Lead Software Engineer

• Design, develop, test, and maintain software for real-time, high-availability systems
• Lead software development activities independently and as part of a collaborative engineering team
• Analyze complex system requirements and translate them into efficient, maintainable software designs
• Apply sound software engineering principles to ensure code is reliable, fault tolerant, reusable, and maintainable
• Lead and mentor junior developers, influencing technical direction and development processes
• Participate in Agile ceremonies including daily stand-ups, release planning, and sprint reviews
• Develop, tune, document, and deploy automation scripts across development, test, and production environments
• Promote code reuse, cross-program collaboration, and sustainable development practices
• Support system integration activities, including hardware and low-level communications interfaces

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field with 4-8 years of relevant experience
• OR Master’s degree with 2-6 years of relevant experience
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance
• Strong object-oriented programming experience
• Proficiency in C and/or C++
• Experience developing real-time, multi-threaded, high-availability systems
• Experience with Linux environments (Red Hat), virtual machines, and hypervisors
• Experience with low-level communications protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, SCTP)
• Experience with hardware or complex system integration
• Familiarity with system maintenance and lifecycle concepts
• Experience with source control and configuration management tools
• Strong understanding of modern software development principles and best practices
• Ability to plan and prioritize work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively
• US Citizenship Required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Ada
• Experience with test automation frameworks
• Familiarity with AI/ML tools applied within software development workflows

Why Leidos

You’ll contribute to software systems where reliability, performance, and precision are essential. This is an opportunity to work on mission-critical infrastructure supporting national airspace operations - collaborating with experienced engineers to modernize complex, real-world systems.

If you are motivated by solving technically challenging problems in regulated, operational environments, we encourage you to apply.

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 www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

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 19, 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 $87,100.00 - $157,450.00, 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 www.Leidos.com.