Junior Software Engineer

Job Description

Junior Software Engineer (AI-Enabled Development)

Leidos is seeking a Junior Software Engineer with AI-enabled development experience to join the UK National Airspace System Replacement Product Delivery Team (UK NASR PDT). This role is based in Gaithersburg, MD; Eagan, MN; or Egg Harbor, NJ.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to real-time, safety-critical systems that directly support national air traffic operations for the United Kingdom. You will play a vital role in modernizing a high-availability air traffic management platform, leveraging both traditional systems engineering practices and innovative AI-augmented software development techniques.

This position operates on a hybrid schedule, requiring 3 days onsite and offering 2 days remote.

What You’ll Do

• Design, develop, test, and maintain software for real-time, high-availability systems.
• Apply AI-assisted development tools to accelerate coding, refactoring, debugging, and automated test generation.
• Utilize AI responsibly across the full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), including requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, documentation, and code review.
• Analyze complex system requirements and translate them into efficient, maintainable designs.
• Develop and maintain automation scripts across development, test, and production environments.
• Promote code quality, reuse, traceability, and cross-team collaboration.

Required Qualifications

AI-Driven Engineering Experience

We are specifically seeking engineers who actively integrate AI into their daily development workflow.

• Hands-on experience using AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or similar) for:
  • Code generation and refactoring
  • Debugging and automated test creation
  • IDE-integrated workflows
• Familiarity with large language model platforms (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, etc.).
• Experience designing effective prompts and validating AI-generated output.
• Understanding of human-in-the-loop development and responsible AI usage.
• Ability to evaluate AI-generated outputs for correctness, performance, safety, and bias — especially in regulated or safety-critical environments.
• Experience incorporating AI/ML techniques into software engineering workflows.
• Experience with automated testing frameworks.

Core Technical Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field with 2 or more years of relevant experience OR a Master’s degree.
• Strong object-oriented programming experience.
• Proficiency in C, C++, and/or Ada (Ada preferred but not required).
• Experience developing real-time, multi-threaded systems.
• Familiarity with Linux (Red Hat), virtual machines, and hypervisors.
• Experience with low-level communications protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, SCTP).
• Experience with hardware or complex system integration.
• Experience with source control and configuration management tools.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
• US citizenship required.

Why Leidos

At Leidos, you’ll work on systems where performance, precision, and reliability are paramount—every second counts. 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 (Air Traffic Management & Controls)

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.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Range: $69,550.00 – $125,725.00

The 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.

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.

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 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Important Notices

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.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

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.

Original Posting Date: February 18, 2026