AI Native Software Developer

Leidos is seeking a Jr level, AI Software Developer to join the Airports, Borders, and Security (AB&S) Business Area within the Homeland Sector, building the Travel & Customs Orchestration Platform - a hybrid-cloud, AI-driven system that senses data across the traveler journey (ATC data, manifests, border processing, detection/security, kiosks, e-Gates, staffing, and capacity), predicts demand, orchestrates resources, and measures outcomes.

In this position, you will design and implement software solutions independently while working closely with systems engineering, product delivery, and Dev Sec Ops  teams. The primary focus is on developing microservices-based applications that power the platform's Sense → Predict → Orchestrate → Measure operating model, including the AI Detection Algorithm Marketplace used to evaluate and deploy third‑party and in‑house detection algorithms (prohibited items, explosives, weapons, liquids, novel threats, behavioral indicators, and future algorithm types).

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, mission‑critical systems that directly support border and aviation security operations - including dynamic staffing allocation, checkpoint and lane management, passenger routing, exception management, passenger communications, cross‑functional alerting, performance reporting, and predictive maintenance - while applying AI tools to accelerate development, improve quality, and enhance system reliability. The platform serves stakeholders across the traveler journey, including TSA, CBP/ICE, airport operators, eu‑LISA, airlines, Frontex, ground handlers, and passengers themselves.

This is a Hybrid position; the candidate will be in the office (Reston, VA) 3 days a week.

• Design and build microservices supporting the platform’s Sense → Predict → Orchestrate → Measure model
• Integrate real-time data feeds (ATC, manifests, border processing, detection/security, kiosks, e-Gates) and contribute to the AI Detection Algorithm Marketplace
• Build and operate adapters/connectors that normalize diverse source schemas (e.g., FIXM/AIXM, AODB, airline feeds) to a canonical event model
• Deliver features like dynamic staffing allocation, lane management, passenger routing, and predictive maintenance
• Develop calibrated predictive models (queue/wait, connection-miss, baggage, crowding, disruption propagation) and integrate LLM/RAG components for explanation and recommendation - keeping generative AI off the numeric prediction path
• Work in an Agile/SAFe team with systems engineering, Dev Sec Ops , and QA
• Implement privacy-by-design and zero-trust controls (tokenization, policy-scoped access, data minimization, retention/expiry)
• Write clean, tested code and use AI-assisted tools to speed development and improve quality
• Support troubleshooting, performance tuning, and continuous improvement to reduce wait times and increase throughput
• Implement modern automated testing strategies, including unit, integration, contract, end-to-end, and deterministic replay/backtesting

• BS/BA degree and 4 years related experience OR Master’s with 2 years of related experience; 4 years of related experience in lieu of degree
• Ability to obtain/maintain Public Trust; U.S. citizenship is required
• Hands-on experience with microservices and at least one modern language (Java, Python, C++)
• Experience with AI-assisted engineering tools and/or AI/ML-enabled systems
• Experience with event-driven / streaming architectures (e.g., Kafka, Pub/Sub) and stream or batch data processing
• Experie…