Lead Software Developer

Description

We are seeking a Lead Software Developer who will be a member of a dynamic team for the Air Traffic Management program –
Sky Line-X™.

Sky Line-X™ provides an array of advanced air traffic management capabilities to improve aircraft safety, performance, and efficiency across the world’s airspace.

• Design, develop, and maintain software components independently and as a key contributor within a software team.
• Actively participate in software planning, estimation, status updates, and technical discussions, providing input on design and implementation approaches.
• Analyze system and subsystem requirements and translate them into robust software designs using sound engineering principles.
• Lead implementation of moderately complex features, ensuring code is scalable, maintainable, efficient, and aligned with system architecture.
• Leverage AI‑assisted development tools (e.g., Roo Code, Claude, ChatGPT) to enhance productivity across coding, debugging, testing, and documentation.
• Exercise strong technical judgment in evaluating AI‑generated outputs, identifying subtle defects, edge cases, performance issues, and security risks.
• Develop, standardize, and promote effective prompting strategies and AI‑assisted development workflows within the team.
• Contribute to and help enforce best practices for responsible AI usage, including code validation, traceability, and compliance with project and security standards.
• Perform code reviews, providing constructive feedback on both human‑ and AI‑generated code.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex software issues and support integration and system‑level testing activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of development processes, tooling, and team efficiency, including integration of AI capabilities into workflows.

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance (US Citizenship required).
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field and a minimum of 4 years of prior relevant experience.
• Proficiency in C++ with experience developing and maintaining production‑quality code.
• Proficiency in Python and Qt is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience using AI‑assisted software development tools (e.g., Git Hub Copilot, ChatGPT, Roo Code) to improve development efficiency and code quality.
• Strong ability to evaluate, validate, and refine AI‑generated code, including identifying logical errors, edge cases, and security considerations.
• Solid understanding of software design principles, debugging techniques, testing methodologies, and code quality practices.
• Experience participating in code reviews and contributing to team development standards.
• Ability to work independently on moderately complex tasks and provide technical guidance to less experienced developers.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.
• Demonstrated initiative in improving development workflows, tools, and practices, including the adoption of AI‑assisted techniques.

• Experience helping define or standardize AI‑assisted development practices within a team or project.
• Experience integrating AI tools into development pipelines, testing frameworks, or documentation processes.
• Familiarity with secure coding practices and validating AI‑generated code in regulated or mission‑critical environments.
• Prior experience mentoring junior developers or onboarding new team members.

$87,100.00 – $. The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary.

Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave, and Retirement. More details are available at the company careers portal.

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.