Leidos’ Corporate HR Organization is seeking a Sr. Payroll Operations Specialist to join our Payroll Services team. Our Payroll Services team supports complex payroll operations including union populations, expatriates, and other specialized pay scenarios for US based employees supporting missions around the world.
The Sr. Payroll Operations Specialist serves as a subject matter expert responsible for payroll processing, compliance, issue resolution, audit support, process improvement initiatives, and operational excellence. This role supports complex payroll activities, mentors team members, and partners across Payroll, Time & Labor, HR, Finance, and external stakeholders to deliver accurate and timely payroll outcomes.
Primary Responsibilities:
Process day to day payroll activities in an efficient, accurate, and timely manner while ensuring compliance with payroll policies and regulatory requirements.
Calculate, compile, validate, and submit payroll transactions and adjustments for assigned employee populations.
Process complex payroll scenarios including union payroll, expatriate payroll, off cycle payments, special earnings, and other nonstandard pay situations.
Calculate miscellaneous pay components in compliance with federal, state, and local payroll and tax requirements.
Create, review, audit, and process manual checks and special payroll payments.
Prepare and validate manual upload files and supporting data used in payroll processing.
Perform payroll entries and review activities related to garnishments, deductions, and special payroll transactions.
Support employee receivables and overpayment recovery processes.
Detect, research, troubleshoot, and resolve routine and complex payroll anomalies and processing issues.
Support employee escalations and provide advanced payroll guidance to help desk and shared services teams.
Research and process tax adjustments and support resolution of complex payroll and tax matters.
Partner across Payroll, Time & Labor, HR, Finance, and other business groups to identify and resolve recurring operational issues.
Support system enhancements, integration testing, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), and implementation activities.
Lead small scale process improvement initiatives focused on increasing payroll accuracy, reducing manual effort, and improving operational efficiency.
Develop, maintain, and update process documentation and standard operating procedures.
Provide training, onboarding support, mentorship, and guidance to Payroll Operations Specialists and new team members.
Support special projects and perform other duties as assigned.
Basic Qualifications:
High School Diploma with 7+ years of progressive payroll processing experience.
Advanced payroll processing and troubleshooting experience supporting complex payroll scenarios.
Experience processing large volume payroll for 10,000 headcount or above.
Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
Strong analytical, problem solving, and organizational skills.
Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast paced environment.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to payroll accuracy and compliance.
US Citizenship required and ability to obtain security clearance as needed.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with UltiPro Payroll, Costpoint Payroll, and Deltek Time & Expense systems.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification preferred.
Experience supporting union payroll, expatriate payroll, payroll tax processing, and audit activities.
Experience supporting payroll integrations, testing, and process automation initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to influence cross functional partners and lead process improvements.
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:July 2, 2026For 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.
Skills Required
- High School Diploma with 7+ years of progressive payroll processing experience.
- Advanced payroll processing and troubleshooting experience supporting complex payroll scenarios.
- Experience processing large volume payroll for 10,000 headcount or above.
- Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
- Strong analytical, problem solving, and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast paced environment.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to payroll accuracy and compliance.
- US Citizenship required and ability to obtain security clearance as needed.
- Experience with UltiPro Payroll, Costpoint Payroll, and Deltek Time & Expense systems.
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
- Experience supporting union payroll, expatriate payroll, payroll tax processing, and audit activities.
- Experience supporting payroll integrations, testing, and process automation initiatives.
- Demonstrated ability to influence cross functional partners and lead process improvements.
Leidos Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Leidos and has not been reviewed or approved by Leidos.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, with multiple plan options, low office-visit copays in some plans, and access to mental health and wellness support tools. The availability of HSA/FSA options and employer contributions is positioned as a meaningful part of the total package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits are framed as a strong component of total rewards, highlighted by a 401(k) match and immediate vesting in the standard package. The Employee Stock Purchase Plan is also presented as an additional long-term wealth-building feature.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing and lifestyle supports extend beyond core insurance, including wellness programs, fitness-related stipends, and assistance resources. Work flexibility and related perks are also included as part of the broader rewards experience.
Leidos Insights
What We Do
We Are Leidos For 50 years we have been tackling some of the biggest problems that face our nation and our world. OUR MISSION Through our culture of innovation and history of performance, we develop deep customer trust built on integrity and create enduring solutions that improve our world. Leidos is a science and technology solutions leader working to address some of the world’s toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and healthcare markets. The company’s 43,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $11.09 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2020. Leidos was cited for the meaningful work employees perform that is challenging, impactful, and aligned with our customers’ missions as reasons professionals want to work and stay at our company. Leidos has also been named to lists including Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity, Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Women, Military Times Best for Vets Employers, and Ethisphere Institute’s World's Most Ethical Companies®. Employees enjoy career enrichment opportunities available through mobility and development and experience rewarding relationships with supportive supervisors and talented colleagues and customers. Employees appreciate our flexible work environment, allowing for and encouraging a true work-life balance. Our professionals are also excited about our Employee Resource Groups, like the newly launched Collaborative Outreach with Remote and Embedded Employees (CORE), which strives to create an environment where every employee, regardless of location, feels fully engaged as a valued employee of Leidos. Your most important work is ahead.
