Chief Operating Officer (COO) – HR3DGI Program
Location: Alexandria, VA
Looking for an opportunity to make an impact at a global scale?
Join the Leidos Defense Sector, where our teams support “can’t fail” missions that protect national security across the world. We deliver operational excellence, advanced geospatial capabilities, and integrated airborne ISR solutions through collaboration, innovation, and dedication to our customers. Everything we do is rooted in our Mission, Vision, and Values—and driven by our commitment to doing what’s right.
About the Role
Leidos has an opening for a Chief Operating Officer (COO) supporting a contractor‑owned, contractor‑operated manned aircraft program headquartered in Alexandria, VA. This position plays a critical leadership role within the High‑Resolution 3‑Dimensional Geospatial Imaging (HR3DGI) program—one of the largest and most advanced airborne geospatial collection efforts in the world.
HR3DGI is a complex operations and technology integration program executed across multiple Combatant Commands (COCOMs). Leidos serves as the sole provider of manned airborne collection, processing, and dissemination of high‑resolution 3D geospatial data worldwide. As COO, you will report directly to the Program Manager and serve as the primary operational liaison to Government Program Managers, military partners, and program stakeholders at CONUS and OCONUS locations.
You will lead daily operations across multiple deployed and CONUS sites, oversee collection management, manage personnel, and ensure the program maintains operational readiness and mission success. This role supervises 8–10 Site Operations Managers and coordinates across a program team of 100+ deployed personnel, including direct‑report managers for Flight, Ground, and Technical Processing operations.
This position is based in Northern Virginia (Alexandria, VA). Regular travel to local customer sites (Fort Belvoir) is required, with infrequent OCONUS travel.
Primary Responsibilities
Lead and supervise daily operations across multiple sites, including mobilization and re‑mobilization activities
Manage all deployed airborne flight operations, collection activities, and onsite processing
Oversee administration, aircraft maintenance, logistics, facilities, communications, operational systems, and vendor subcontracts
Coordinate planning, scope development, design, and direction of daily operational tasks
Maintain operational oversight of staff, equipment, aircraft, and mission systems
Develop, refine, and implement operating procedures to ensure safe, effective operations
Partner with QA/QC teams to support Government audits (GFR via AR95‑20, DCMA 8210.1D)
Team with Lead Pilots and Chief Pilots for flight operations; team with Lead Mechanics and Director of Maintenance for ground operations
Maintain a monthly Operational Readiness Rate of 90% or higher per aircraft
Enforce flight and ground safety, regulatory compliance, and operational standards
Support CONUS resource managers with scheduling, logistics, procurement, and pre‑deployment coordination
Resolve operational issues or conflicts quickly and communicate effectively with the customer and program leadership
Develop site standup, shutdown, mobilization plans with accurate lead times and briefings for PMO and customer staff
Perform all duties necessary to ensure responsiveness and readiness of the HR3DGI program
Required Qualifications
Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility
Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of directly relevant experience (additional experience or training may substitute for degree)
Minimum 4 years of direct experience in operations‑focused management roles
Experience leading, managing, or supporting deployed/OCONUS teams
Ability to obtain a passport and travel internationally
Willingness to travel OCONUS to Hazard and Hardship locations on short notice
Ability to meet all program and DoD medical/contractual training requirements for deployment, including CRC requirements
Knowledge of airborne ISR and geospatial collection systems
Strong understanding of military operations, terminology, and the Joint Military Decision Making Process (JMDP)
Ability to maintain working knowledge of airborne collection platforms and remote sensing payload capabilities
Understanding of flight and ground operating procedures with ability to manage department leads
Strong communication skills with ability to provide rapid, accurate operational feedback to program leadership and customer
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work independently with minimal direction
Proficiency with Microsoft Office—PowerPoint, Project, Excel, and Word
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree and 6+ years of relevant experience
Special Operations Aviation or Aviation Management experience
Previous ISR operations experience
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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.
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.
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.