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 RF Systems UAS Portfolio is seeking a UAS Datalinks Interoperability Engineer to lead and manage interoperability requirements in support of Army Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) programmatic and operational goals. The ideal candidate will serve as a subject matter expert (SME) with a strong background in systems engineering and in-depth knowledge of tactical datalink waveforms. This role involves coordinating with a diverse set of stakeholders, including multi-service contributors such as Common Data Link (CDL), multinational partners such as NATO, and various Department of Defense (DOD) organizations to ensure compatibility, performance, and compliance across a wide range of Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) and Line of Sight (LOS) communication technologies. This position plays a key role in defining, developing, and ensuring cross-platform datalink compatibility to support current and future Army UAS capabilities.

If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

Leidos Defense 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

• Serve as the lead for UAS datalink interoperability requirements, ensuring alignment across platforms and operational environments.
• Develop and manage system-level requirements for tactical datalink waveforms, including DDL, ADDL, DDL-Lite, Std-CDL, BE-CDL, and SATCOM (per MIL-STD-188 and related standards).
• Facilitate and lead working group meetings, engaging stakeholders from UAS program offices and industry to coordinate, define, and resolve issues related to the integration, interoperability, and performance of datalink systems.
• Monitor emerging technologies impacting UAS datalinks and provide technical assessments and recommendations for future capabilities and compliance.
• Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs), system architecture diagrams, and requirements traceability matrices.
• Collaborate with test and evaluation teams to define and verify interoperability metrics.
• Support Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) initiatives by contributing to the development, refinement, and maintenance of system models that facilitate requirements definition, traceability, and analysis.

Basic Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering or a related STEM field from an accredited institution with 8- 12 years of applicable experience or Masters with 6 - 10 years of prior relevant experience
• 'Working knowledge of one or more tactical datalink technologies, including DDL, ADDL, DDL-Lite, Std-CDL, BE-CDL, SATCOM, or systems compliant with MIL-STD-188.
• Proven ability to lead technical meetings, coordinate working groups, and document actionable outcomes.
• Strong understanding of RF communications, datalink architectures, and network protocols.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must possess and be able to maintain a Secret clearance.
• Must be a resident of Huntsville, AL or willing to relocate to the Huntsville, AL area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with UAS platforms, tactical communication systems, or participation in DoD interoperability assessments.
• Proficiency in MBSE practices and familiarity with SysML or related modeling languages and tools.

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:
March 5, 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 $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

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.