Senior Embedded Software Engineer - Kinetic Effects

Leidos; United States; On-site; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to support the development of mission-critical embedded software and firmware for missile defense systems. The selected candidate will design, develop, integrate, and demonstrate advanced software capabilities in a fast-paced engineering environment in Huntsville, Alabama.

You must have 8+ years of experience (6+ with a master's), U.S. citizenship and an active DoD Secret clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field with GPA 3.0+.
• 8+ years of experience (6+ with a master's).
• 5+ years in real-time embedded defense/aerospace platforms preferred.
• U.S. Citizenship and active DoD Secret clearance required.
• Resident of North Alabama or willing to relocate to Huntsville area.
• Expert-level C/C++ for embedded systems.

Responsibilities

• Architect and design full-stack airborne system software including embedded components.
• Lead development, testing, and integration of embedded software systems.
• Apply SDLC practices and hardware compatibility analysis.
• Introduce new tools and standards to improve engineering practices.
• Mentor team members and drive complex projects to delivery.
• Identify workflow improvements and explore AI-enabled development.

Skills

C/C++ for embedded

Real-time embedded systems

RTOS (VxWorks/Integrity/FreeRTOS)

ARM Cortex / RISC-V

JTAG debugging

Agile/DevOps/CI-CD

Mentoring

US Citizenship

DoD security clearance

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Software/CS/CE/EE/Math

Master's degree (plus 6+ years)

Tools

Docker

Git

GitLab

Kubernetes

MBSE

Job description

Description

Leidos is seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to support the development of mission-critical embedded software and firmware for missile defense systems. The selected candidate will contribute to the design, development, integration, and demonstration of advanced software capabilities in a fast-paced engineering environment. This role requires close collaboration with integrated engineering teams and strong technical communication skills to support delivery of high-quality software solutions to customers.

Primary Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual design and architectural development across full-stack airborne system software, including embedded software design, code implementation, team peer review, and comprehensive unit testing. Own integration of loosely coupled software modules within subsystems and across distributed networks. Utilize DevOps and CI/CD pipelines to ensure quality and delivery. Contribute to the development of software tools, harnesses, and infrastructures that support fully integrated solutions across multiple technical areas.
• Leading and contributing to the design, development, testing, troubleshooting, and debugging of embedded software systems.
• Applying established software engineering principles, standards, and best practices throughout the full software development life cycle (SDLC) including but not limited to: (a) software requirements analysis, (b) hardware compatibility analysis, and (c) development of tools and software products that support infrastructure, platform design and system maintenance.
• Recommending and implementing new technologies, tools and standards to enhance software engineering practices, which align to organizational goals.
• Leading and mentoring other team members, contributing to the delivery of complex projects, all the while aligning with technical strategy and execution plans.
• Demonstrate initiative in identifying improved development workflows, tools, and engineering practices, including emerging AI-enabled development capabilities.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mathematics, or related technical discipline from an accredited institution, with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• 8+ years of relevant technical experience, or 6+ years with a master's degree in a related field.
• 5+ years of experience with real-time embedded system in defense, aerospace, or safety-critical platforms preferred.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Active DoD Secret Security Clearance required.
• Must be a resident of North Alabama or willing to relocate to the Huntsville-North Alabama area.
• Expert-level proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems development.
• Experience with real-time operating system (RTOS) such as VxWorks, Integrity, or FreeRTOS
• Proficiency with embedded processors and microcontrollers (i.e. ARM Cortex, RISC-V, or similar architectures)
• Experience with embedded debugging tools (JTAG, oscilloscopes, etc.)
• Must have strong knowledge of modern software development practices including Agile, DevOps, CI/CD, and test automation and understand the reasons these practices are used on mission and safety critical programs.
• Must have strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to address highly complex technical challenges.
• Ability to work independently on well-defined tasks and contribute effectively in a collaborative team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with high-speed guided weapons systems, flight controls systems, or similar embedded solutions.
• Experience developing large-scale embedded, high-performance systems with a high level of determinism.
• Familiarity with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
• Prior experience working in highly regulated or mission-critical environments (e.g., aerospace or defense sectors).
• Experience with software safety standards (DO-178C, MIL-STD-882e).
• Experience with Agile management tools and concepts such as Jira.
• Experience with software configuration management tools such as Git and GitLab.
• Proven experience mentoring developers across multiple experience levels.

Clearance Requirement

Active DoD Secret Security Clearance required.

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Original Posting

August 10, 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 $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

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 $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com .

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 .

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.