Junior AI Software Engineer

Job Summary: Junior AI Software Engineer

Leidos is seeking a Junior AI Software Engineer to join the UK National Airspace System Replacement Product Delivery Team (UK NASR PDT). This hybrid role is based in Gaithersburg, MD; Eagan, MN; or Egg Harbor, NJ. You will contribute to modernizing a high-availability air traffic management platform, focusing on real-time, safety-critical systems using traditional systems engineering and AI-augmented software development techniques. This position offers a unique opportunity to apply responsible AI in mission-critical national infrastructure projects for the United Kingdom.

What You'll Do

• Design, develop, test, and maintain software for real-time, high-availability systems.
• Apply AI-assisted development tools to accelerate coding, refactoring, debugging, and automated test generation.
• Utilize AI responsibly across the full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), including requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, documentation, and code review.
• Analyze complex system requirements and translate them into efficient, maintainable designs.
• Develop and maintain automation scripts across development, test, and production environments.
• Promote code quality, reuse, traceability, and cross-team collaboration.

Required Qualifications

AI-Driven Engineering Experience

Leidos specifically seeks engineers who actively integrate AI into their daily development workflow.

• Hands-on experience using AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or similar) for code generation, refactoring, debugging, automated test creation, and IDE-integrated workflows.
• Familiarity with large language model platforms (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, etc.).
• Experience designing effective prompts and validating AI-generated output.
• Understanding of human-in-the-loop development and responsible AI usage.
• Ability to evaluate AI-generated outputs for correctness, performance, safety, and bias, especially in regulated or safety-critical environments.
• Experience incorporating AI/ML techniques into software engineering workflows.
• Experience with automated testing frameworks.

Core Technical Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field with 2 or more years of relevant experience, OR a Master’s degree.
• Strong object-oriented programming experience.
• Proficiency in C, C++, and/or Ada (Ada preferred but not required).
• Experience developing real-time, multi-threaded systems.
• Familiarity with Linux (Red Hat), virtual machines, and hypervisors.
• Experience with low-level communications protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, SCTP).
• Experience with hardware or complex system integration.
• Experience with source control and configuration management tools.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
• US citizenship required.

Why Leidos

At Leidos, you will work on systems where performance, precision, and reliability are paramount. This role involves disciplined, responsible AI applied to mission-critical software supporting national infrastructure, not experimental AI for prototypes. If you are passionate about solving complex problems in regulated, real-world environments and using AI as a force multiplier, Leidos encourages you to apply.

Key skills/competency

• AI-assisted Development
• Real-time Systems
• C/C++/Ada Programming
• Object-Oriented Design
• Linux
• Automated Testing
• SDLC
• System Integration
• Communication Protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, SCTP)
• Source Control