Lead AI Software Developer

Leidos LLC; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 87,100 - 157,450; Full time

Job summary

Leidos LLC is looking for a Lead AI Software Developer to join the Air Traffic Business Area within the Homeland Sector, based in Gaithersburg, MD. This position focuses on modernizing real-time systems using AI and software engineering best practices.

You will design and maintain microservices-based applications in an Agile environment, collaborating with cross-functional teams. The role offers a hybrid schedule and a competitive salary range of $87,100.00 – $157,450.00.

Qualifications

• Experience or exposure to AI/ML, automation or intelligent platforms.
• Hands-on experience building and supporting microservices-based systems.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain microservices-based applications.
• Collaborate in an Agile/SAFe environment.
• Implement modern automated testing strategies.

Skills

Microservices-based applications

Agile/SAFe collaboration

AI/ML-enabled systems

Modern programming languages

APIs and distributed systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent

4+ years of relevant experience or Master's with 2+ years

Tools

Git-based version control

CI/CD pipelines

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Lead AI Software Developer

Leidos is seeking a Lead AI Software Developer to join the Air Traffic Business Area within the Homeland Sector, supporting the development of the Leidos Common Baseline. 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. The position is located in Gaithersburg, MD or Egg Harbor Township, NJ and requires a hybrid schedule of three days onsite and two days working from home.

What You’ll Do

• Design, develop, and maintain microservices‑based applications using modern software engineering best practices
• Collaborate with product owners, architects, and engineers in an Agile/SAFe environment
• Participate in sprint planning, daily standups, reviews, and retrospectives
• Collaborate with systems engineering and program teams to translate requirements into working software solutions
• Develop clean, maintainable, and testable code following CI/CD and DevSecOps practices
• Contribute to system design discussions and technical decision‑making
• Integrate services with databases, messaging systems, and external APIs
• Support troubleshooting, performance tuning, and continuous improvement
• Work closely with QA, DevOps, and platform teams to ensure reliable delivery
• Implement modern automated testing strategies, including unit, integration, contract, and end‑to‑end testing
• Use AI‑assisted development tools to accelerate coding, refactoring, debugging, and test creation

Core Technical Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience)
• 4+ years of relevant experience or a Master's Degree and 2+ years of relevant experience
• Hands‑on experience building and supporting microservices‑based systems
• Proficiency in at least one modern programming language (e.g., Java, Python, C++, or similar on a Linux‑based system)
• Experience or exposure to AI/ML‑enabled systems, automation, or intelligent platforms
• Experience working in Agile environments
• Understanding of APIs and distributed system concepts
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust U.S. citizenship required
• Successful completion of background investigations as required by the government customer

Preferred / Desired Qualifications

• Experience with Git‑based version control and CI/CD pipelines
• Familiarity with Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
• Experience working with relational and/or NoSQL databases
• Hands‑on experience with Kafka or other event‑streaming technologies
• Cloud experience (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Containerization and orchestration experience (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Experience working in DevSecOps environments
• Experience with test automation frameworks and integration of automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines

Pay Range

$87,100.00 – $157,450.00

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.