Lead Firmware Engineer, Autonomous Systems

Lead Firmware Engineer Autonomous Systems

Make an Impact Where Hardware Meets Mission

Leidos is seeking a Lead Firmware & Systems Integration Engineer to help design integrate and field next-generation autonomous maritime systems supporting missions of national importance. This role sits at the intersection of embedded firmware electronics vehicle integration and autonomous systems engineeringdelivering real-world capabilities that operate in some of the most challenging environments on the planet.

This is not a traditional software engineering position. Success in this role comes from understanding how hardware and software interact at the lowest levels and having the technical depth to diagnose integrate and optimize complete systems. Youll work directly with microcontrollers sensors actuators communications systems and vehicle subsystems while leading teams responsible for transforming concepts into operational capabilities.

One day you may be diagnosing a timing issue with an oscilloscope another designing embedded architectures for an autonomous underwater vehicle and another leading integration efforts as a vehicle prepares for testing and deployment. Youll help bridge the gap between requirements hardware firmware and mission execution.

As a technical leader youll guide multidisciplinary teams mentor engineers influence architecture decisions and help deliver mission-ready systems that support customers across the Department of Defense and other national security organizations.

This position is located in Lynnwood WA. Hybrid work opportunities are available based on program needs.

You will be successful in this role if:
* You understand that successful autonomous systems are built through disciplined engineering and relentless attention to detail.
* Youre equally comfortable reviewing firmware architecture debugging communications interfaces probing signals with an oscilloscope mentoring engineers and discussing mission requirements with customers.
* You know the difference between software that compiles and systems that work.

If youre passionate about building and integrating real-world systems that directly contribute to critical national security missions wed like to talk with you.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead firmware development and hardware/software integration efforts from project inception through deployment.
• Serve as the technical lead for small multidisciplinary teams providing engineering leadership mentorship and technical oversight.
• Coordinate with project managers systems engineers customers and functional leads to develop technical plans schedules budgets and resource allocations.
• Translate system-level requirements into derived firmware hardware interface and integration requirements.
• Design embedded architectures and control systems for autonomous maritime platforms and mission systems.
• Develop and implement robust firmware solutions for real-time and resource-constrained environments.
• Lead integration activities involving sensors actuators communications systems power systems and vehicle subsystems. Troubleshoot complex system-level issues spanning firmware electronics communications interfaces and integrated vehicle behavior.
• Work directly with laboratory and test equipment including oscilloscopes logic analyzers protocol analyzers and related instrumentation.
• Guide architectural decisions involving embedded processors communications protocols real-time operating systems and control systems.
• Mentor firmware and systems engineers in technical execution communication and leadership skills.
• Arbitrate challenging technical decisions by evaluating tradeoffs and driving teams toward practical mission-focused solutions.
• Drive continuous improvement of firmware development integration testing and validation processes.
• Support system integration qualification testing field testing and operational demonstrations to ensure delivery of high-quality mission-ready capabilities.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelors degree with 1215 years of relevant experience or Masters degree with 1013 years of relevant experience.
• Active Secret clearance (or higher).
• Advanced proficiency developing firmware in C/C within embedded and Linux-based environments.
• Extensive experience with STM32 microcontrollers or similar ARM Cortex-M platforms.
• Deep understanding of embedded systems fundamentals including interrupt service routines (ISRs) timers PWM-based control systems DMA memory-mapped peripherals bootloaders bare-metal development and real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Expertise with embedded communications and control interfaces including UART SPI I2C CAN Bus Ethernet and related embedded protocols.
• Hands-on experience debugging and validating hardware/software systems using oscilloscopes logic analyzers protocol analyzers and other laboratory equipment.
• Demonstrated experience integrating hardware and firmware into functioning systems and products.
• Proven ability to lead technical teams and drive successful execution of complex engineering efforts.
• Familiarity with software architecture principles and engineering best practices.
• Experience working within Agile development environments using Jira Confluence Bitbucket or similar toolsets.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with engineers leadership and customers.
• Demonstrated integrity accountability and commitment to mission success.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing autonomous robotic or vehicle-control systems.
• Experience integrating sensors navigation systems payloads power systems and electromechanical subsystems into operational platforms.
• Experience supporting hardware/software integration qualification testing environmental testing and field operations.
• Experience developing guidance navigation control (GNC) autonomy or mission-management software.
• Proficiency in additional languages such as Python Rust C# Java or similar technologies.
• Familiarity with SysML-based modeling tools such as Cameo or MagicDraw.
• Experience with containerized and virtualized development environments including Docker and VMware.
• Experience developing automated test infrastructure hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments or integration test frameworks.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve defects across both legacy and modern embedded codebases.
• Background in the design development integration and testing of autonomous or remotely operated undersea vehicle systems.

SUBSEAMSS

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.