Principal Software Engineer TS/SCI Polygraph

Leidos Inc; Hanover (MD); On-site; USD 154,050 - 278,475; Full time

Job summary

Leidos in the United States is seeking a Principal Software Engineer for the National Security Sector's Cyber & Analytics Business Area (CABA). You will architect and design new features, translating complex requirements into robust designs, and coordinating with an integrated feature team to deliver high-quality software.

This role requires a TS/SCI polygraph up front; experience with Java 17+, Spring Boot, REST, and SOLID, plus mentoring and documentation skills.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in computer engineering or related field; 18 years for bachelor, 15 for master, 13 for doctorate.
• Expertise in Java 17+ and Spring Boot; REST, SOLID, and OO design.
• Strong communication and cross‑team collaboration skills; ability to document concepts clearly.
• Experience documenting technical content and mentoring peers.

Responsibilities

• Architect and design new features, translating complex requirements into robust designs.
• Coordinate with an Integrated Feature Team to ensure high-quality delivery throughout the lifecycle.
• Lead a feature from concept through development, testing, and deployment as the technical shepherd.
• Serve as the technical liaison to Systems Engineering for alignment on approach and constraints.
• Decompose designs into actionable tasks and mentor junior to mid-level developers.

Skills

Java (17+)

Spring Boot

SOLID principles

REST API design

Cross-team communication

Technical writing

Mentoring

MongoDB schema design

Docker

Kubernetes

PKI/TLS/SSL

ICAM capabilities

Confluence & Jira

TS/SCI clearance with polygraph

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in computer engineering or related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

ELK Stack

Confluence

Jira

Job description

Description

Leidos has a new and exciting opportunity for a Principal Software Engineer in our National Security Sector's (NSS) Cyber & Analytics Business Area (CABA). Our talented team is at the forefront in security engineering, computer network operations, mission software, analytical methods and modeling, signals intelligence, and cryptographic key management.

At Leidos, we offer competitive benefits including paid time off, 11 paid holidays, 401(k) with a 6% company match and immediate vesting, flexible schedules, discounted stock purchase plans, technical upskilling, education and training support, parental paid leave, and much more. Join us and make a difference in national security!

The Principal Software Engineer will serve as the technical anchor for a new feature or capability being added to our product. The ideal candidate will be able to architect and design a new feature and translate complex business requirements into robust, documented technical designs. Responsibilities will include coordinating closely with members of an Integrated Feature Team to ensure high‑quality delivery through the lifecycle. This role requires an active/current TS/SCI polygraph up front.

Key Responsibilities

• Architectural Analysis & Design: Deconstruct complex requirements to determine system impact. Lead the creation of design documentation using object‑oriented principles, ensuring new features integrate seamlessly without technical debt.

• Technical Shepherding: Act as the feature lead for a new capability. You are responsible for the "definition of done," guiding a feature from initial concept through development, testing, and deployment.

• Cross‑Team Coordination: Serve as the technical liaison to the Systems Engineering team to align on approach and constraints.

• Team Leadership & Tasking: Decompose high‑level feature designs into actionable tasks for the development team. Manage feature status to leadership and mentor junior and mid‑level peers.

• Quality Assurance: Conduct rigorous merge request reviews to maintain code standards, security protocols, and performance benchmarks.

Basic Qualifications

• TS/SCI clearance with polygraph.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in computer engineering or a related field. Requires at least 18 years of relevant experience for a bachelor’s degree, 15 years for a master’s, or 13 years for a doctorate.

• Expertise in Java (17+ preferred), the Spring Boot ecosystem, SOLID principles, object‑oriented design patterns, and REST interface standards and best practices.

• Strong communicator with the ability to facilitate cross‑team collaboration and clearly convey architecture and design concepts through oral and written communication.

• Skilled in developing technical documentation (including wiki sites, blogs, and XML/HTML content) and mentoring junior to mid‑level software development peers.

Desired Skillsets

• Strong experience with MongoDB data architecture (schema design, indexing, and aggregation).

• Proficiency in Docker for local development and CI/CD pipelines.

• Familiarity with Kubernetes orchestration and the ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) for system monitoring and troubleshooting.

• Experience in PKI/TLS/SSL certificates.

• Knowledge of ICAM capabilities and integration.

• Familiarity using Confluence and Jira.

• Strong organization and time management skills, including the ability to multi‑task and work independently with minimum supervision to meet deadlines.

Pay and Benefits

Pay range: $154,050.00 - $278,475.00. Compensation may vary based on responsibilities, experience, and market data.

Benefits include competitive compensation, health and wellness programs, income protection, paid leave and retirement plans, and additional support for education and training.

Commitment to Non‑Discrimination

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 qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.