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Uncrewed Systems Airborne Software Engineer

Today Huntsville, AL

Description

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact?

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.

Are you ready for your next challenge?

Within the Defense Sector, the Airborne Systems Business Area at Leidos currently has an opening for a talented Uncrewed Systems Airborne Software Engineer to work in our Huntsville, AL office. This is an exciting opportunity to use your experience to help design and develop flight and mission software for tactical strike systems, sensors, uncrewed air systems (UAS), and counter UAS solutions.

What's in it for you?

This position focuses on the development of robust, innovative distributed software architectures, frameworks, and communications networks as well as the fielding, support, and maintenance of software products. Software products range from operational flight software, analysis tools/simulations, mission planning software, telemetry and instrumentation, and a variety of components for mission-critical systems.

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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.

THE CHALLENGE (primary responsibilities)

  • This position involves conceptual design across the full stack of software for airborne systems, embedded software architectural design, code implementation, adherence to coding standards, team peer review, unit testing, cohesive integration of loosely coupled software modules within subsystems and across distributed networks, use of secure DevOps and CI/CD pipelines, and development of software tools, harnesses, and infrastructures to support a testable fully integrated solution.
  • This position includes support for system configuration and live operations. This includes real-time data monitoring, post-mission analysis, and troubleshooting.
  • Direct communication with customers, end users, internal stakeholders, and team members will be required on a frequent basis.
  • Occasional software planning and estimation is required, such as Agile product backlog estimation, release planning, and epic/story decomposition.

WHAT SETS YOU APART (basic qualifications)

  • A Bachelor's Degree or higher degree in Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Computer Information Systems, Electrical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical field is required.
  • Candidate should have 12-20 years of relevant technical experience.
  • Have a proven track record of implementing software according to high quality development principles in a structured team environment with peer reviews.
  • Candidate must demonstrate a strong competency in software development in either C, C++, Rust, Java, or Python programming languages.
  • Working knowledge of inter-process communication, multithreaded programming, and memory management.
  • Candidate should have experience developing software that uses one or more interoperability standards for UAS (e.g., NATO STANAG 4586, Open Mission Systems (OMS), U.S. Army Interoperability Profile (IOP), Link16, or MAVLink).
  • Candidate should have experience developing software that uses one or more messaging technologies for distributed software (e.g., ZeroMQ, Data Distribution Service, ActiveMQ, Artemis, Kafka, RocketMQ, RabbitMQ, EMQX, or Azure SB).
  • Candidate should be familiar with design practices for software modularity, able to articulate them graphically, and able to apply them in software designs and implementations.
  • Possess the technical skills required for full life cycle software development, including configuration management, DevOps, software test, and software quality engineering concepts.
  • Have experience writing unit and integration tests with unit test frameworks.
  • Have strong analytical and process improvement skills along with a personal drive for details and quality workmanship.
  • Candidate is expected to accept constructive professional feedback from peer team members on work products and similarly provide it to other peers as well.
  • Have excellent teamwork and communication skills.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
  • Must have ACTIVE DoD Secret security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience working under a disciplined software engineering process (e.g., CMM, CMMI, RUP, PSP).
  • Experience working in an Agile Framework (e.g., Scrum, Kanban, or SAFe) using Agile tools such as Jira, Confluence, Trello, or Monday.com.
  • The ability to multi-task and work across multiple products under development by multiple small teams.
  • Experience working on real-time or embedded software such as device drivers, board support packages, boot loaders, bare metal solutions, Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS), or Hardware Description Language (HDL).
  • Familiarity with hardware such as microcontrollers, single board computers, system-on-chip (SoC), common peripheral interfaces, mission computers, or hardware test equipment.

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:

September 9, 2025

For 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.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $126,100.00 - $227,950.00

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.

Client-provided location(s): Huntsville, AL
Job ID: Leidos-R-00166226
Employment Type: FULL_TIME
Posted: 2025-09-10T18:50:46

Perks and Benefits

  • Health and Wellness

    • Health Insurance
    • Health Reimbursement Account
    • Dental Insurance
    • Vision Insurance
    • Life Insurance
    • Short-Term Disability
    • Long-Term Disability
    • FSA
    • HSA
    • Pet Insurance
    • Mental Health Benefits
  • Parental Benefits

    • Birth Parent or Maternity Leave
    • Fertility Benefits
    • Adoption Assistance Program
    • Family Support Resources
  • Work Flexibility

    • Flexible Work Hours
    • Remote Work Opportunities
    • Hybrid Work Opportunities
  • Office Life and Perks

    • Company Outings
    • On-Site Cafeteria
    • Holiday Events
  • Vacation and Time Off

    • Paid Vacation
    • Paid Holidays
    • Personal/Sick Days
    • Volunteer Time Off
  • Financial and Retirement

    • 401(K) With Company Matching
    • Stock Purchase Program
    • Performance Bonus
    • Relocation Assistance
    • Financial Counseling
    • Profit Sharing
  • Professional Development

    • Promote From Within
    • Mentor Program
    • Access to Online Courses
    • Lunch and Learns
    • Internship Program
    • Leadership Training Program
  • Diversity and Inclusion

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