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 Hypersonics Systems Division is seeking a Thermal Protection System Deputy Program Manager to join our team.  The Deputy Program Manager will assist the Program Manager in leadership of all program management functions related to special funded efforts under our Thermal Protection System Program. The position will have responsibility for planning, tracking, and execution of complex tasking within technical, schedule, and budget constraints. The program involves advanced high temperature and composite materials manufacturing, characterization, and testing. The program also involves management complexity related to performance by a group of subcontracted team members, interactions with multiple government organization as part of a “badge-less” team, several geographically dispersed places of performance, and a complex multi-agency customer set including AvMC, Sandia National Labs, Navy, and Army.

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, hypersonic weapon system solutions, 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.

• A strong technical background in high temperature materials and/or composite systems with at least 5 years of experience in managing testing, planning, and scheduling in support of complex technical programs.
• Evaluate and guide daily execution activities in support of the program manager
• Lead IPT meetings and set expectations for project team
• Routinely evaluate program technical and programmatic metrics to ensure successful execution
• Manage risk and identify opportunities at the IPT level including working with the IPT to develop mitigation strategies and plans to realize opportunities
• Identify capability or process gaps and provide recommendations for improvement
• Actively participate in change management including developing business cases for changes recommended by the IPT, assessing supply chain vulnerability related to contemplated changes and incorporating changes approved by the Change Control Board
• Coordinate program activities across multiple functional activities.
• Foster intra-project coordination and communication
• Aid program manager in mitigating cost, schedule, and technical risks related to materials used on the program
• Plan and execute a hardware centric project
• Creates project plans
• Maintains project objectives
• Define tasks and required resources
• Assist with assembling and managing project team
• Work with program schedulers to maintain schedule
• Oversight of the technical scope under the assigned control accounts
• Oversight of the control account budgets and schedules:
  • Variance analysis (SPI/CPI/TCPI)
  • Schedule analysis (BEI/CEI)
  • BCR submittals
  • Status of work package tasks under assigned control account
  • Validation of actual costs charged to the assigned control accounts
  • Development and implementation of corrective actions
  • Generation of timely Estimated to Completes (ETC)
• Coordinating release of work authorizations to team members
• Development, management, and coordination of various informational products to support:
  • Weekly Program Management Reviews (PMRs)
  • Weekly senior management meetings
  • Monthly internal and external programmatic reviews
  • Customer IPT meetings
  • Tracking and providing status of internal and external action items

Basic Qualifications.  

BA degree in Engineering or equivalent and 8-12 years of prior relevant experience or Masters with 6-10 years of prior relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications.

• Experience supporting a multi-year development/production program valuing more than $100M.
• Flight Programs (Missile, Space Launch or Rocket launch systems)
• Cost estimating and Budget management
• Organizational/IPT development
• Leading a large and diverse team including suppliers and subcontractors
• Disciplined metric-driven program management
• Proven experience managing and meeting tight schedules
• Effective communication of information between various functional disciplines as well as strong briefing skill with Sr. Gov’t customers (SES, General Staff) and C level leadership.
• Proficient using Microsoft Excel, Word, Project, and PowerPoint
• Strong understanding of hardware development, manufacturing, procurement, production, and integration
• Experience successfully leading in an IPT organizational structure focused on engineering design, manufacturing and/or supply chain activities desirable
• Project management qualification (PMP) or equivalent is desirable
• Experience in strategic and tactical planning is desirable
• Proven leadership skills
• Proven history of working in a team environment, fostering communication, listening to teammate concerns and reconciling internal issues or differences
• Proven ability to solicit and process complex information and data to solve complex problems and make sound decisions
• Strong interpersonal skills with measured and articulate communication skills
• Analytical and strong organizational skills, with excellent verbal and written ability

At Leidos, we don’t want someone who "fits the mold"—we want someone who melts it down and builds something better. This is a role for the restless, the over-caffeinated, the ones who ask, “what’s next?” before the dust settles on “what’s now.”

If you’re already scheming step 20 while everyone else is still debating step 2… good. You’ll fit right in.

Original Posting:

January 6, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $92,300.00 - $166,850.00

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.