Senior Systems Engineer — Product Owner

Leidos is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer — Product Owner to join the Air Traffic Business Area within the Homeland Sector, supporting the development of the Leidos Common Automation Platform (L-CAP). L-CAP is a mission-critical, future-ready automation platform built on a hybrid cloud data mesh architecture, enabling next-generation air traffic management capabilities. This role operates within a SAFe/Agile framework as part of an Agile Release Train (ART) delivering iterative value across the program. In this position, you will serve as the Product Owner for a development team in an Agile/SAFe environment, owning the team backlog and assisting in the design and implementation of software solutions alongside your team while working with program architects, customer stakeholders, Product Management, and DevSecOps teams. You will translate platform and mission capability needs into testable, prioritized work that the team can deliver predictably in a highly regulated, safety-critical environment.This is a hybrid position requiring 3 days onsite and 2 days working from home, if you are located within a commutable distance (Less than 1 hour's drive one-way during normal traffic) from Gaithersburg, MD; Eagan, MN; or Egg Harbor Township, NJ.However, if you do not reside within a commutable distance, you may be considered for a 100% remote role.This role focuses on building and modernizing real-time, safety-critical systems using a combination of traditional systems engineering and AI-augmented software development practices.

You’ll work on software that directly supports national air traffic operations, applying AI tools to accelerate development, improve quality, and enhance system reliability.Primary ResponsibilitiesOwn and prioritize the backlog for one or more Agile teams, sequencing work based on stakeholder needs, program priorities, and dependencies, and ensuring the development team builds the right functionalityReview program requirement documents, system specifications, and applicable FAA standards and orders to extract intent, constraints, and acceptance criteriaDecompose high-level platform and mission capability needs into specific, testable capability statements (Agile features and stories) with clear acceptance criteriaMaintain traceability from source requirements through features, stories, and verification evidence, ensuring compliance outcomes are demonstrableEngage customer stakeholders to identify use cases with an emphasis on completeness, testability, alignment with operational workflows, and readiness for validation and field activitiesDefine team PI objectives, participate in PI planning and backlog refinement, make timely scope decisions, and accept completed workSystematically capture and communicate design decisions, performance trade-offs, compliance rationales, and risk assessments with each release, enabling reviewers to trace decision-making and provide informed feedbackPrepare and review technical documentation, including use cases, user interface specifications, and interface definitionsCoordinate with the Release Train Engineer, Product Management, systems engineering, and Test and Evaluation to manage dependencies and align delivery with integration and verification milestones Lead and participate in structured reviews and inspectionsBasic QualificationsBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related discipline with 8+ years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 6+ years of relevant experience. (Equivalent experience may be used in lieu of degree)Experience and familiarity with Agile methodology, principles, and toolsExperience in the role of Agile Product Owner, including owning and prioritizing the product backlog, defining complete product backlog items (user stories), making timely decisions on scope, and acceptance of workDemonstrated ability to decompose complex requirements into testable work items with clear, verifiable acceptance criteriaStrong understanding of disciplined engineering processes, including attention to detailPast practical exposure to writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining software or scriptsExperience with the design of cloud-based systemsExperience in engaging customers to understand needs, deliver solutions, manage expectations, and maintain an ongoing relationshipExperience working within a Scaled Agile (SAFe) organization, including PI planning and cross-team coordinationClear and effective verbal and written communicationAbility to obtain and maintain a Public TrustU.S. citizenship requiredSuccessful completion of background investigations as required by the government customerPreferred QualificationsKnowledge of and experience with AI-assisted development workflows and tools (Claude Code, Codex, etc.)Experience with Java, Python, React, and scripting languagesSAFe Product Owner / Product Manager (POPM) certificationKnowledge of and experience with DevSecOps practices and CI/CD pipelinesKnowledge of hybrid cloud data mesh architectures and microservices platformsFamiliarity with MBSE concepts and systems engineering integrationKnowledge of air traffic control systems, air traffic management, general aviation, and/or flight servicesPractical knowledge of FAA/DoD systems, technical policies, standards, and ordersKnowledge of FedRAMP, FISMA, or government security compliance frameworksExperience supporting verification and validation of safety-critical systemsTrack record of successful delivery on large government programsDesired but not required: Commutable distance to Gaithersburg, MD; Eagan, MN; or Egg Harbor Township, NJ.Why Leidos? You’ll work on systems where performance, precision, and reliability matter — every second. This is not experimental AI for prototypes. This is disciplined, responsible AI applied to mission-critical software that supports national infrastructure. If you’re excited by solving complex problems in regulated, real-world environments — and using AI as a force multiplier rather than a shortcut — we’d like to talk. ATMCIf 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 21, 2026For 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 $107,900.00 - $195,050.00The 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.SummaryLocation: Gaithersburg, MD; Eagan, MN; Egg Harbor Township, NJType: Full time