Software / Embedded Systems Engineer

Leidos’ Undersea Systems Division is seeking a Software / Embedded Systems Engineer in San Diego, CA to join a fast-paced R&D engineering group. This role is a unique opportunity to drive innovation in underwater vehicle systems, maritime sensors, subsea telemetry, and ISR solutions that support critical defense and national security missions at Naval Information Warfare Center, Pacific (NIWC PAC). Leidos’ USD is a recognized leader in C4ISR technologies, delivering innovative, mission-critical solutions across sensor networks, unmanned systems, and tactical platforms. We’re known for achieving “industry firsts” in the most challenging maritime domains.

About the role

This position will require the candidate to maintain a Secret Clearance and work a 9/80B schedule (80 hours of work into nine days over a two-week period, allowing for every other Friday off) onsite at NIWC to align with the NIWC government team.

Responsibilities

• Work with a small team of engineers and technicians to develop, test, and deliver uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) based on system requirements.
• Develop software related to operations of UUVs as well as sensor integration.
• Design, code, and debug system software in C/C++.
• Write device drivers and implement communication protocols like SPI, I2C, and UART.
• Collaborate with teams to select components (microcontrollers, sensors) and ensure firmware operates on the physical board.
• Analyze and enhance the efficiency, stability, and scalability of system resources.
• Manage project documents using automation tools and implement regression tests.
• Maintain code comments, design specifications, and test reports throughout the project's progression.
• Create detailed schematics and blueprints for computer systems, circuit boards (PCBs), and processors, including selecting components like sensors, memory devices, and power management units.
• Build physical models of new hardware to prove concepts, including hands-on tasks like soldering components to boards in a lab setting.
• Use laboratory tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and multimeters to verify that physical hardware meets performance and safety specifications.
• Supervise the assembly process for newly designed hardware and oversee third-party PCB/PCBA fabricators.
• Modify existing hardware designs to improve performance or ensure compatibility with new software updates.
• Conduct testing onboard small boats and ships on the ocean, including launching and recovering systems at-sea, and perform post-test analysis of data.
• Provide results from post-test data analysis into official reports or briefing material.
• Develop expertise on the functionality and operations of one or more UUV platforms and operate the system at-sea during test and evaluation.

Most development and testing will be conducted in San Diego; however, engineers may occasionally travel in support of testing and/or operations in other locations both in the U.S. and abroad and may spend multiple days at-sea onboard ships.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Active SECRET (or higher) clearance is required; existing security clearance is highly desired.
• Bachelor of Science (+4 years of relevant experience) or Master of Science (+2 years of relevant experience) in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering.
• Flexible and responsive to customer needs.
• Frequent movement around piers, docks, and facility spaces.
• Ability to transport or lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds across the facility.
• Constant use of hands/fingers to operate machinery, tools, or computer equipment.
• Ability to move about the warehouse, stoop, kneel, or reach for extended periods.
• Ability to climb ladders up to 20 feet.
• Ability to work in various temperatures and inclement weather.

Preferred Qualifications

• Embedded systems: electronic hardware implementation/testing and software programming.
• Basic Linux operation.
• Experience with Embedded Linux board bring-up, bootloaders (U-boot), and build systems (Yocto).
• Experience with Embedded Linux driver development.
• Embedded RTOS Experience (freeRTOS).
• Programming fluency in C/C++ and Python.
• Experience with GIT workflow.
• Programming experience with digital signal processing, field-programmable gate arrays, and microcontrollers.
• Real-time programming experience.
• Experience with robotics applications and linear/non-linear controls theory and application.
• Experience working in teams to develop solutions, deliver products, and test and evaluate performance.
• Skill analyzing experiment data to determine results as feedback into the development cycle.
• Strong technical writing skills to provide input to technical reports and briefing material.
• Experience with uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) operations, including sensor integration, mission constructs, and command and control.
• Experience with at-sea test and evaluation (T&E) to include operations onboard small craft and large ships at sea.
• Willingness to conduct at-sea testing.

Pay

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.

Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. Leidos offers competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave, and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Schedule

9/80B schedule (80 hours of work into nine days over a two-week period, allowing for every other Friday off).