Program Director

Leidos
Vista, CA, United States

Engineering
Full-time
program director
engineering program manager
project management

Our job summary

The Program Director leads cross-functional engineering teams to manage project scope, schedule, and budget while driving new product development and overseeing program objectives. This role requires strong technical and leadership skills to manage risks, coordinate stakeholders, and communicate complex challenges to diverse audiences. Candidates typically have an engineering background with experience in hardware and software development, project management, and process improvement in government or highly regulated industries.

Description

Leidos Civil Group helps modernize infrastructure, systems, and security. We are a trusted partner to both government and highly-regulated commercial customers looking for transformative solutions in mission IT, security, software, engineering, and operations. We work with our customers including the FAA, DOE, NASA, National Science Foundation, Transportation Security Administration, Custom and Border Protection, airports, and electric utilities to make the world safer, healthier, and more efficient. Our customers take on the toughest challenges out there, and at times need a helping hand from specialists in their fields. We combine our scale as a Fortune 500 company with the deep technical knowledge of our core capabilities and the expertise of our talented and diverse workforce to deliver mission-centric innovations. For each of these core capabilities, we have developed proven, repeatable processes that help us deliver agile, cost-effective solutions to foster a better world.

Are you ready to join a team dedicated to a mission? Begin your journey of a flourishing and meaningful career, share your resume with us today!

The Challenge:

The Engineering Program Manager is the key point of contact for the program:
Responsible for project scope, schedule and budget
Drive both the engineering team, as well as the cross-functional team to achieve program objectives.
Lead the team through the New Product Introduction lifecycle phases including requirements, concept development, design reviews, V&V and release to production.
Lead program meetings, technical meetings, program reviews and gate reviews.
Work with the team to identify and manage program risks
Prioritize team efforts to meet the program schedule
Lead and influence cross-functional teams to accomplish program goals.
Communicate regularly and clearly to internal and external program stakeholders
Be able to explain technical challenges and risks to a non-technical audience

What Sets You Apart:

BS/BA in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or similar and 4+ years of experience. May consider additional years of experience in lieu of a degree.
Previous experience as a program manager involving hardware and software development.
Strong planning skills including defining requirements, time estimating, stakeholder at each phase of project, documentation, and testing.
Broad Engineering background sufficient to analyze design data related to electrical, software, mechanical, and physical science disciplines. Position requires working with subject matter experts to make design trade-offs with respect to cost and performance.
Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills are required for effective interface with all internal and external contacts.
Highly motivated, resourceful and creative solution finder
US Citizenship required

You Might Also Have:

PMP certification
Experience with Agile software development practice
Experience working with teams on product development of algorithms, imaging systems or trace analysis systems, software and network solutions
Hands-on design engineering experience with the development, and production of electronics equipment for use in medical devices, government security and/or military applications, or similar

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:

December 16, 2025

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 $73,450.00 - $132,775.00

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 LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.

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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