Principal AI Software Developer
About the job
- A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience in lieu of a degree.
- At least 12 years of experience and knowledge to meet the role level; a completed master's degree counts as two additional years of experience.
- Proficiency in Java or C++ with demonstrated experience building production software.
- Experience designing and developing microservices-based applications.
- Strong understanding of RESTful API design and implementation.
- Experience with distributed systems and event-driven architectures.
- Proficiency with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices.
- Experience with relational databases such as PostgreSQL and Oracle, and NoSQL databases such as MongoDB and Cassandra.
- Solid experience with Git and collaborative development workflows.
- Familiarity with Agile/SAFe frameworks and iterative delivery.
- Strong debugging, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust and successfully complete government-customer background investigations.
- U.S. citizenship is required.
- Experience with performance engineering, including profiling, benchmarking, and optimization of distributed services.
- Knowledge of interface stability practices and API versioning for service-based architectures.
- Experience modernizing legacy software into service-oriented or microservice implementations.
- Design and develop microservices that form the backbone of the L-CAP automation platform.
- Collaborate with architects to translate system designs into robust, scalable implementations.
- Implement RESTful APIs and event-driven integrations within a hybrid cloud data mesh architecture.
- Integrate with relational and NoSQL databases while ensuring data consistency and performance.
- Tune and optimize services operating in distributed environments.
- Conduct and lead code reviews, enforcing coding standards and best practices across the team.
- Mentor junior developers by providing technical guidance and supporting their professional growth.
- Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues spanning multiple services, APIs, and infrastructure layers.
- Contribute to technical documentation, including design documents, API specifications, and runbooks.
- Participate in SAFe/Agile ceremonies and contribute to PI planning and backlog refinement.
- Perform performance engineering activities, including profiling, optimization, and latency analysis for distributed air traffic control services.
- Maintain interface stability and backward compatibility when modernizing existing operational software into service-based implementations.
- Modernize legacy air traffic control automation functions into cloud-native service implementations while preserving operational behavior and performance characteristics.
- Adopt AI-assisted development tools, automation, and modern engineering practices to improve productivity, code quality, and delivery velocity.
- Python programming proficiency.
- Experience with containerization and orchestration using Docker and Kubernetes.
- Cloud platform experience with AWS or Azure, including managed services.
- Experience with message brokers such as Kafka or RabbitMQ and streaming architectures.
- Knowledge of domain-driven design and data mesh patterns.
- Experience in aviation, defense, or safety-critical software domains.
- Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools such as Terraform and Ansible.
- Experience with AI-assisted development tools, such as code generation, automated testing, and intelligent debugging.
- Experience with performance-critical distributed systems in operational or real-time environments.
- Commutable distance to Gaithersburg, Maryland; Eagan, Minnesota; or Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey is desired but not required.
About the company
Leidos is a large technology and engineering company that serves defense, intelligence, healthcare, and civil government customers. It provides scientific, engineering, and IT solutions to help ensure safety, health, and efficiency, from upgrading air traffic control to strengthening cybersecurity for critical missions. The company delivers integrated systems and services—software, research, cyber defense, and digital modernization—through programs that span government and commercial clients. Leidos stands out through its long history as SAIC’s split-off and rapid growth via major acquisitions, creating a broad, mission-focused portfolio across defense, space, intelligence, and civilian sectors. Its overarching goal is to help customers solve hard problems with advanced technology, enabling safer operations and better public services.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Reston, Virginia
Founded
1969
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- TSA awarded Leidos a potential $672.5 million checkpoint contract on September 28, 2026.
- ARTEMIS extended through summer 2027, preserving Leidos' airborne ISR relevance in Europe.
- Leidos reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $17.2 billion, up 3% year over year.
What critics are saying
- Leidos will lay off 84 Ashburn employees November 23 after losing CBP cyber work.
- Accenture Federal Services now owns the CBP SOC contract, stripping Leidos of sticky cyber revenue.
- A severe federal procurement pause would crush Leidos' revenue base and hiring pipeline.
What makes Leidos unique
- Leidos' March 30, 2026 ENTRUST acquisition doubled its energy infrastructure footprint.
- UpHold Effect launched September 29, 2026, giving federal SOCs auditable agentic automation.
- October 1, 2026 board addition Jeff McElfresh brings AT&T-scale connectivity and cybersecurity experience.
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Benefits
Medical, dental, & vision insurance
Health Savings account
Income protection
PTO
Paid parental leave
Jury duty pay
Bereavement leave
401(k) Retirement Plan
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Family Benefits
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 8%1 year growth
↑ 8%2 year growth
↑ 8%Leidos has appointed Stephen Vather as senior vice president of investor relations. Vather joins from Leonardo DRS, where he served as senior vice president of corporate development and investor relations, helping lead the company's return to public markets. Previously, he spent nine years at ManTech leading mergers and acquisitions and investor relations, starting his career in investment banking. Vather will succeed Stuart Davis, who rejoined Leidos in 2021 and will continue through the third-quarter earnings cycle before retiring in March. Davis has held investor relations roles at Perspecta, CSRA, ManTech and SRA International over his 42-year career. Leidos, headquartered in Reston, Virginia, employs 50,000 people globally and reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended 2 January 2026.
Navy selects three firms for 30 vessel MUSV push at $40 million each. The Navy selected three companies to build 30 medium unmanned surface vessels at an average cost of $40 million each, with first deliveries planned before fiscal year 2027 ends and phase two testing already underway. October 2, 2026 * The Navy selected Galliano Marine Services, Huntington Ingalls Industries and Saronic Technologies to provide 10 MUSVs each. * Each agreement carries an average procurement cost of $40 million per vessel, with initial deliveries scheduled before fiscal year 2027 ends. * The Navy plans to expand its unmanned surface vessel fleet from four to 30 vessels by 2030 in the Indo-Pacific. * Phase two removes the high speed requirement and does not require refueling at sea. The U.S. Navy is moving ahead with plans to procure 30 medium unmanned surface vessels after seven companies competed for contracts under its new autonomous maritime robotics initiative. Three firms emerged from the first phase of testing at sea with production agreements. Galliano Marine Services, Huntington Ingalls Industries and Saronic Technologies received the contracts after completing phase one testing for the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel Family of Systems program. Each company is set to provide 10 vessels. "Each agreement includes the procurement of 10 MUSVs, at an average procurement cost of $40 million per vessel," the Navy said. "The first MUSVs are scheduled to be delivered to the Navy prior to the end of fiscal year 2027." Sea Machines, Leidos, PacMar Technologies and Birdon also completed testing at sea and competed for the Navy work. Those four companies ultimately were not selected to produce vessels under the announced agreements. Sea Machines, Leidos and PacMar Technologies still received $15 million for completing testing at sea. The three companies will now be hosted on the War Department's drone marketplace, where they remain eligible to receive other contracts. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao praised the awards as evidence that the Navy was placing a priority on moving quickly to modernize its fleet. The contracts represent another step in the service's effort to expand its use of autonomous maritime systems. During phase one, the Navy evaluated whether the MUSVs could understand a maritime environment, maneuver without assistance from an operator and deploy at sea for extended periods. Those requirements formed the first competitive hurdle for participating companies. Following recent reports that Congress is considering a nationwide voter ID requirement for federal elections, do you support requiring voters to show identification before casting a ballot? By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from Objectivist.co, occasional offers from its partners and that you've read and agree to its privacy policy and legal statement. Image Credit: Beachside Stock The Navy announced the beginning of phase two testing on Sept. 23 as it continued the procurement process for autonomous systems. Christopher Miller said the next phase will use less demanding requirements than those applied during phase one. "Obviously with phase one, there were some more challenging requirements that they had to meet and so I'm trying to back off of those so that I can have a healthy competitive industrial base," Miller said during a media roundtable on Tuesday. Miller said phase two will not establish a high speed requirement for the MUSVs. The second phase also will not require the vessels to demonstrate refueling at sea. The service is attempting to grow its unmanned surface vessel fleet from four vessels to 30 by 2030 in the Indo-Pacific. That expansion remains a central numerical target as the Navy moves through testing and procurement. The Navy announced its MUSV marketplace in March, replacing the Modular Attack Surface Craft program. Several companies had already been competing for work through that earlier program when it was closed in favor of the marketplace approach. Blue Water Autonomy and Saildrone initially participated in the Modular Attack Surface Craft program. After they were not selected to continue in the MUSV program, the two companies sued the Navy and alleged that they had been unfairly excluded. The marketplace solicitation issued in March called for MUSVs capable of traveling 2,500 nautical miles at 25 knots. It also required the vessels to carry a load of 25 tons on the payload deck while operating in moderate conditions. The push to accelerate autonomous systems research, development and solicitation followed a June report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The report said the Navy needed to quickly rethink how it invested in robotic systems to address urgent fleet needs. Image Credit: DoW Leadership of the Navy's robotic and autonomous systems effort also changed during the procurement campaign. Rebecca J. Gassler, who previously spearheaded the program, was fired on Aug. 5 after serving for only 8 months. Christopher Miller replaced Gassler and assumed duties as acting Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Robotic and Autonomous Systems. The Navy created that role on the same day Gassler was removed, placing Miller in charge as phase two testing moved forward. The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Objectivist. Contact Objectivist for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.
Leidos to lay off 84 workers in Ashburn. Cuts related to U.S. Customs and Border Protection contract loss Reston-based federal contractor Leidos expects to lay off 84 employees in Ashburn beginning Nov. 23, the company informed the state this week. The layoffs are related to the end of a federal contract to support the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Cyber Security Operations Center. Accenture Federal Services, the Arlington County-based federal arm of Irish consulting giant Accenture, received a $121.4 million, five-year contract that went into effect Thursday. Leidos previously held the contract awarded by the Department of Homeland Security. Leidos spokesperson Brandon Ver Velde said in a statement that some of the laid-off workers will likely join Accenture Federal Services to continue working on the new contract. "We know this situation is difficult for our affected employees," Ver Velde said. "There are opportunities elsewhere in Leidos for some, while others are expected to join the company taking over the Customs and Border Protection program we lost. Colleagues who are laid off will have access to many resources that can help them through their transitions." The entire facility at 22001 Loudoun County Parkway will not close, according to the Sept. 28 notice to the state, which was sent in compliance with the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. Bumping rights do not exist, Leidos stated. In 2025, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Information and Technology announced it was seeking proposals for a recompete of a potential $100 million contract. Leidos was the incumbent contractor, and earlier this year, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office awarded the company a six-month bridge contract that ended Sept. 23. Leidos has about 47,000 employees globally and reported about $17.2 billion in revenue for fiscal 2025, a 3% increase from the previous year.
Leidos appoints AT&T COO Jeff McElfresh to board of directors. Oct 01, 2026, 08:00 ET RESTON, Va., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) is welcoming Jeff McElfresh, AT&T's chief operating officer, to its board of directors effective October 1. His joining the Leidos board represents the addition of another excellent leader with success developing and deploying advanced technologies at scale in commercial and public sector markets. McElfresh's AT&T (NYSE: T) career spans more than 30 years. Currently he oversees AT&T's $250 billion nationwide advanced connectivity infrastructure transformation, an expertise that aligns well with Leidos' core digital work and expanding energy infrastructure business. Also very relevant to Leidos, in prior roles he oversaw AT&T's cybersecurity, data management, and labs. Before joining AT&T, McElfresh began his career as a defense tech engineer on aerospace and maritime projects. "We're excited to bring Jeff's expertise and skills to Leidos," said Board Chair Bob Shapard. "The depth and breadth of his experience and leadership will strengthen the board's independent oversight as Leidos executes on its strategic vision." CEO Tom Bell said, "I'm very much looking forward to working with Jeff on our board of directors as we advance our NorthStar 2030 growth strategy. His insights will be invaluable as we develop the critical technologies underpinning our service to national security and other customers." Leidos' board will increase to 11 members with McElfresh's appointment. He'll serve on the board's Corporate Governance and Ethics and Technology and Information Security committees. 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 50,000 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. Media Contact SOURCE Leidos Holdings, Inc.
Leidos has appointed Jeff McElfresh, AT&T's chief operating officer, to its board of directors effective 1 October. McElfresh brings over 30 years of experience at AT&T, where he currently oversees a $250 billion nationwide advanced connectivity infrastructure transformation. His expertise in cybersecurity, data management, and infrastructure aligns with Leidos' digital operations and expanding energy infrastructure business. Before AT&T, McElfresh worked as a defence technology engineer on aerospace and maritime projects. With McElfresh's addition, Leidos' board expands to 11 members. He will serve on the Corporate Governance and Ethics and Technology and Information Security committees. Leidos, headquartered in Reston, Virginia, employs 50,000 people globally and reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended 2 January 2026.