Real-Time Software Engineer

Leidos; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4 or more weeks Paid Time Off

11 paid Holidays

401K with company match

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Real-Time Software Engineer in Arlington, VA to design, develop and integrate real-time software for RF/EW systems. You will work with multi-disciplinary teams on Linux or RTOS, translating MATLAB algorithms into high-performance C/C++ components and integrating with third-party frameworks.

You should have a strong OO design background, experience with hardware interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet, UART), and a track record of rigorous testing, documentation, and collaboration in agile

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field with several years of software development experience.
• Strong programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or C++ and OO design.
• Experience with hardware interfaces and computer architecture basics.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test real-time C/C++ software for multi-core Linux or RTOS systems.
• Interface with RF hardware and configure/control devices.
• Integrate software into third party frameworks (e.g., Redhawk) and use communication protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, DDS).
• Read MATLAB algorithms and translate to real-time software components.
• Maintain documentation and support field testing events.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

C++

Object-oriented design

Linux

GCC

CMake

Make

Git

Subversion

Jenkins

Unit testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Computer Science

Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent (6+ years)

Tools

GCC

CMake

Make

Git

Subversion

Jenkins

Job description

Description

Today, Electronic Warfare (EW) is a growing enterprise - protecting the warfighter and our national security against ever-adapting threats. Our division currently has an exciting opportunity for a Real-Time Software Engineer to perform design, development, and hardware/software integration in Arlington, VA for the Electronic Warfare Division. Our division primarily focuses on research & development and advanced prototyping, transforming state of the art signal processing algorithms into real-time software systems. Projects involve small multi-disciplinary teams of engineers working together in spiral or agile development environments to meet aggressive customer schedules aimed at near-term field demonstrations. Join a team of experts in implementing high-performance signal processing on general purpose processors, such as ARM.

The Successful Candidate Will Be Responsible For

• Contributing to design and development of advanced systems as a part of multi-disciplinary teams. These teams are made up of other software team members and subject matter experts from the areas of systems engineering, hardware, firmware, machine learning, RF front end design, and signal processing.
• Designing, implementing, and testing real-time C/C++ software for multi-core systems running Linux or a real-time operating systems, such as VxWorks
• Build software products that utilize third party mathematics and communication libraries
• Interface communication standards / protocols such as TCP/IP, UDP, and DDS
• Read and understand signal processing algorithms written in MATLAB
• Work with Linux operating system as well as experience with real-time operating systems
• Designing, implementing, and testing software to configure and control RF hardware devices
• Integrating software into third-party software frameworks and architectures, such as Redhawk
• Documenting the developed systems
• Support system field testing and collection events, usually about a week in duration once or twice a year

The Successful Candidate Will Have The Following Basic Education/experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science, or related discipline 8+ years of software development experience, including strong experience in programming in Python, MATLAB, or C++Strong understanding of object-oriented design
• Basic understanding of hardware-software interaction and basic computer architecture Experience with hardware interfaces (e.g. PCIe, UART, Ethernet) Experience with build tools (e.g. GCC, CMake, or Make)
• Experience using version control (e.g. git, Subversion) and continuous integration software tools (e.g. Jenkins)
• Experience with software testing tools and methodology
• Experience in creating and maintaining technical documentation for developed software
• Ability to communicate and share ideas, concepts, and designs with a team of engineers
• Demonstrated ability and motivation to continually learn new technical skills and conceptsUnderstanding of unit test frameworks and test-driven development practices
• Must have an active Secret clearance and be eligible to obtain a TS/SCI.

Bonus Education/experience

• Master’s Degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent with 6+ years of experience
• Active security clearance higher than the Secret level
• Ability to debug embedded systems using tools like oscilloscopes and logic analyzers
• Experience maintaining, tracking, and updating ticket/status using Gitlab or similar interface
• Experience using common scripting languages (e.g. bash)

Pay Range

Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

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. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Benefits

• 4 or more weeks 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
• and much more

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.

Original Posting

July 27, 2026

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 for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.