Are you interested in playing in the gray space of Research and Development and the delivery of secure and scalable production-quality reusable software? If so, we are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Software Engineer with a strong background in production software delivery and formal methods, including formal modeling, verification, specification, and analysis. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in improving the quality, cybersecurity, and resiliency of software delivered into critical mission systems across the Leidos portfolio.
Key Responsibilities:
- Drive the transition and adoption of cutting-edge software verification technologies into large scale industrial use.
- Identify opportunities where formal verification can better meet customer needs and develop practical verification approaches.
- Lead the design, development, and deployment of secure and resilient software systems in a reusable and scalable way for the Leidos enterprise.
- Apply formal methods to specify, verify, and analyze software to ensure correctness and security.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to opportunistically integrate formal verification techniques into the software development lifecycle.
- Partner with Cyber experts to conduct threat modeling, security assessments, and vulnerability analysis to identify and mitigate risks, and to prove formally the security of delivered software.
- Develop and maintain documentation for reusable software capabilities including specifications, verification plans, security protocols, and usage and basic training prerequisites.
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers on formal methods and cybersecurity best practices.
- Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in formal methods and cybersecurity.
- Conduct analysis of alternatives and SWOT-style evaluations of emerging and new technologies to quickly identify potential value.
- Collaborate to help identify, down-select, and vet potential external technologies partners by performing quick-turn proofs of concept and capability integrations.
Qualifications:
- Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field and 15+ years relevant experience. Bachelor's degree and additional years experience may be used in lieu of a degree.
- Minimum of 8 years of experience in production software delivery.
- Proven expertise in formal methods, including formal verification, specification, and analysis.
- Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles, threat modeling, and vulnerability assessment.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as C, C++, Java, or Python.
- Experience with formal verification tools and techniques (e.g., model checking, theorem proving).
- Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
- Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance
- US Citizenship is required for this position.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with formal methods tools such as Lean and Isabelle/HO SPIN, TLA+, Rocq, or Z3.
- Additional memory-safe software language experience a plus (Rust, Go, etc.)
- Knowledge of secure coding practices and standards.
- Familiarity with software development methodologies such as Agile or DevOps.
- Certifications in cybersecurity (e.g., CISSP, CEH) are a plus.
At Leidos, we don’t want someone who "fits the mold"—we want someone who melts it down and builds something better. This is a role for the restless, the over-caffeinated, the ones who ask, “what’s next?” before the dust settles on “what’s now.”
If you’re already scheming step 20 while everyone else is still debating step 2… good. You’ll fit right in.
Original Posting:July 30, 2025For 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.
Top Skills
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.
