Leidos is seeking a Lead Python Software Engineer, who will be a member of a dynamic team in Gaithersburg, MD, working on the development/maintenance of software that improves aircraft runway and terminal congestion.
Nationwide congestion is increasing, and the need for efficient aircraft traffic planning is critical. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) is the surface management solution that will provide NextGen Air Traffic Control capabilities to improve air traffic operations in the National Airspace System (NAS). The Terminal Flight Data Management (TFDM) program is a Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) NextGen program based on airport surface management that provides efficiency for both the airport surface and terminal airspace by providing a new and comprehensive integrated surface traffic control and management system.
We are a team of forward-looking professionals in need of a strong candidate with these key required skills: Modern Development (Python, Java, PHP), Structured Data (XML, XSD, XSLT, JSON, CSV), Agile / Scrum development, AI-Assisted Development, relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle).
*This position requires onsite support in Gaithersburg, MD 3 days a week*
Responsibilities:
Architect, design, develop, and implement next-generation application using software engineering best practices in the latest technologies:
Infrastructure-as-Code and Configuration-as-Code (Terraform, Ansible)
Artificial Intelligence and AI-Assisted Development (Generative AI, LLMs, AI coding assistants, RAG, AI agents, prompt engineering, and AI MCP servers)
DevOps and CI/CD tooling (Bamboo, Docker, SonarQube, Ansible)
Provide software expertise in one or more of these areas: application integration, RESTful services, Artificial Intelligence, security, workflow automation, module integration, user experience (UX), and accessibility compliance (Section 508/WCAG/USDS standards).
Investigate and repair application defects regardless of component: automation, front-end, business logic, middleware, or database (PL/SQL and Data Modeling).
Brief management, customer, team, or vendors using written or oral skills at appropriate technical level for audience
All other duties as assigned or directed
Willingness to travel to customer sites
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, mathematics, engineering, or related technical discipline. Master’s or Doctorate degree may substitute for required experience.
5+ years of combined experience with modern software development (Python, Java, PHP)
2+ years of combined experience with web development and building responsive UIs with modern front-end technologies
Experience with Artificial Intelligence and AI-Assisted Development (Generative AI, LLMs, AI coding assistants, RAG, AI agents, prompt engineering, and AI MCP servers)
Experience working in Agile software development environments.
This program requires a Public Trust security clearance, in order to obtain/maintain a Public Trust, candidates must hold US citizenship or Permanent Residency
Required Skills:
Experience developing modern Python applications using object-oriented design principles, type annotations, asynchronous programming, automated testing frameworks, and secure software development best practices.
Proven experience designing, developing, and maintaining software applications used to create, validate, transform, and manage structured data formats including JSON, CSV, XML, XSD, and XSLT.
Experience with automated testing methodologies including unit, integration, end-to-end, and behavior-driven testing using tools such as pytest, Behave, Selenium, Playwright, and test automation frameworks.
Solid knowledge of front-end technologies including HTML5, JavaScript/TypeScript, CSS3, and responsive UI development principles.
Experience with UNIX and Linux operating systems and automating tasks with scripting languages like Bash, Shell
Experience using DevOps and CI/CD tools including Git/Bitbucket, Bamboo/Jenkins, SonarQube, and automated build/deployment pipelines.
Desired Skills:
Solid understanding of modern Python libraries and frameworks, including GeoPandas, Fiona, Pillow, PyTesseract, and XMLDiff, with experience developing geospatial, document-processing, and data transformation applications.
Strong experience with Ansible Automation and authoring playbooks and roles for installing, maintaining, or upgrading platforms
Experience building, packaging, and deploying software applications in Linux environments using RPM-based distribution mechanisms.
Experience deploying or supporting applications in AWS cloud environments, related certifications.
Experience with PHP software development and Drupal.
Experience using Atlassian collaboration and development tools including Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket, and Bamboo.
Experience with relational databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Oracle including SQL optimization and ORM technologies such as Doctrine or Eloquent.
Experience with FAA and air traffic domain knowledge.
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:June 24, 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, software engineering, mathematics, engineering, or related technical discipline (Master's/Doctorate may substitute for experience).
- 5+ years combined experience with modern software development (Python, Java, PHP).
- 2+ years combined experience with web development and building responsive UIs with modern front-end technologies.
- Experience with Artificial Intelligence and AI-Assisted Development (Generative AI, LLMs, AI coding assistants, RAG, AI agents, prompt engineering, AI MCP servers).
- Experience working in Agile / Scrum software development environments.
- Program requires a Public Trust security clearance; candidates must hold US citizenship or Permanent Residency.
- Position requires onsite support in Gaithersburg, MD three days per week.
- Experience developing modern Python applications using OOP, type annotations, asynchronous programming, automated testing frameworks, and secure SD best practices.
- Proven experience creating, validating, transforming, and managing structured data formats including JSON, CSV, XML, XSD, and XSLT.
- Experience with automated testing methodologies and tools (unit, integration, end-to-end, BDD) using pytest, Behave, Selenium, Playwright, or similar.
- Solid knowledge of front-end technologies including HTML5, JavaScript/TypeScript, CSS3, and responsive UI principles.
- Experience with UNIX/Linux operating systems and automating tasks with scripting languages such as Bash/Shell.
- Experience using DevOps and CI/CD tools including Git/Bitbucket, Bamboo/Jenkins, SonarQube, and automated build/deployment pipelines.
- Experience investigating and repairing defects across automation, front-end, business logic, middleware, or database (including PL/SQL and data modeling).
- Experience with relational databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Oracle (SQL optimization and ORM familiarity).
- Willingness to travel to customer sites.
- Experience with GeoPandas, Fiona, Pillow, PyTesseract, XMLDiff and geospatial/document processing libraries.
- Experience with Ansible automation and writing playbooks/roles.
- Experience building, packaging, and deploying applications in Linux using RPM-based mechanisms.
- Experience deploying or supporting applications in AWS (certifications a plus).
- Experience with PHP development and Drupal.
- Experience using Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket, Bamboo).
- Experience with ORMs such as Doctrine or Eloquent.
- FAA and air traffic domain knowledge.
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.
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