA
- Senior Principal Full Stack Engineer · DigiCert · Sterling, VA
- Principal/Senior Principal Systems Engineer * · Northrop Grumman Systems · Fairfax, VA
- Senior Principal Systems Engineer * · Northrop Grumman Systems · Fairfax, VA
- Principal Electrical Systems Engineer · TalentRemedy · Herndon, VA
Where Reston, VA ranks
Where Reston, VA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #1Best cities for operations pay after cost of living$177k · of 41
- #1Best all-round cities for remote workers in the Mid-Atlantic93 / 100 · of 37
- #1Best all-round cities for remote workers in the Southeast93 / 100 · of 33
- #2Best all-round cities for mid-career professionals in the Southeast75 / 100 · of 33
- #3Best cities for AI-skill jobs in the Southeast17% · of 87
- #3Best all-round cities for mid-career professionals in the Mid-Atlantic77 / 100 · of 37
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
Leidos has filed 4 layoff notices in the last twelve months, covering 404 workers, most recently September 2026. These are public filings with state labor departments, and an open role can sit alongside them. See the filings
Skills this job asks for
Say which you have and which you want to build. We use it to match you to jobs like this one.
About the job
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).
AppKinetic
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
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.