Software Engineer – Mid-Career

Leidos; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 87,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos in San Diego, CA is seeking a Software Engineer to join the Undersea Systems Division. You will work on embedded firmware and software across Linux, RTOS, and ROS 2 platforms, collaborating with a mid-sized team to prototype and test ocean systems.

The role requires strong C and Linux skills, and a US citizen with ability to obtain/hold SECRET clearance. On-site work, with opportunities to contribute to system-level testing, integration, and documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field from an accredited institution.
• 5+ years of embedded firmware and software development experience.
• Proficient in C programming and Linux development tools.
• Experience with embedded platforms (Linux kernel/Yocto, RTOS, ROS 2).
• Familiar with hardware test equipment and debugging.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with team to identify firmware and software requirements for embedded platforms.
• Architect and design robust embedded firmware and software.
• Implement, test, integrate, and verify firmware and software against requirements.
• Develop and maintain engineering documentation and SRS/ICD.
• Coordinate with the team to plan feature work and bug fixes.

Skills

C programming

Git/Subversion

Linux CLI

Bash scripting

Embedded comms

Static analysis/build automation

Embedded test equipment

Firmware debugging

Technical communication

ROS 2

NVIDIA Jetson

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM fields

Tools

GCC

GNU Make

MPLAB

Python

Matlab

OpenCV

Job description

Description

The Undersea Systems Division at Leidos currently has an opening for a Software Engineer in San Diego, CA. Candidate will join a fast-paced engineering group rapidly prototyping a variety of ocean systems. Collaborate across our medium-sized team holding complete technical responsibility for custom development and prototyping across many technical disciplines. Team prototyping efforts span from real-world problem-solving, all the way through concept development, followed by iterative design and testing, and conclude with product demonstrations. Ideal candidates will bring deep experience in firmware and software design and design processes.

Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with team to identify embedded firmware and software requirements and evaluate candidate design approaches for solving wide-ranging technical problems.
• Architect and design maintainable, robust, and performant embedded firmware and software platforms and related build and test processes.
• Implement, test, integrate, and verify firmware and software implementations satisfy project requirements for functionality, reliability, and usability; and meet team standards and expectations.
• Develop and maintain documentation including engineering documentation, interface control documents (ICD), and software requirements specifications (SRS).
• Communicate regularly across the engineering group to coordinate development efforts, anticipate design changes, prioritize feature implementations and bug fixes, and solicit team feedback.

Basic Qualifications

• U.S. Citizen with ability to obtain SECRET security clearance; active SECRET clearance preferred.
• Bachelor’s (or higher) degree from an accredited institution in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or another STEM field.
• 5+ years of experience in development and integration for one or more of the listed platforms:
  • Linux application software.
  • Linux kernel and OS (Yocto, Buildroot) embedded microprocessor firmware and software.
  • NVIDIA Jetson embedded firmware and software.
  • RTOS or Bare-Metal embedded microcontroller firmware and software.
  • Robot Operating System 2 (ROS 2) software.
• Proficiency in the C programming language.
• Proficiency in software version control processes (Subversion, Git, etc.).
• Proficiency in Linux command line tools (grep, etc.) and with Linux shell scripting (Bash, etc.).
• Working knowledge of common embedded communications protocols (SPI, RS-232, Ethernet, etc.).
• Working knowledge of software development processes (static analysis, build automation, etc.).
• Familiarity with embedded electronics test equipment (power supplies, oscilloscopes, debuggers).
• Experience testing firmware/software and debugging complex purpose-built embedded electro-mechanical systems.
• Ability to understand complex technical documents and communicate ideas orally and visually.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in development for one or more of the listed applications:
  • OpenCV (or similar) computer vision algorithms
  • Digital Signal Processing (DSP), digital filtering, or other mathematical algorithms
  • Robotics control system modeling and simulation
• Proficiency in embedded development IDEs and tools (Microchip MPLAB, GCC, GNU Make, etc.).
• Proficiency in data processing with (Matlab, Python, etc.).
• Experience in test automation.
• Experience with Graphical User Interfaces.

Physical ability to:

• Navigate lab, office, and warehouse environments—including frequent movement around piers, docks, and facility spaces—with the ability to stoop, kneel, reach for extended periods, and transport objects weighing up to 50 lbs. across the facility.
• Use hands to operate machinery, tools, and computer equipment.
• Climb ladders up to 20 ft and work comfortably in loud production environments, various temperatures, and inclement weather. This includes a willingness to work aboard marine vessels of various sizes, occasionally on an overnight basis.

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:

August 26, 2026

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 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.