Leidos is seeking an Associate Chief Engineer to lead a large-scale, complex Software DevOps program, primarily supporting customers within the Department of Justice. This role drives technical execution and strategy, with a primary focus on modern software architecture, DevOps transformation, agility, and solution delivery for the program.

Position Summary:
The Associate Chief Engineer (ACE) provides visionary technical leadership, setting the direction for architecture, design, automation, and operational excellence. This role is responsible for guiding the adoption of emerging technologies, implementing best-in-class DevOps practices, and ensuring execution aligns with mission and business objectives. In coordination and collaboration with the Chief Engineer, the ACE operates as the primary technical authority, collaborating closely with the program management team and key customer stakeholders. This role is ideal for an accomplished technologist and leader passionate about driving DevOps transformation, high-performance architecture, and enterprise IT modernization to achieve customer mission success.

Location:
This position may be remote, though periodic visits to customer sites or the Program Office (within Washington, DC region) are required.

Primary Responsibilities

• Technical Strategy & Architecture: Define the technical architecture for enterprise software solutions, leveraging microservices, containerization, and multi-cloud environments. Evaluate, recommend, and roadmap new technologies, frameworks, and tools for seamless DevOps integration and infrastructure modernization.
• DevOps Leadership & Implementation: Lead the design and implementation of CI/CD pipelines, automated testing frameworks, configuration management, and secure software supply chains. Guide teams through the adoption of infrastructure-as-code, cloud orchestration, and scalable delivery models.
• Customer Engagement: Serve as principal technical advisor and liaison to executive stakeholders, presenting complex technical topics and influencing direction. Develop and present technical responses, whitepapers, and architecture artifacts.
• Oversight & Governance: Chair Engineering Review Board, oversee the review of key technical deliverables, monitor technical risks, and ensure alignment with security, compliance, and quality standards. Prepare and present technical status reports.
• Proposal & Business Development Support: Support capture and proposal activities by developing technical volumes, architectures, and execution strategies for new business opportunities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 12+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, DevOps, or technical leadership.
• Demonstrated experience architecting, deploying, and maintaining enterprise-grade DevOps solutions (automation, CI/CD, Agile, monitoring, etc.).
• Strong technical breadth across modern software development, cloud solutions (AWS, Azure, etc.), containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and infrastructure automation.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams delivering robust, secure, scalable software and infrastructure in a large enterprise environment.
• Project management experience with a track record of delivering complex technical solutions.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage both executive and technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask and operate in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain required government security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a Chief Engineer, Chief Architect, or DevOps Lead for mission-critical programs.
• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field.
• Certifications in cloud, DevOps, or Agile delivery.
• Deep understanding of IT infrastructure, security automation, and ITSM (e.g., ServiceNow) integrations.
• Familiarity with Department of Justice or federal government IT environments.

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:

February 27, 2026

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.