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Leidos
Lead AI Software Developer
Career Insights for Software Developer / Engineer
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Scorecard
Based on Maryland data
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What they do
A Software Developer or Engineer designs or improves computer software. Oversees the entire software development process. Analyzes customer or user needs, designs programs, writes code or instructs computer programmers, tests design, and documents programs. May assist with upgrades or maintenance. May specialize in the design of computer applications or computer systems.
$125,403 / year median in Maryland
+1% projected growth
Job Description
Description Leidos is seeking a Lead AI Software Developer to join the Air Traffic Business Area within the Homeland Sector , supporting the development of the Leidos Common Automation Platform (L-CAP) . L-CAP is a mission-critical, future-ready automation platform built on a hybrid cloud data mesh architecture , enabling next-generation air traffic management capabilities. As part of a large-scale Scaled Agile (SAFe) software development organization , you will serve as a technical leader and strategic architect , shaping enterprise data solutions that bridge mission needs, systems engineering rigor, and modern Agile delivery. In this position, you will design and implement software solutions independently while working closely with systems engineering, product delivery, and DevSecOps teams. The primary focus is on developing microservices-based applications within an Agile/SAFe environment. Experience with AI-enabled or data-driven systems is advantageous. This position supports government programs and requires the ability to obtain and maintain a favorable Public Trust investigation. This role focuses on building and modernizing real-time, safety-critical systems using a combination of traditional systems engineering and AI-augmented software development practices. You'll work on software that directly supports national air traffic operations, applying AI tools to accelerate development, improve quality, and enhance system reliability. This position is located in either Gaithersburg, MD or Egg Harbor Township, NJ . This is an opportunity to contribute to projects that impact millions of air travelers. This is a hybrid position requiring 3 days onsite and 2 days working from home.
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
What You'll Do:
Design, develop, and maintain microservices-based applications using modern software engineering best practices Collaborate with product owners, architects, and engineers in an Agile/SAFe environment Participate in sprint planning, daily standups, reviews, and retrospectives Collaborate with systems engineering and program teams to translate requirements into working software solutions Develop clean, maintainable, and testable code following CI/CD and DevSecOps practices Contribute to system design discussions and technical decision-making Integrate services with databases, messaging systems, and external APIs Support troubleshooting, performance tuning, and continuous improvement Work closely with QA, DevOps, and platform teams to ensure reliable delivery Implement modern automated testing strategies, including unit, integration, contract, and end-to-end testing Use AI-assisted development tools to accelerate coding, refactoring, debugging, and test creationCore Technical Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience) 4+ years of relevant experience or a Master's Degree and 2+ years of relevant experience Hands-on experience building and supporting microservices-based systems Proficiency in at least one modern programming language (e.g., Java, Python, C++, or similar on a Linux-based system) Effectively leverage AI-assisted engineering tools to understand unfamiliar codebases, analyze system behavior, develop implementation strategies, accelerate development, and improve software quality. Experience or exposure to AI/ML-enabled systems (Claude-Code) , automation, or intelligent platforms. Ability to analyze and understand large, complex software systems with many interacting components. Analyze existing software interfaces and data flows to implement new capabilities within a complex distributed system. Experience enhancing and maintaining existing software systems while preserving operational stability. Ability to abstract complex implementation details into higher-level architectural concepts and communicate those concepts effectively. Experience working in Agile environments Understanding of APIs and distributed system concepts Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust U.S. citizenship required Successful completion of background investigations as required by the government customer Preferred /Desired Qualifications:
Experience with large-scale distributed systems Experience working with safety-critical or high-availability software Experience reverse-engineering existing software designs Experience integrating with legacy systems Experience reading and understanding large existing codebases Experience with Git-based version control and CI/CD pipelines Familiarity with Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Experience working with relational and/or NoSQL databases Hands-on experience with Kafka or other event-streaming technologies Cloud experience (AWS, Azure, or GCP) Containerization and orchestration experience (Docker, Kubernetes) Experience working in DevSecOps environments Experience with test automation frameworks and integration of automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines Why Leidos? You'll work on systems where performance, precision, and reliability matter- every second. This is not experimental AI for prototypes. This is disciplined, responsible AI applied to mission-critical software that supports national infrastructure. If you're excited by solving complex problems in regulated, real-world environments
- and using AI as a force multiplier rather than a shortcut
- we'd like to talk. ATMC 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:
July 20, 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 $87,100.00- $157,450.
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.