Leidos is seeking AI Software Developers (Jr, Mid, Senior levels). Applicants of any level may apply to this position and will be evaluated based on the criteria below. Any Salary listed may not be fully reflective of every level.
You will join the Air Traffic Business Area within the Homeland Sector, supporting the development of the Leidos Common Automation Platform (L-CAP). L-CAP is a mission-critical, future-ready automation platform built on a hybrid cloud data mesh architecture, enabling next-generation air traffic management capabilities. We are building with an AI-first engineering mindset, embracing emerging AI capabilities and modern development practices to accelerate delivery, improve software quality, and continuously evolve how we design and build mission-critical systems. This role operates within a SAFe/Agile framework as part of an Agile Release Train (ART) delivering iterative value across the program.
In this position, you will design and implement software solutions independently while working closely with systems engineering, product delivery, and DevSecOps teams. The primary focus is on developing microservices-based applications within an Agile/SAFe environment. Experience with AI-enabled or data-driven systems is advantageous. This position supports government programs and requires the ability to obtain and maintain a favorable Public Trust investigation
This is a hybrid position requiring 3 days onsite and 2 days working from home, if you are located within a commutable distance (Less than 1 hour's drive one-way during normal traffic) from Gaithersburg, MD; Eagan, MN; or Egg Harbor Township, NJ. However, if you do not reside within a commutable distance, you may be considered for a 100% remote role.
This role focuses on building and modernizing real-time, safety-critical systems using a combination of traditional systems engineering and AI-augmented software development practices. You’ll work on software that directly supports national air traffic operations, applying AI tools to accelerate development, improve quality, and enhance system reliability.
What You’ll Do
- Design and develop microservices that form the backbone of the L-CAP automation platform
- Collaborate with architects to translate system designs into robust, scalable implementations
- Implement RESTful APIs and event-driven integrations within a hybrid cloud data mesh architecture
- Integrate with relational and NoSQL databases, ensuring data consistency and performance
- Perform performance tuning and optimization of services operating in distributed environments
- Conduct and lead code reviews, enforcing coding standards and best practices across the team
- Mentor junior developers, providing technical guidance and supporting their professional growth
- Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues spanning multiple services, APIs, and infrastructure layers
- Contribute to technical documentation including design documents, API specifications, and runbooks
- Participate actively in SAFe/Agile ceremonies and contribute to PI planning and backlog refinement
- Perform performance engineering activities including profiling, optimization, and latency analysis for distributed ATC services
- Maintain interface stability and backward compatibility when modernizing existing operational software into service-based implementations
- Modernize legacy ATC automation functions into cloud-native service implementations preserving operational behavior and performance characteristics
- Embrace an AI-first engineering culture by actively adopting AI-assisted development tools, automation, and modern engineering practices that improve productivity, code quality, and delivery velocity.
Core Technical Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience in lieu of degree). A completed Master's degree will account for 2 additional years of experience below.
- Experience AND knowledge will drive level:
- 2 or more years (Junior Level)
- 4 or more years (Mid Level)
- 8 or more years (Senior Level)
- Proficiency in Java or C++ with demonstrated experience building production software
- Experience designing and developing microservices-based applications
- Strong understanding of RESTful API design and implementation
- Experience with distributed systems and event-driven architectures
- Proficiency with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices
- Experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL, Oracle) and NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Cassandra)
- Solid experience with Git and collaborative development workflows
- Familiarity with Agile/SAFe frameworks and iterative delivery
- Strong debugging, problem-solving, and analytical skills
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust
- Experience with performance engineering including profiling, benchmarking, and optimization of distributed services
- Knowledge of interface stability practices and API versioning for service-based architectures
- Experience modernizing legacy software into service-oriented or microservice implementations
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust
- U.S. citizenship required
- Successful completion of background investigations as required by the government customer
Preferred / Desired Qualifications
- Python programming proficiency
- Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
- Cloud platform experience (AWS, Azure) including managed services
- Experience with message brokers (Kafka, RabbitMQ) and streaming architectures
- Knowledge of domain-driven design and data mesh patterns
- Experience in aviation, defense, or safety-critical software domains
- Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools (Terraform, Ansible)
- Experience with AI-assisted development tools (e.g., code generation, automated testing, intelligent debugging)
- Experience with performance-critical distributed systems in operational or real-time environments
- Desired but not required: Commutable distance to Gaithersburg, MD; Eagan, MN; or Egg Harbor Township, NJ.
Why Leidos?
You’ll work on systems where performance, precision, and reliability matter — every second. This is not experimental AI for prototypes. This is disciplined, responsible AI applied to mission-critical software that supports national infrastructure.
If you’re excited by solving complex problems in regulated, real-world environments — and using AI as a force multiplier rather than a shortcut — we’d like to talk.
ATMC
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:October 1, 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
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience
- At least 2 years of experience for junior level, 4 years for mid level, or 8 years for senior level
- Proficiency in Java or C++ with production software development experience
- Experience designing and developing microservices-based applications
- Experience designing and implementing RESTful APIs
- Experience with distributed systems and event-driven architectures
- Proficiency with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices
- Experience with PostgreSQL or Oracle relational databases and MongoDB or Cassandra NoSQL databases
- Experience with Git and collaborative development workflows
- Familiarity with Agile and SAFe frameworks
- Strong debugging, problem-solving, and analytical skills
- Experience with performance engineering, profiling, benchmarking, and optimization of distributed services
- Knowledge of interface stability practices and API versioning
- Experience modernizing legacy software into service-oriented or microservice implementations
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust
- U.S. citizenship
- Successful completion of government-required background investigations
- Python programming proficiency
- Experience with Docker and Kubernetes
- Experience with AWS or Azure managed services
- Experience with Kafka, RabbitMQ, or streaming architectures
- Knowledge of domain-driven design and data mesh patterns
- Experience in aviation, defense, or safety-critical software domains
- Familiarity with Terraform or Ansible
- Experience with AI-assisted development tools
- Experience with performance-critical distributed systems in operational or real-time environments
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.
