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Mechanical Engineer

Leidos · Huntsville, ALtoday
$70k – $126kfrom the posting

BS-level Process Engineering roles on Crosslinked list a median of $111k (537 that show pay).

Support Thermal Protection System manufacturing and integration for the hypersonic glide body program

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Worth knowing

Why it is interesting. Direct exposure to hypersonic glide body thermal protection manufacturing in a low-rate initial production environment.

Might not be for you. Requires second-shift (3-11 PM) support for the first nine months and 20% travel to Colorado Springs.

GeneralistFast-paced First industry roleBS acceptable

Adjacent materials roleExperience in composite design, analysis, or manufacturing (preferred); Thermal Protection System installation and integration

H-1B filings

Leidos filed 12 H-1B labor applications for scientist and engineer roles from Jan to Dec 2025.

Most common titles: Research Scientist, Computational Material Scientist, Multiphase Computational Scientist. Median filed pay: $112K a year.

From U.S. Department of Labor disclosure data. A filing is a record of past hiring, not a promise about this role, so confirm sponsorship with the employer. Titles and filed pay ·Every employer's filings

Seniority
Entry level
Work
On-site
Type
Full-time
Degree
BS
Experience
2+ yrs
Industry
Defense
Role
Process Engineering
Schedule
Night shift
Clearance
Ability to obtain
Benefits
equity/stock

Role details

Description

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 sustainably. 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!

Leidos’ Defense Systems is seeking a talented Mechanical Engineer for its Hypersonics line of business. With offices across the United States engaging in the defense, space, cyber and commercial fields, Leidos provides responsive, cost-effective engineering, scientific and IT solutions. The selected candidate will support the Thermal Protection System (TPS) program of the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (CHGB). The CHGB is the Army’s #1 priority for strategic weapons capability for long-range precision fires and will counter and gain a lead on our adversaries' technological advances in this field. Come join us in this exciting, cutting-edge field!

A successful candidate will develop a strong understanding of product requirements and work closely with manufacturing teams to solve multidisciplinary problems in a fast-paced, low-rate initial production (LRIP) environment. The candidate will apply technical knowledge and engineering judgment across assigned areas to identify issues, evaluate solutions, and support the resolution of technical and production issues for the products they support.

This role will provide broad exposure to the processes and key characteristics of assigned product lines while requiring coordination across multiple disciplines, including design engineering, manufacturing engineering, process control, and Material Review Board (MRB) activities. The candidate will also collaborate with suppliers to resolve technical and production issues and support continuous improvement and cost-reduction initiatives.

A primary measure of success in this role is effectively supporting the production team in achieving on-time delivery of compliant products with complete flight traceability.

The selected candidate will need to support second-shift manufacturing operations (3:00 PM–11:00 PM CST) for approximately the first nine months of the role, transitioning to first-shift operations support (7:00 AM–3:00 PM CST) thereafter, with occasional second-shift support (~5% of the time). Approximately 20% of the time will be spent traveling to the Colorado Springs, CO based manufacturing location.

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!

Are you ready to make an impact? Share your resume with us today!

Primary Responsibilities.

  • Support mechanical engineering activities for the Thermal Protection System.
  • Work with the design agent to incorporate design changes that enhance manufacturability, quality, and production efficiency.
  • Collaborate with operations teams to identify, investigate, and support resolution of technical issues and production bottlenecks impacting manufacturing flow and delivery.
  • Work closely with manufacturing engineering to support the development and refinement of work instructions and identify opportunities to improve production processes.
  • Provide direct support to technicians during Thermal Protection System installation and integration activities, including periodic onsite work within classified environments (~10% of time).
  • Support the evaluation and disposition of nonconforming hardware and participate in Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations.
  • Support the Failure Review Board (FRB) process to resolve technical issues.
  • Support communication with customers and internal stakeholders regarding technical status, engineering activities, and manufacturing issues.

Basic Qualifications.

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution with 2+ years of relevant experience or a high school diploma with 6+ years of relevant experience.
  • Familiarity with 3D CAD tools such as Creo, CATIA, AutoCAD, or SolidWorks.
  • Working knowledge of ASME Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) principles, including the ability to perform tolerance stack-up analyses.
  • Understanding of engineering drawings, specifications, and configuration management processes.
  • Experience supporting the identification, troubleshooting, and resolution of technical issues in a manufacturing or production environment.
  • Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects and assignments while meeting challenging deadlines.
  • Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
  • Self-starter with a demonstrated ability to work independently and collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Ability to travel to the Colorado Springs, CO based manufacturing location up to 20% of the time.
  • Ability to support second-shift manufacturing operations (3:00 PM–11:00 PM CST) for approximately the first nine months of the role, with occasional second-shift support (~5% of the time) thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications.

  • Active Secret security clearance.
  • Experience supporting DoD programs related to missile systems, reentry vehicles, or hypersonic technologies.
  • Experience with the design, integration, or manufacturing of Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) for hypersonic vehicles.
  • Experience in composite design, analysis, or manufacturing.
  • Experience supporting assembly, integration, or testing of missile systems.
  • Experience supporting rapid development, prototyping, or fast-paced engineering programs.
  • Familiarity with AS9100 aerospace quality management systems.
  • Understanding of cost, schedule, and programmatic impacts associated with engineering deliverables.

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

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October 1, 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

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Pay Range $69,550.00 - $125,725.00

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 [email protected].

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.

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Common questions

What is the salary for the Mechanical Engineer role at Leidos?

The listed annual base salary range is $70K–$126K. This figure is taken from the posting itself.

Does Leidos sponsor H-1B visas?

Leidos has filed H-1B petitions with the US Department of Labor in past years, but this specific posting does not explicitly mention sponsorship for the Mechanical Engineer role. Confirm with the employer before applying if visa support is required.

Where is the Mechanical Engineer role at Leidos based?

This role is based in Huntsville, AL.

What degree is required for the Mechanical Engineer role at Leidos?

The posting accepts the following combinations: BS + 2 years, High school + 6 years.

How many years of experience does this Mechanical Engineer role require?

The posting calls for at least 2 years of relevant experience.

What polymers or materials does this Mechanical Engineer role work with?

composites.