Software Engineer (AI-Enabled Development)
UK NATS Flight Data Processing (FDP)
Leidos is hiring a Software Engineer (AI-Enabled Development ) to support the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) Flight Data Processing (FDP) Evolution program.
This US based position in Gaithersburg, MD is your chance to work on real-time, safety-critical systems that directly impact national air traffic operations for the United Kingdom.
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, develop, test, and maintain software for real-time, high-availability systems.
Use AI-assisted development tools to accelerate coding, refactoring, debugging, and test creation.
Apply AI responsibly across the full SDLC, including requirements analysis, design support, implementation, testing, documentation, and code review.
Participate in Agile ceremonies including daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and release reviews.
Analyze complex system requirements and translate them into efficient, maintainable software designs.
Engineer and maintain automation scripts deployed across development, test, and production environments.
Promote code reuse, software quality, and cross-team collaboration.
Required: AI-Driven Engineering Experience
We are specifically looking for engineers who actively use AI as part of their daily development workflow.
Hands-on experience with AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., Claude Code or similar) for:
Code generation and refactoring
Debugging and test creation
IDE-based workflows
Working knowledge of large language model platforms (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini).
Experience designing and refining effective prompts and validating AI-generated outputs.
Understanding of human-in-the-loop development, traceability, and responsible AI use.
Ability to evaluate AI outputs for correctness, performance, bias, and safety, especially in regulated or safety-impacting environments.
Experience incorporating AI/ML techniques into the software development process.
Experience with test automation.
Core Technical Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field and 4 – 8 years of prior relevant experience or Masters with 2 – 6 years of prior relevant experience.
Strong experience with object-oriented programming.
Proficiency in C, C++, and/or Ada (Ada preferred but optional).
Experience developing real-time, multi-threaded software.
Familiarity with Linux (Red Hat), virtual machines, and hypervisors.
Experience with low-level communications (TCP/IP, UDP, SCTP).
Familiarity with hardware or CAS integration.
Experience using source control and configuration management tools.
Strong communication skills and ability to work independently or within a team.
Ability to obtain and maintain a public trust security clearance.
Ability to obtain an SF-85 preferred.
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:February 9, 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.
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.
