Lead AI-Driven Software Engineer for Mission Systems

Leidos LLC

Huntsville (AL)

On-site

USD 131,000 - 237,000

Full time

13 days ago

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Job summary

Leidos Defense in Huntsville, AL is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to drive the IFPC software team in a SAFe environment, delivering production-grade C++ and Python software on Linux for counter-UAS and missile defense. You will champion agentic AI-assisted development, mentor engineers, and set technical direction to ensure mission-critical systems meet demanding reliability and security standards.

The role requires extensive hands-on experience, proven leadership, and the ability to navigate

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field and 12+ years of professional software development experience (or Master’s degree + 10 years / PhD + 7 years).
Recent, substantial hands-on experience building real software with current-generation agentic AI coding assistants and AI-assisted development workflows.
Demonstrated ability to coach and mentor engineers and to lead a software team as a technical lead.
Strong, current proficiency in C++ and Python; experience in Linux and SAFe environments.

Responsibilities

Serve as the technical lead and design authority for the IFPC Agentic AI software development improvement software team, setting technical direction, mentoring engineers, and driving quality and delivery, with a defined growth path into a people-management role as the team scales.
Champion and operationalize agentic AI-assisted software development across the team: establish workflows, agent/prompt patterns, custom tooling, and guardrails that measurably multiply throughput and code quality.
Coach and upskill engineers in the effective, responsible use of AI coding assistants through pairing, enablement sessions, code reviews, and reusable playbooks.
Adapt commercial agentic‑AI coding practices to a secure environment; evaluate, pilot, and shepherd AI tooling through security approvals, including on-prem / self-hosted options.
Develop production software in C++ and Python in a Linux environment for counter‑UAS and missile defense systems.
Develop within a SAFe environment using Jira and GitLab; apply software best practices such as peer reviews, unit testing, and CI/CD automation.
Debug and troubleshoot software in HWIL and SWIL settings.
Establish and enforce engineering and coding standards, and drive standardized, reusable, well-documented solutions.
Collaborate across systems, electrical, test, and cybersecurity teams, and interface with program leadership and the customer.