Software Engineer – Mid-Career
At a glance
Mid-level Software Engineering role at Leidos. San Diego · full-time · $87,100–$157,450 base.
techroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Work with the team to define embedded software and firmware needs, then compare technical approaches to solve project problems
- Design embedded platforms and the processes used to build and test them, with maintainability, reliability and performance in mind
- Build, test and integrate firmware and software, checking that each meets project needs and team standards
- Write and update engineering records, interface control documents and software requirements specifications
- Coordinate development across engineering, flag design changes, set priorities for features and fixes, and gather team input
What you bring
- You are a U.S. citizen able to obtain a SECRET clearance; an active clearance is preferred
- You hold at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer or electronics engineering, or another STEM field
- You have at least five years developing and integrating software or firmware on one or more listed platforms
- You are proficient in C, version control, Linux command-line tools and shell scripting
- You have working knowledge of embedded communications protocols and software development practices
Who this fits
This mid-career role suits an engineer with embedded firmware and software experience who can test and debug complex electromechanical systems and communicate technical ideas. The job is based in San Diego and involves movement through lab, office, warehouse and pier areas, occasional overnight work aboard marine vessels, and lifting objects weighing up to fifty pounds. You must be able to obtain a SECRET clearance.
From the employer
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:
o Linux application software.
o Linux kernel and OS (Yocto, Buildroot) embedded microprocessor firmware and software.
o NVIDIA Jetson embedded firmware and software.
o RTOS or Bare-Metal embedded microcontroller firmware and software.
o 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:
o OpenCV (or similar) computer vision algorithms
o Digital Signal Processing (DSP), digital filtering, or other mathematical algorithms
o 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, 2026For 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 - $157,450.00The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and 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.
Software Engineering work from LinkedIn, X, Reddit and Upwork, in one list.
Each morning you get everything that fits, strongest first.
Software Engineering$80k+
Find me workBy the team behind techroles.