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.
• Candidate must be a U.S. citizen and be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense security clearance.
• Relevant technical experience must include developing, integrating, testing, or troubleshooting embedded software or embedded-adjacent applications that interface with, operate, monitor, support, simulate, control, or communicate with embedded systems.
• Must be a resident of North Alabama or willing to relocate to the Huntsville-North Alabama area.
• Experience leading software development teams on multi-disciplinary projects.
• Demonstrate expert-level experience with C/C++ required.
• Experience with Python or Java.
• Familiarity with real-time embedded systems and RTOS environments (e.g. VxWorks, FreeRTOS).
• Experience with software configuration management principles and techniques.
• Experience with software quality engineering concepts.
• Experience with good software standards and practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with open systems concepts, architectures, and implementation.
• Knowledge of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) principles and application.
• 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.
• Knowledge of navigation systems.
• Knowledge of mission planning systems (NOMS, JMPS).
• Knowledge of sensors used in guidance, navigation, or mission planning systems.
• 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
• Formal experience in an official software leadership role with people-management responsibilities (e.g., IPT Lead, Technical Lead, Software Program Manager) — including direct reports, staffing, or performance management duties.
• Agile Scrum Master or Product Owner experience a plus.
• 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.

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:

Pay Range:

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.