Lead Mass Properties Engineer

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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.

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Leidos’ Defense Systems is seeking a Lead Mass Properties Engineer to join our team to create unique solutions for complex problems.

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, 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

• Control, calculate, and communicate detailed mass properties (weight, balance, and inertia) of various flight vehicles.
• Develop, maintain, and improve Python-based mass properties tools.
• Plan, execute, and document mass properties testing and validation.
• Advise multidisciplinary teams on configuration and design trades to meet weight and balance requirements.
• Facilitate Mass Properties Control Boards and weight reduction teams.

Basic Qualifications

• Candidate must possess a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field from an ABET-accredited university, along with 12+ years of relevant industry experience, or a Master's degree with 10+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Proficiency in calculating the mass properties (mass, 3 axis centers of gravity, moments and products of inertia) of components and performing summation calculations into assemblies; developing simple software tools to perform these calculations.
• Understanding of mass moments of inertia, mass estimating relationships, and mass growth allowances.
• Experience leading mass budgets, risk mitigation, and configuration/change control for flight vehicles.
• Experience measuring weight, center of gravity, and inertia.
• Strong technical writing, presentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• U.S. citizenship and a current Final Secret Clearance—or eligibility to obtain and maintain one.
• Residence in, or willingness to relocate to, the Huntsville, Alabama area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field from an ABET-accredited institution.
• Proficiency in Python or Matlab; experience with data analysis packages such as Pandas or Polars is desired.
• Proficiency in database development such as SQL.
• Experience with Gitlab or Github.
• Experience with structural design or analysis.
• Knowledge and proficiency in applying industry standards (e.g., AIAA S 120 2015, TR-2018-01203, SAWE RP A-7, SAWE RP-9, SAWE RP-10, SAWE RP-11).
• Proficiency with commercial CAD tools (Creo, Solidworks, NX Unigraphics, CATIA, etc.).

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:

August 26, 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 $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

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.