SME Software Engineer Lead

This Department of War enterprise data and analytics program delivers mission-critical capabilities that enable leaders across the Department to make faster better-informed decisions using trusted data at scale. Leidos Digital Modernization sector is seeking an experienced SME Software Engineer Lead to support the delivery enhancement and adoption of enterprise data and analytics products used across multiple DoD organizations.

In this role you will work alongside government partners engineers and other industry teammates to translate operational and strategic requirements into scalable production-ready solutions. You will contribute directly to product planning execution and continuous improvementhelping ensure capabilities are delivered efficiently aligned to mission priorities and positioned for sustained success. This position offers the opportunity to work on a high-visibility enterprise program at the intersection of data analytics and emerging AI technologies. Ideal candidates are motivated by mission impact comfortable operating in complex stakeholder environments and interested in building deep domain expertise while delivering capabilities with real-world national security outcomes.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Design develop and optimize software systems to meet defined functional and technical requirements.

• Build application components APIs automation features and ETL pipelines that collect clean and transform data from source to destination.

• Develop and maintain automation frameworks and integrate with identity and access management systems HR data sources and directory services such as Active Directory and Okta.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to architect solutions perform rigorous testing and documentation and deliver reliable maintainable and scalable software capabilities.

• Prepare maintain and execute a Software Engineering Plan (SWP) for managing all aspects of the System software lifecycle.

• Establish and operate a SAFE Agile development process prioritizing product backlog items and scheduling them into specific Agile sprint cycles.

• Maintain and operate the DevSecOps factory process documentation policies thresholds and associated automated DevSecOps pipelines.

• Perform software development and integration for System software including infrastructure data tools and services customer tools and services cybersecurity and user interfaces.

• Plan design and implement software testing tools processes and procedures for conducting all testing for the System.

• Conduct Configuration Management operations to control identify record and report IT components versions constituent components states and relationships.

• Establish and maintain development test integration staging and production environments for supporting the System software lifecycle.

• Deliver and maintain all software artifacts that are part of the System on Government-owned software repositories.

• Manage a team of 8-15 direct reports providing leadership mentorship and performance evaluations.

• Lead design development integration testing and deployment of secure scalable enterprise software solutions.

• Oversee development of APIs microservices and backend services supporting WDP mission capabilities.

• Ensure implementation of DevSecOps CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks aligned to enterprise standards

• Maintain and enhance WDP software baselines including source code Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) and Configuration-as-Code (CaC) artifacts

• Support secure configuration management release management and software lifecycle governance processes.

• Ensure compliance with NIST SP 800-53 RMF STIGs and Zero Trust principles within application design and deployment.

• Resolve complex cross-domain software integration issues impacting multi-enclave operations.

• Participate in PI Planning backlog refinement sprint reviews and Inspect & Adapt events to align software delivery with Program Increment (PI) objectives.

• Provide direct supervision mentoring and performance management for assigned software engineering staff.

• Conduct performance reviews career development planning and technical coaching.

• Lead workforce planning and staffing alignment across software engineering workstreams.

• Establish code review standards secure development best practices and quality assurance governance.

• Foster a collaborative innovative and high-performing engineering culture focused on mission impact and technical excellence.

Basic Qualifications:

• Active Top Secret (TS) clearance with SCI eligibility.

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science Software Engineering Computer Engineering or related technical discipline and 12 years of relevant experience OR Masters degree in a related field and 10 years of relevant experience.

• At least one of the following foundational qualification pathways consistent with DoD 8140 requirements:

  • Current DoD 8570/8140 baseline certification appropriate for Advanced System Administrator roles (e.g. CASP CCNP Security GCED or equivalent)

  • Offerings listed in the DoD 8140 Training Repository

  • Demonstrated equivalent training and experience qualifying under DoD 8140 foundational qualification alternatives.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in software engineering and development.

• Proven experience with Agile software development methodologies particularly SAFE Agile.

• Experience with software testing including unit regression security integration compliance performance and acceptance testing.

• Experience developing enterprise software solutions in DoD or Federal environments.

• Strong knowledge of DevSecOps principles and practices.

• Experience implementing secure DevSecOps pipelines and automated CI/CD workflows.

• Proficiency in developing and maintaining automation frameworks and integrating with identity and access management systems.

• Experience developing containerized applications (Docker Kubernetes) in cloud environments (AWS Azure or GCP).

• Experience supporting secure configuration management patching and system hardening practices.

• Experience with configuration management operations and maintaining configuration baselines.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

• Demonstrated experience leading and mentoring technical teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active TS/SCI clearance with CI Poly.

• SAFe Agilist (SA) or related SAFe certification.

• Experience operating within SAFe or large-scale Agile frameworks supporting enterprise systems.

• Experience supporting software engineering across NIPRNet SIPRNet and JWICS environments.

• Experience with cloud-based data analytics and AI capabilities.

• Experience integrating enterprise data AI/ML or cybersecurity services into production systems.

• Experience implementing Zero Trust architecture patterns in application development.

• Advanced cloud certification (e.g. AWS Solutions Architect Professional Azure Solutions Architect Expert or equivalent).

• Familiarity with DoD Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and container hardening standards.

• Knowledge of Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) and Configuration-as-Code (CaC) practices.

• Experience with managing software artifact repositories.

If youre looking for comfort keep scrolling. At Leidos we outthink outbuild and outpace the status quo because the mission demands it. Were not hiring followers. Were recruiting the ones who disrupt provoke and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. Were already at step 30 and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

Pay Range:

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.