Software Engineer
Company: Leidos
Location: El Cajon
Posted on: January 5, 2026
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Job Description:
Job Description Description Unleash your curiosity. Solve what
others can’t. At Leidos , we’re not just writing code—we’re
decoding the unknown. Our San Diego research and engineering team
tackles some of the most complex challenges in national defense
using advanced signal processing, ocean remote sensing, and
high-performance computing . We’re looking for a Software Engineer
/ Computer Scientist who thrives on solving hard problems and
pushing the boundaries of performance. You’ll join a
cross-disciplinary team of scientists and engineers—experts in
hydrodynamics, physics, acoustics, and signal processing —to build
high-impact software that extracts meaning from massive, complex
data sets. If you’re driven by innovation, energized by
collaboration, and ready to see your algorithms power real-world
missions—you belong here. What You’ll Do Collaborate with
scientists and engineers to design, implement, and optimize
advanced algorithms that power next-generation radar, optical, and
infrared sensor systems. Engineer high-performance backend systems
for scientific computing and distributed environments. Integrate,
refactor, and optimize scientific codebases , ensuring scalability
and efficiency. Translate and enhance existing code for GPU/CUDA
acceleration and parallel/distributed execution. Test, document,
and evolve complex software in a Linux/Unix environment. Work in a
collaborative environment that values technical rigor, creativity,
and growth . Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Computer
Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or related field with 6
years of backend software development experience; or Master’s with
4 years . Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of
degree. U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a Top Secret
clearance (active TS preferred). Demonstrated expertise in C/C++
backend software development , including large-scale,
performance-critical applications. Proven experience with
high-performance computing , parallel/distributed processing , and
standards such as MPI . Hands-on experience with GPU/CUDA
programming and optimization. Experience with AI/ML and LLM
concepts and algorithms Strong foundation in advanced mathematics
or physics , with the ability to translate theory into functional
code. Proficiency in Linux/Unix development environments.
Familiarity with scientific programming , algorithm implementation,
and system-level problem-solving. Strong understanding of software
engineering principles and best practices. Excellent written and
verbal communication and software documentation skills. Preferred
Qualifications Active Top Secret clearance Familiarity with Agile
development , object-oriented design , and modern software
architecture. Experience with Git , GitLab , MATLAB , and Fortran .
Knowledge of multi-threaded or shared-memory applications . Why
Leidos? You’ll be part of a team that: Combines science,
technology, and imagination to solve real-world defense challenges.
Values your curiosity as much as your technical ability. Invests in
your professional growth through mentorship and hands-on
innovation. At Leidos, your code doesn’t just run—it defends,
detects, and delivers . 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: October 21, 2025
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 $87,100.00 - $157,450.00 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. 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. 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.
Keywords: Leidos, Poway , Software Engineer, Engineering , El Cajon, California
