Senior Software Engineer

Leidos Inc; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits package

Support for modern tooling and innovation

Job summary

Leidos Inc is seeking a Senior Software Engineer based in Arlington, VA, requiring 8+ years of experience and expertise in Java, Rust, JavaScript, or React. This role involves providing technical leadership, mentoring engineers, and driving complex software initiatives. Ideal candidates will have strong experience in Agile environments and must be US citizens with an active Top Secret clearance. Opportunities for telework exist, supporting a collaborative engineering culture focused on continuous improvement and user-centric development.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional software development experience or 6+ years with a master's degree.
• Deep expertise in Java, Rust, JavaScript, or React.
• Experience in technical leadership and Agile environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for software solutions.
• Mentor engineers and support their career growth.
• Own and drive complex technical initiatives from concept to production.

Skills

Java

Rust

JavaScript

React

Agile/Scrum

Technical Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Master's degree in a relevant field

Tools

Jira

Job description

Overview

The Defense Sector at Leidos is currently seeking a Senior Software Engineer with 8+ years of professional experience to join a collaborative, product-focused engineering team. In this role, you will shape technical direction, mentor engineers at all levels, and help drive the successful delivery of complex software products built with Java, Rust, JavaScript, and React.

You will act as a trusted technical partner to product management and engineering leadership, balancing hands‑on development with team leadership, mentorship, and delivery ownership. This role plays a key part in fostering a culture of quality, continuous improvement, and user-focused development.

Location & Telework

This position does allow the ability to telework, but the chosen candidate must be within a reasonable driving distance to either Arlington, VA or Alexandria, VA and must be able to be on site when asked.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for software solutions using Java, Rust, JavaScript, and React
• Lead and influence multiple Agile scrum teams, ensuring alignment on architecture, standards, and delivery goals
• Own and drive complex, cross‑team technical initiatives from concept through production
• Mentor and coach engineers across experience levels, supporting career growth and technical excellence
• Serve as a technical escalation point for design, implementation, and production issues
• Partner with engineering managers and product owners on roadmap planning, prioritization, and execution
• Promote best practices in automated testing, CI/CD, code quality, and secure development
• Guide teams in leveraging generative AI tools to improve development efficiency and software quality
• Lead architectural reviews, design discussions, and technical decision‑making forums
• Ensure software solutions are scalable, maintainable, performant, and user‑centered
• Incorporate user feedback and operational insights to drive continuous product improvement
• Contribute hands‑on to critical areas of the codebase as needed

Basic Qualifications

• US Citizen with at least an active Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain SCI
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and 8+ years of professional software development experience or a Master's degree with 6+ years of experience. Additional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
• Deep expertise in one or more of Java, Rust, JavaScript, or React, with the ability to guide teams across the full stack
• Proven experience in technical leadership, team leadership, or staff/lead engineering roles
• Strong background working in Agile/Scrum environments and leading teams using Jira or similar tools
• Demonstrated experience driving architecture and solution design across teams
• Strong experience with automated testing strategies and continuous delivery
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and mentorship skills

Preferred Qualifications

• US Citizen with an active TS/SCI security clearance
• Experience managing or heavily influencing multiple teams or large initiatives
• Experience partnering closely with engineering managers or performing light people‑management duties
• Experience with cloud‑native, distributed, or large‑scale systems
• Familiarity with frontend and end‑to‑end testing frameworks
• Experience operationalizing AI‑assisted development tools across teams
• Strong understanding of usability, accessibility, and user‑centered design

What We Offer

• Opportunity to shape technical direction and engineering culture across the organization
• High‑impact leadership role with visibility and influence
• Collaborative environment that values mentorship, ownership, and continuous learning
• Support for modern tooling, automation, and innovation
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package

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.