Structural Engineering Research Jobs in Washington, DC

Leidos is seeking an experienced Structural Engineer to support a critical national security mission focused on the characterization, analysis, and assessment of hardened, underground, and protective facilities. This role offers the opportunity to apply advanced engineering expertise to some of the most challenging and complex problems in the defense and intelligence community.

As a key member of a multidisciplinary team, you will combine structural engineering knowledge, intelligence analysis, geospatial data, and innovative problem-solving techniques to evaluate facilities, infrastructure, and protective systems worldwide. Your work will directly contribute to high-priority mission objectives and inform senior-level decision-making.

The ideal candidate is a technically strong engineer who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys solving complex problems with incomplete information, and possesses exceptional attention to detail, analytical rigor, and intellectual curiosity.

• Conduct advanced structural engineering analysis, research, and modeling of buildings, underground facilities, and protective structures.

• Evaluate structural performance related to blast resistance, penetration resistance, damage tolerance, durability, dynamic loading, stability, fatigue, and overall structural capacity.

• Integrate all-source intelligence, geotechnical information, topographical data, and engineering expertise to characterize facility missions, layouts, construction methods, and vulnerabilities.

• Develop comprehensive facility assessments, including mission systems, support infrastructure, physical configurations, and detailed 3D models.

• Apply engineering judgment and technical leadership throughout the characterization process to produce accurate, defensible intelligence assessments.

• Develop innovative solutions to highly complex technical challenges through research, modeling, and application of engineering best practices.

• Provide technical guidance and subject matter expertise to multidisciplinary teams.

• Brief senior government leaders and decision-makers on engineering findings, trends, risks, and mission impacts.

• Collaborate closely with government and contractor personnel in a fast-paced, mission-focused environment.

• Clearance Required: Active TS/SCI (or Top Secret with current SSBI and eligibility to obtain TS/SCI with polygraph). U.S. Citizenship required.

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Protective Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of relevant experience, or master's degree with 6+ years of relevant experience.

• Demonstrated expertise in applying advanced engineering principles across complex technical programs.

• Recognized subject matter expertise in one or more of the following disciplines:

  • Structural Engineering

  • Structural Dynamics

  • Blast-Resistant Design

  • Damage Tolerance

  • Composite Materials

  • Mechanical Design

• Proven ability to solve complex, ambiguous problems through technical analysis, critical thinking, and innovation.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting technical information to senior leaders and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with protective engineering, force protection, or hardened facility design.

• Proficiency with Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD, BIM tools, and related modeling workflows.

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.

• Military, defense, or intelligence community experience.

• Knowledge of operational planning and mission analysis.

• Construction experience involving:

  • Tunneling and underground facilities

  • Large-scale excavations

  • Industrial facilities

  • Protective or hardened structures

• Understanding of mechanical, electrical, and life-safety systems within commercial, government, or industrial facilities.

• Experience with manufacturing, fabrication, assembly, warehouse operations, or facility workflow design.

• Knowledge of weapons effects, including blast, thermal, and fragmentation impacts.

• Background in geology or geotechnical engineering.

Why Join Leidos?

At Leidos, you'll work at the intersection of engineering, intelligence, and national security-solving challenges that demand technical excellence, creativity, and collaboration. This role offers the opportunity to influence mission-critical decisions, work alongside top experts in the field, and apply your engineering expertise to projects with real-world impact.

If you're ready to tackle some of the most complex structural engineering challenges in support of national security, we invite you to join our team.