The Leidos Defense Sector currently has an opening for a Lead Software Engineer to support advanced image analysis and mission software development efforts within our Space Vehicle Agile Release Train environment. This is a unique opportunity to serve as the primary technical liaison for our Space Vehicle software repository and architecture, supporting multiple Agile teams contributing to a complex image analysis system.
In this role, you will work closely with scientists, software engineers, and integration teams to ensure software development aligns with established architecture standards, Agile processes, and mission objectives.
The selected candidate will help modernize and sustain critical capabilities while mentoring teams in software engineering best practices, code quality, and CI/CD processes. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical leadership, experience working across multi-disciplinary teams, and the ability to guide software modernization efforts in a collaborative Agile environment.
This is a hybrid position that requires several days per week of working in SCIF at Arlington - VA, Huntsville - AL, or San Diego - CA. Candidates are expected to live within commuting distance from 1 of those 3 locations.
Primary Responsibilities:
Lead a small team of software engineers supporting an advanced image analysis system
Serve as the Space Vehicle technical liaison for multiple Agile teams working within the Space Vehicle repository
Collaborate closely with scientists and algorithm developers to transition and integrate analytical capabilities into operational software systems
Guide development teams in following Agile methodologies, software engineering best practices, and established architecture standards
Conduct code inspections and peer reviews as a primary technical reviewer
Provide technical recommendations on software organization, maintainability, portability, and readability
Interface with external consumers of the system, including partner software development teams and stakeholders
Gather system requirements and translate enhancement requests into Agile features and user stories
Organize, prioritize, and track team activities using Agile workflow management tools such as Jira
Lead release planning, sprint planning, and iteration review activities
Ensure rigorous software integration, testing, and validation processes are implemented across the system and its components
Upgrade, maintain, and improve Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines and development workflows
Mentor junior software engineers in sound software engineering and development practices
Support troubleshooting, debugging, and resolution of software defects across integrated systems
Basic Qualifications
Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline with 15+ years of relevant software engineering experience, or Bachelor's degree with 17+ years of relevant software engineering experience
Deep hands-on experience with leading Agile Release Trains or scaled Agile environments for software integration team / multi-disciplinary / cross-functional teams and experience operating within the Scrum framework
Must have experience with simulation tool (preferably AFSIM)
Must have experience using MATLAB to model or analyze complex algorithms
Experience designing and developing complex, modular software systems
Experience leading or mentoring teams of 3 or more software engineers
Experience coordinating across multi-domain teams within a large-scale program environment
Experience with software development lifecycle processes, including code development, testing, and integration activities
Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills with the ability to systematically isolate and resolve software defects
Experience with integration and test activities, including automated testing approaches
Experience developing and maintaining technical software documentation
Proficiency with version control and collaborative development tools such as GitLab
U.S. Citizenship required
Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD SECRET security clearance
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with Jira, GitLab, Visual Studio Code, IDE, C++, and embedded software development environments
Experience with Docker containerization technologies and container-based development workflows
Familiarity with CI/CD pipeline modernization and DevSecOps practices
Experience supporting image analysis, sensor processing, or mission systems software
Active DoD SECRET clearance
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.
May 22, 2026
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 $154,050.00 - $278,475.00
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.
Leidos is a Fortune 500® innovation company rapidly addressing the world’s most vexing challenges in national security and health. The company's global workforce of 48,000 collaborates to create smarter technology solutions for customers in heavily regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $15.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023.
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 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, visit careers.leidos.com for our latest opportunities.
