Senior Software Engineer

Leidos LLC; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Wellness programs

Paid Leave

Retirement plan

Job summary

Leidos Defense is seeking a Software Engineer in Huntsville to develop software for defense systems in a Linux environment. You will contribute across the full software lifecycle within a SAFe framework, using C++ and Python, and collaborating with systems, electrical, and test teams to deliver mission-critical software.

The role emphasizes peer reviews, automated testing, and documentation, with on-site duties in Huntsville and a requirement for an active Secret clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent from an ABET-accredited university with 8+ years of experience or Master’s degree with 6+ years.
• Strong competency in C/C++, Python.
• Experience with software engineering throughout the software lifecycle.
• Experience with software best practices such as peer reviews, automated testing, and document generation.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams (systems engineering, electrical, test) to create a software product.
• Experience working in an Agile environment.
• Experience using Jira and Gitlab (or equivalent).
• Experience developing within Qt IDE (or equivalent).
• Experience developing in a Linux environment.
• Familiarity with HWIL testing.
• Currently living in Huntsville, AL or willing to relocate.
• Currently holds an active Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Developing software for use in a Linux environment.
• Developing software in a SAFe environment using Jira and Gitlab.
• Collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams to implement desired software functionality.
• Utilizing software best practices such as peer reviewing and unit testing.
• Debugging and troubleshooting software in a HWIL setting.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Linux

HWIL testing

Agile

peer reviews

automated testing

Education

ABET-accredited degree in Software Engineering or CS or CE

Tools

Jira

Gitlab

Qt IDE

Job description

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact? At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business. Are you ready for your next career challenge? Leidos Defense provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world’s toughest security challenges for customers with “can’t fail” missions.

Within the Defense Sector, Leidos currently has an opening for a talented Software Engineer to work onsite in our Huntsville office. This is an exciting opportunity to use your experience to develop software for critical counter UAS and missile defense solutions. This position focuses on supporting the complete software lifecycle of complex defense systems in a Linux environment using languages like C++ and Python. The Software Engineer will develop software within a Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) environment, collaborating with multiple stakeholders across a multi-disciplinary team and utilizing software best practices to create unique solutions for complex mission-critical problems.

Primary Responsibilities

• Developing software for use in a Linux environment
• Developing software in a SAFe environment using Jira and Gitlab
• Collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams to implement desired software functionality
• Utilizing software best practices such as peer reviewing and unit testing
• Debugging and troubleshooting software in a HWIL setting

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent degree from an ABET-accredited university with 8+ years of experience or Master’s degree and 6+ years.
• Strong competency in at least C/C++, Python
• Experience with software engineering throughout the software lifecycle
• Experience with software best practices such as peer reviews, automated testing, and document generation
• Experience collaborating with other functional groups (systems engineering, electrical engineering, test, etc.) to create a software product
• Experience working within an Agile environment (or equivalent)
• Experience using tools such as Jira and Gitlab (or equivalent)
• Experience developing within Qt IDE (or equivalent)
• Experience developing in a Linux environment
• Familiarity troubleshooting/testing software in an HWIL environment
• Currently living in Huntsville, AL or willing to relocate
• Currently holds an active Secret clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Buildroot and VMWare
• Experience using Wireshark and developing software that sends communications over a network (UDP/TCP)
• Supporting and maintaining CI/CD pipelines
• DoD acquisition processes and methods

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

September 25, 2026

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.

Pay and Benefits

Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement.

More details are available here.

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.

Company Overview

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.

Data Security

Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information at any part of the employment application process. And Leidos will communicate with you only through emails that are sent from a Leidos.com email address. If you receive an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information, please report the email to [e-mail].