Software Engineer

Society of Defense Financial Management; California, Northern (MO, KY); Hybrid; USD 87,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos in San Diego seeks a Senior Software Engineer to modernize and virtualize Navy training systems. You design, deploy, and sustain Linux-based virtualization environments, migrating from hardware to scalable solutions using KVM, libvirt, virsh, and Open vSwitch.

You’ll build automation with Python and Ansible, support networking, and collaborate across cybersecurity and training stakeholders. The role emphasizes DoD compliance, system verification, and readiness testing, with opportunities

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or higher in a relevant field with appropriate experience.
• Experience with Linux systems engineering and virtualization in DoD environments.
• Hands-on use of RHEL, KVM, libvirt, virsh, and Open vSwitch.

Responsibilities

• Design, deploy, and maintain virtualized environments supporting Navy training systems.
• Migrate software to virtualized platforms and manage networking
• Develop automation with Ansible and Python utilities
• Configure high-throughput virtual networks with Open vSwitch
• Collaborate with software, systems, cybersecurity, and training stakeholders
• Support DoD security compliance, STIG/RMF activities

Skills

Linux systems

Virtualization

Platform engineering

RHEL

KVM

libvirt

virsh

Open vSwitch

PCIe passthrough

Python

Ansible

Networking

DoD security clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Master's degree

Tools

KVM

libvirt

virsh

Open vSwitch

Ansible

Python

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Job description

Description

Leidos Defense is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our team in our San Diego facility, supporting the U.S. Navy’s AN/SQQ-89(V) Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) systems.

Our program helps modernize Navy ships by replacing outdated sonar systems with updated AN/SQQ-89(V)15 systems, supporting the installation, logistics, quality checks, and training needed to prepare ship personnel to operate the new systems.

In this role, you will focus on modernizing the AN/SQQ-89(V) ASW Training System by transitioning Tactical Insertion (TI) hardware-based solutions to a scalable, virtualized Linux training platform. You’ll work with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), KVM, Open vSwitch, Python, Ansible, and hardware passthrough technologies to support complex Navy training and simulation environments.

What You'll Do

• Design, deploy, and maintain virtualized environments supporting AN/SQQ-89(V)15 training capabilities.

• Migrate software and services from Tactical Insertion hardware platforms to virtualized environments using KVM, libvirt, virsh, and VirtIO.

• Build and maintain RHEL 7/8 system images, templates, and repositories.

• Develop automated deployment and configuration solutions using Ansible.

• Create Python utilities and scripts for system administration, testing, monitoring, and data management.

• Configure and maintain Open vSwitch environments supporting multiple networks and high-throughput virtual machine communications.

• Integrate physical and virtual networking within tactical training environments.

• Troubleshoot complex virtualization, Linux, networking, storage, hardware, and application integration issues.

• Support performance tuning and optimization of virtualized systems, networking, storage, and compute resources.

• Support software integration, system verification, validation, and acceptance testing.

• Collaborate with software developers, systems engineers, cybersecurity personnel, and training system stakeholders.

• Support cybersecurity compliance activities, including STIG implementation, vulnerability remediation, and RMF activities.

• Develop and maintain architecture diagrams, deployment guides, standard operating procedures, and automation documentation.

• Support modernization efforts focused on improving the portability, scalability, and maintainability of training environments.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree with 4–8 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 2–6 years of relevant experience.

• Experience with Linux systems engineering, virtualization, software development, or platform engineering.

• Experience administering Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) environments.

• Strong experience with KVM, libvirt, and virsh.

• Experience implementing and troubleshooting Open vSwitch (OVS).

• Experience with hardware passthrough technologies, including PCIe passthrough, VFIO, SR-IOV, and IOMMU configuration.

• Experience developing infrastructure automation using Ansible.

• Experience developing software and automation tools using Python.

• Strong understanding of Linux networking concepts, including VLANs, bridges, routing, bonding, and virtual switching.

• Experience troubleshooting integration issues across hardware, operating systems, networking, and applications.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting AN/SQQ-89(V)15 or AEGIS combat systems.

• Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE).

• Experience with high-performance networking and low-latency virtualized environments.

• Experience supporting GPU, FPGA, capture card, or other specialized hardware passthrough to virtual machines.

• Familiarity with distributed storage, NFS, iSCSI, and SAN technologies.

• Experience with FreeIPA, LDAP, Kerberos, and enterprise Linux identity management.

• Experience supporting RMF, STIG implementation, ACAS, and cybersecurity compliance initiatives.

• Active Secret or Top Secret clearance.

If you have a strong Linux and virtualization background and are interested in applying those skills to modernize U.S. Navy training systems,

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.

Pay Range

Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand 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.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [e-mail].

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

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.