Principal Software Engineer

Leidos; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 131,000 - 237,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

11 paid Holidays

401K with 6% match

Flexible Schedules

Discounted Stock Purchase Plans

Technical Upskilling

Education and Training Support

Parental Paid Leave

Job summary

Leidos in the United States is seeking a Principal Software Engineer for the Intel Sector to drive security engineering, CNO, mission software, analytics, and cryptographic key management across prototype and evaluation initiatives.

You will install, configure, develop, and integrate prototype applications for technical evaluation in a lab environment, working with customers and engineers. A TS/SCI with Polygraph is required, with a potential sign-on or PTO bonus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 11+ years of relevant development experience or equivalent.
• CS degree or related field.
• Strong development experience in a variety of languages (e.g., Java, Python).
• Experience integrating with customers’ cloud-based data systems.
• Active TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance is required.

Responsibilities

• Develop capabilities to address problems from analyst offices and prototype to extend enterprise services.
• Support analytics, machine learning, and deployment of cloud solutions.
• Collaborate with customers, developers, and data scientists to gather requirements and feedback.

Skills

Java/Python

Docker

Kubernetes

Linux

Analytics

Machine Learning

Cloud integration

VM experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree with 11+ years of experience

CS degree or related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

VM

Linux

Job description

Job Summary

Leidos has a new and exciting opportunity for a Principal Software Engineer in our Intel Sector. Our talented team is at the forefront in Security Engineering, Computer Network Operations (CNO), Mission Software, Analytical Methods and Modeling, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Cryptographic Key Management. Our program provides our customer's Operations organization with the best possible solutions for their mission needs. We achieve this through rapid prototyping, new development, and advanced technology research. From leading-edge visualizations to analytic development, we’re always pushing the boundaries to find new and better data sources and tradecraft to answer intelligence questions. With a focus on collaboration and a fast-paced environment, our prototype development program is the ideal place to grow your skills and make a real impact.

Seeking a highly motivated Principal Software Engineer with proven experience in installing, configuring, developing, and integrating prototype applications for technical evaluation. The engineer will be supporting a lab environment providing support for customers developing and testing experiments. Qualified candidates are eligible for enhanced incentives including up to a $25K cash sign on bonus or a paid time off bonus.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off


• 11 paid Holidays


• 401K with a 6% company match and immediate vesting


• Flexible Schedules


• Discounted Stock Purchase Plans


• Technical Upskilling


• Education and Training Support


• Parental Paid Leave


• much more

Join us and make a difference in National Security!

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.

Job Responsibilities/Qualifications

Mission Focus: Develop capabilities designed to help solve common problems arising from various analyst offices. Prototype development to extend enterprise services, support analytics, enhance machine learning, and develop commercial cloud solutions. Support the integration and evaluation of open source, emerging technologies, and new COTS applications. Work directly with customers, developers, or data scientists to gather requirements and feedback.

Technical Proficiency: Experience integrating with customers’ cloud-based data systems. Experience installing, configuring, developing, and integrating prototype applications for technical evaluation.

• Bachelor’s degree with 11+ years of relevant development experience or equivalent.


• Computer Science (CS) degree or related field.


• Strong development experience in a variety of languages (ex., java, python).

Security Clearance: Must possess an active TS/SCI with Polygraph to be considered for this role.

Desirable Skills

• Modeling experience.


• Machine Learning experience.


• Experience with Docker containers and Kubernetes.


• Dev experience on Linux platforms.


• Analytics development experience.


• Virtual Machine (VM) experience.

Original Posting

Original Posting: October 19, 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

Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That’s why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement.

Commitment and Diversity

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.

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.