Lead Software Engineer

Join Leidos in Arlington, VA onsite, where you will help build software for unmanned and autonomous ship development for the US Government. This role supports an Agile Scrum environment focused on ship automation, autonomous navigation, sensor fusion, communications, and modeling and simulation. You will lead technical work on small projects, help maintain engineering quality, and support field testing and stakeholder communication.

Pay range: USD 87,100 to 157,450 per year. Travel: up to 25% to support field testing, client engagements, and program milestones.

Benefits include: Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement.

What you’ll work on

• Ship Automation & Control Systems
• Autonomous Navigation
• Sensor Fusion & Processing
• Communication Systems
• Modeling & Simulation for verification and software testing

Responsibilities

• Analyze, design, code, and update software for new features and performance improvements.
• Participate in the full software development lifecycle, from requirements and design through implementation, testing, and deployment.
• Serve as technical lead for small projects by providing direction and ensuring technical quality.
• Mentor and coach junior engineers to strengthen team capabilities and support professional growth.
• Conduct peer reviews to ensure quality, maintainability, and adherence to best practices.
• Drive continuous process improvement by collaborating with the team to optimize workflows, tools, and engineering practices.
• Assist with evaluating field tests, analyzing results, and transitioning findings into actionable software enhancements.
• Communicate technical progress, risks, and solutions with client project stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a STEM field plus 4+ years of professional software development experience, or 2+ years of professional experience with a Master’s degree.
• Understanding of data structures.
• Professional experience using C++ and Linux.
• Knowledge of the Linux operating system.
• Experience with software source control and configuration management tools.
• Significant experience working in a team environment, including experience providing guidance and coaching other developers.
• Exposure to one or more of: high availability, sensor fusion, target tracking, path planning, communications systems, or military systems integration.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance.

Technologies

• C++, Linux
• Atlassian tool suite (Jira, Confluence)
• Bamboo, Jenkins
• Java, front-end development frameworks
• Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Microsoft SQL Server
• Python
• TCP/IP, UDP, DDS
• Docker, Kubernetes, RKE2

Preferred qualifications

• Familiarity with the Atlassian tool suite (Jira, Confluence).
• Familiarity with automated build processes (Bamboo, Jenkins, etc.).
• Professional experience using Java and front-end development frameworks.
• Knowledge and experience with relational databases such as Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, or Microsoft SQL Server.
• Experience with Python.
• Experience designing complex systems with attention to performance and user requirements.
• Experience with interface communication standards and protocols such as TCP/IP, UDP, and DDS.
• Familiarity with game theory, artificial intelligence, petri nets, and safety critical software.
• Demonstrated experience with Docker and Kubernetes (RKE2) in containerization, Kubernetes management, and automation technologies.
• Experience designing, implementing, and analyzing simulations involving extensive datasets to support efficient data processing and accurate modeling outcomes.
• Proficiency applying vector geometry concepts for spatial analysis, modeling, and problem-solving in simulation environments.
• Active Secret Security Clearance preferred.