Leidos

Systems Engineer (SME)

Bethesda, MD Full time

Leidos has a new and exciting opportunity for a Systems Engineer - SME in our National Security Sector's (NSS) Cyber & Analytics Business Area (CABA).  Our talented team is at the forefront in Security Engineering, Computer Network Operations (CNO), Mission Software, Analytical Methods and Modeling, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Cryptographic Key Management. At Leidos, we offer competitive benefits, including Paid Time Off, 11 paid Holidays, 401K with a 6% company match and immediate vesting, Flexible Schedules, Discounted Stock Purchase Plans, Technical Upskilling, Education and Training Support, Parental Paid Leave, and much more.  Join us and make a difference in National Security!   

Systems Engineers on this program monitor operations and collect and evaluate metrics to manage IT infrastructure services and for inclusion into project KPIs and Service Level Agreements (SLA). They perform risk assessments, risk mitigation analysis, vendor trade studies, and prepare appropriate documentation to ensure IT infrastructure services are available according to established SLAs. They are also responsible for ensuring continuity of operations including disaster recovery.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Serve as the primary technical authority for Linux bases infrastructure, providing expert guidance on architecture, configuration, and optimization across enterprise environments

  • Lead root cause analysis and resolution of complex OS, kernel and performance issues.

  • Installation, configuration, administration, support, and maintenance of systems, including associated hardware and cloud resources.

  • Design, implement, and maintain high-availability Linux systems (RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu) supporting mission-critical applications with 99.99% uptime

  • Maintaining enterprise Linux server infrastructure to ensure proper configuration, availability, performance, capacity, and maintenance (including application of the latest patches and upgrades).

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate Linux systems with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid infrastructure.

  • Develop and enforce system hardening standards aligned with DISA STIGs, CIS benchmarks and organizational security policies

  • Monitors technology obsolescence, manages upgrades, and evaluates alternatives across on-premises and cloud IT infrastructures, both virtual and physical.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Must be a US citizen and have an active TS/SCI with a polygraph

  • Expert applying expertise and supporting a broad range of assignments requiring originality and innovation in determining how to accomplish tasks.

  • Expert in developing methodologies and presenting solutions to problems.

  • Mastery in contributing to deliverables and meeting performance metrics.

  • Expert with active directory, windows servers, and virtualization technologies

  • Ability and availability to provide on-call support

  • Must have a Master's degree with 15+ years of prior relevant experience or Doctorate with 13+ years of prior relevant experience

CABARESTON

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 9, 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 $154,050.00 - $278,475.00

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.