Software Engineer

Leidos LLC; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos LLC in San Diego is searching for a Software Engineer / Computer Scientist who thrives on tackling complex challenges in national defense. You will collaborate with a cross-disciplinary team to design and implement advanced algorithms that power next-generation sensor systems.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, with strong experience in backend software development, high-performance computing, and GPU/CUDA programming. U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance are required.

Qualifications

• 6+ years backend software development experience; or Master's degree with 4+ years.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance.
• Proficient in C/C++ and large-scale applications.
• Hands-on experience with GPU/CUDA programming.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate on advanced algorithms for sensor systems.
• Engineer backend systems for scientific computing.
• Optimize scientific codebases for scalability.
• Test and document complex software in Linux/Unix.

Skills

C/C++ backend software development

High-performance computing

GPU/CUDA programming

Parallel/distributed processing

Linux/Unix development

AI/ML concepts and algorithms

Software engineering principles

Excellent communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics

Master’s in relevant field

Tools

Git

GitLab

MATLAB

Fortran

Job description

Overview

Unleash your curiosity. Solve what others can’t. At Leidos, we’re not just writing code—we’re decoding the unknown. Our San Diego research and engineering team tackles some of the most complex challenges in national defense using advanced signal processing, ocean remote sensing, and high-performance computing. We’re looking for a Software Engineer / Computer Scientist who thrives on solving hard problems and pushing the boundaries of performance. You’ll join a cross-disciplinary team of scientists and engineers—experts in hydrodynamics, physics, acoustics, and signal processing—to build high-impact software that extracts meaning from massive, complex data sets. If you’re driven by innovation, energized by collaboration, and ready to see your algorithms power real-world missions—you belong here.

What You’ll Do

• Collaborate with scientists and engineers to design, implement, and optimize advanced algorithms that power next-generation radar, optical, and infrared sensor systems.
• Engineer high-performance backend systems for scientific computing and distributed environments.
• Integrate, refactor, and optimize scientific codebases, ensuring scalability and efficiency.
• Translate and enhance existing code for GPU/CUDA acceleration and parallel/distributed execution.
• Test, document, and evolve complex software in a Linux/Unix environment.
• Work in a collaborative environment that values technical rigor, creativity, and growth.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or related field with 6+ years of backend software development experience; or Master’s with 4+ years.
• Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance (active TS preferred).
• Demonstrated expertise in C/C++ backend software development, including large-scale, performance-critical applications.
• Proven experience with high-performance computing, parallel/distributed processing, and standards such as MPI.
• Hands‑on experience with GPU/CUDA programming and optimization.
• Experience with AI/ML and LLM concepts and algorithms.
• Strong foundation in advanced mathematics or physics, with the ability to translate theory into functional code.
• Proficiency in Linux/Unix development environments.
• Familiarity with scientific programming, algorithm implementation, and system-level problem-solving.
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles and best practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and software documentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance.
• Familiarity with Agile development, object-oriented design, and modern software architecture.
• Experience with Git, GitLab, MATLAB, and Fortran.
• Knowledge of multi-threaded or shared-memory applications.

Equal Opportunity

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.