Senior Software Engineer

Leidos is dedicated to making the world a safer place. This starts with helping our customers in the Defense Industry achieve their critical missions. Our dedicated Defense Group employees are solving critical challenges across the globe. At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success.  We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainably. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business. With offices across the United States engaging in the defense, space, cyber and commercial fields, Leidos provides responsive, cost-effective engineering, scientific and IT solutions. Leidos is well known for our people-oriented culture, positive work environment, technical excellence, and resilient business ethics. 

Leidos is seeking a talented Senior Software Engineer to work in our Huntsville office. This is an exciting opportunity to use your experience to help develop software for Tactical strike guided munition programs.

​This position focuses on the development of robust, innovative software frameworks, as well as the fielding, support, and maintenance of software products. Software products range from analysis tools/simulations, mission planning software, and components of mission-critical systems.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and direction for software development teams (5-15 engineers).

• Define full-stack software architecture and design patterns for missile system applications implementing major system functions (i.e. guidance, navigation, control, telemetry, and mission planning).

• Lead technical reviews, design reviews, and code reviews to ensure quality and compliance.

• Make critical technical decisions on tools, frameworks, and development approaches.

• Serve as the primary technical interface with government customers and program management.

• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level software engineers.

• Champion adoption of open systems architectures and modular open systems approach (MOSA) with standardized interfaces.

• Ensure software design support modularity, reusability, portability, and maintainability requirements.

• Lead code reviews, ensuring coding standards and best practices are applied.

• Direct communication with customers, end users, and team members will be required on a frequent basis.

• Support flight test operations and post-test analysis.

• Ensure adherence to military and aviation standards for safety, cybersecurity, and RMF.

Basic Qualifications

• Candidate must possess at least a bachelor’s degree in software engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, or equivalent technical degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.

• 12+ years of relevant technical experience, or 10+ years with a master’s degree in a related field.

• Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain one.

• Proven experience leading software development teams on complex, multi-disciplinary projects.

• Strong experience with open systems concepts, architectures, and implementation

• Knowledge of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) principles and application

• Demonstrate expert-level experience with C/C++ required.

• Experience with Python and Java.

• Familiarity with real-time embedded systems and RTOS environments (e.g. VxWorks, FreeRTOS).

• Deep understanding of software architecture patterns and design principles.

• Excellent communication skills with ability to present to senior leadership and government customers.

• Strong problem-solving abilities and systems-level thinking.

• Excellent communication skills with ability to present to senior leadership and government customers.

• Experience with software configuration management principles and techniques, software quality engineering concepts, good software standards and practices, and a strong understanding of why these are important.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with embedded missile systems, aerospace, or weapons systems development.

• Hands-on experience implementing open architecture frameworks such as FACE, OMS, or SOSA.

• Experience with containerization and microservices technology.

• Knowledge of guidance & control algorithms, navigation systems, mission planning systems (NOMS, JMPS), and sensors a huge plus.

• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and SysML.

• Knowledge of software development standards: DO-178C, MIL-STD-882e, or similar.

• Experience with containerization (Docker/Kubernetes) and CI/CD pipelines.

• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink for algorithm development and simulation a plus.

• Understanding of hardware-software integration and software systems engineering principles

• Previous experience in a Software Lead role (IPT Lead, Technical Lead, Software PM, etc.).

• Agile Scrum Master or Product Owner experience a plus.

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 31, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

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.