Software Engineer

Leidos LLC; California; On-site; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Software Engineer in San Diego, CA to join an R&D team focused on uncrewed underwater vehicles, maritime sensors, and DDS-enabled communications. You will develop software for UUV operations, integrate sensors, and optimize performance on Linux/C/C++ platforms.

Occasional travel offshore and to other sites may be required, with a current Secret clearance preferred. Responsibilities include software bring-up on hardware, testing at sea, and documenting results for engineering

Qualifications

• Experience with Linux, Python, C/C++ in embedded or systems programming.
• Hands-on hardware/software bring-up and benchtop troubleshooting.
• Experience with ROS2 and DDS middleware for sensor integration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine software for uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) and sensor integration.
• Develop and optimize UUV behaviors and data collection.
• Produce engineering reports and briefing material from test data.
• Test onboard small boats/ships and support sea testing.

Skills

Linux

Python

C/C++

CAN bus

UDP

TCP networking

Telemetry data analysis

Hardware/software bring-up

Testing on sea

Ros2 package development

Education

Bachelor of Science or Master of Science in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering

Tools

ROS2

DDS middleware

Job description

General program information and/or position overview: Leidos’ Undersea Systems Division is seeking a Software Engineer in San Diego, CA to join a fast-paced R&D engineering group. This role is a unique opportunity to drive innovation in underwater vehicle systems, maritime sensors, subsea telemetry, and ISR solutions that support critical defense and national security missions at Naval Information Warfare Center, Pacific (NIWC PAC). Leidos’ USD is a recognized leader in C4ISR technologies, delivering innovative, mission-critical solutions across sensor networks, unmanned systems, and tactical platforms. We’re known for achieving “industry firsts” in the most challenging maritime domains. Join us and be part of a world-class team delivering unmatched solutions for today's most pressing maritime missions. This position will require the candidate to maintain a Secret Clearance to start. This position will require the candidate to work a 9/80B schedule (80 hours of work into nine days over a two-week period, allowing for every other Friday off) onsite at NIWC to align with the NIWC government team.

Primary Responsibilities

This individual will work with a small team of engineers and technicians to develop, test, and deliver uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) based on system requirements. Specific development includes software related to operations of UUVs as well as sensor integration.

Required Experience / Skills

• Develop and refine user interface and control of various sensors integrated onboard UUVs.
• Develop and optimize UUV behaviors to accomplish assigned tasks while maximizing opportunities for sensor data collection.
• Self-motivated engineer with demonstrated hands‑on hardware/software bring‑up and benchtop troubleshooting experience.
• Strong systems programming capabilities in Linux, Python, and C or C++.
• Practical understanding of TCP networking and socket-level data transport.
• Develop platform-independent data processing tools.
• Produce SW performance reports based on test & evaluation requirements.
• Create engineering & training documentation for technological deliveries.
• Testing involves working onboard small boats and ships on the ocean, launching and recovering systems at sea, and post-test analysis of data.
• Reporting includes providing results from post-test data analysis into official reports or briefing material.
• Most development and testing will be conducted in San Diego; however, engineers may occasionally travel in support of testing, training and/or operations in other locations both in the U.S. and abroad and may spend multiple days at-sea onboard ships.

Education/Skills

• U.S. Citizen with an active SECRET or higher security clearance or the ability to obtain a Secret clearance (requires US Citizenship)
• Bachelor of Science or Master of Science (preferred) in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering Process-oriented and attention to detail.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Experience working with and managing small groups.
• Must be flexible and responsive to customer needs.
• Requires frequent movement around piers, docks, and facility spaces.
• Required to transport or lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds across the facility.
• Requires constant use of hands/fingers to operate machinery, tools, or computer equipment.
• Requires ability to move about the warehouse, stoop, kneel, or reach for extended periods.
• Ability to climb ladders up to 20 feet.
• Able and willing to work aboard marine vessels of various sizes, sometimes overnight.
• Requires work in various temperatures and inclement weather.
• Familiarity with ROS2 package development and DDS middleware.
• Experience interfacing with CAN bus, UDP and alternate comms (serial, RF datalinks).
• Demonstrated ability to run statistical analyses and generate visualizations on large-scale datasets (telemetry, bench logs).
• Experience working independently or in teams to develop solutions, deliver products and test and evaluate performance.
• Experience and skill analyzing experiment data to determine results as feedback into the development cycle.
• Strong technical writing skills to provide input to or create technical reports and briefing material.
• Ability to identify a solution to a presented problem and map it to a schedule.

SUBSEAMSS

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 16, 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.

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 $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026. 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 here.

Securing Your Data

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].

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.