Job Information
Leidos Principal Software Engineer (AI-Enabled Platforms & Tools) in Reston, Virginia
Description
This is not a maintenance role. This is a reinvention role.
Leidos is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership for the design and delivery of AI-enabled software platforms and developer tools that support modernization of mission-critical systems.
This Principal Software Engineer role is responsible for system-level technical leadership and defines architectural direction within their domain, resolves complex cross-cutting technical challenges, and shapes how teams design, build, and operate software. The Principal Engineer is a hands-on technical leader who influences outcomes through technical excellence, architectural clarity, and mentorship, not through formal management authority.
This is a role for builders who bias toward action, who believe disruption can coexist with rigor, and who want to apply cutting-edge AI to the problems that matter most.
Mission Context
Our teams modernize software systems that support critical national missions across regulated and safety-critical domains. These systems require:
High reliability, security, and resilience
Scalable and maintainable architectures
Responsible, governed use of AI technologies
As a Principal Software Engineer, you will shape the technical foundations that enable these systems to evolve safely and efficiently over time.
Why Join Us?
Shape the technical foundations of mission-critical systems
Lead real production engineering—not slideware architecture
Apply AI responsibly to complex, high-stakes problems
Operate at the highest technical level without moving into management
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Architecture
Serve as the technical owner for major systems or platforms within an established strategic direction
Define and evolve architectural patterns, design standards, and reference implementations
Lead design reviews and guide teams toward sound technical decisions
Identify and resolve complex technical risks spanning multiple components or teams
Hands-On Engineering
Design and implement critical or high-risk components
Review and elevate code quality across teams through deep technical feedback
Prototype and validate new approaches before broader adoption
Ensure systems meet requirements for scalability, reliability, security, and maintainability
AI-Enabled Systems Leadership
Lead the technical design of AI-enabled capabilities using approved models, frameworks, and platforms
Establish patterns for:
AI integration and orchestration
Evaluation, testing, and validation
Safety, governance, and human-in-the-loop controls
Guide teams in applying AI responsibly within production systems
Cross-Team Influence & Mentorship
Act as a technical authority and escalation point across multiple teams
Mentor Senior and mid-level engineers by setting a high technical bar
Influence engineering practices, tooling, and standards through example and guidance
Collaborate with product, security, and platform leaders to align technical solutions with mission needs
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field
12+ years of relevant software engineering experience
Demonstrated experience leading the design of complex, distributed systems
Expert proficiency in two or more modern programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, Go, TypeScript)
Deep understanding of:
Service-based or microservice architectures
Cloud-native systems and deployment models
Software quality, security, and operational best practices
Deep understanding of Kubernetes and container orchestration:
GitOps deployments
Service Mesh
Role of tools like Helm and Kustomize
Proven ability to influence technical direction without formal authority
Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences
Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience designing or integrating AI-enabled or data-driven systems in production
Experience of working with agentic solutions in Kubernetes:
E.g. KServe, KAgent
Agent Gateways
Agent Registries
GPU enabled nodes
Working in secure or regulated environments
Background in developer tools, platform modernization, or large-scale system evolution
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:
January 29, 2026
For 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 $131,300.00 - $237,350.00
The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand 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.
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 .
Pay and Benefits
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 .
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 (https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/) .
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.
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REQNUMBER: R-00174799
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. Leidos will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment in accordance with relevant Laws. Leidos is an equal opportunity employer/disability/vet.