About this opportunity
Leidos lists this Principal Solid Propulsion Development Engineer - Hypersonics opportunity in huntsville, Alabama. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Description
Leidos is seeking a Solid Propulsion Development Engineer to lead and oversee work on a hypersonics vehicle and other programs, joining a diverse team that develops propulsion systems for spacecraft, missile systems, and a wide range of critical technologies for civil, military, and commercial space programs. This individual will work in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary team, interfacing with other project teams within Leidos as well as subcontractors to develop the solid propulsion system for a hypersonic vehicle.
Primary Responsibilities
Serve as technical authority for task focused on design and development of critical propulsion related hardware.
Direct the design, build, and test of prototype solid rocket motor components.
Understand and negotiate design elements with propulsion system suppliers.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or similar from an ABET accredited university.
Minimum of 10-12 years of relevant experience in rocket propulsion development or test engineering roles.
Understanding of functional performance requirements as well as component designs for solid rocket motor applications.
Experience in planning for and supporting ground testing of solid propulsion systems, including thermal characterization, environmental testing, and static firing.
Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a multidisciplinary team, conduct trade studies, and develop analysis & evaluation tools.
Knowledge of applicable standards and regulations, including manufacturing and testing policies and directives.
Able to write clear, concise, and comprehensive technical reports and present results to multi-disciplinary teams and customer stakeholders.
Project planning and scheduling, including selection and management of multiple critical suppliers. Under Basic Qualifications:
Must be resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate to the Huntsville - North Alabama, AL area.
Active Secret security clearance required, with the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance if needed.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or similar from an ABET accredited university.
Development testing experience in a rapid iteration environment.
Experience with DoD, NASA, or other aerospace development projects.
Experience working with government test agencies
Experience with free-jet test testing, especially for solid-fuel ramjet (SFRJ) systems.
Experience with missile systems in a production environment.
Active Top Secret clearance.
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 11, 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.
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
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
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
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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Worksite address
huntsville, AL, 35824, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.