Software Engineer - UUV Systems

Leidos’ Undersea Systems Division (USD) is seeking a Software Engineer to join our fast-paced Research & Development (R&D) engineering team in San Diego, CA. This role is a unique opportunity to drive innovation in underwater vehicle systems, maritime sensors, subsea telemetry, and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) solutions supporting critical defense and national security missions at the Naval Information Warfare Center, Pacific (NIWC PAC).

As a recognized leader in C4ISR technologies, Leidos’ Undersea Systems Division delivers mission-critical solutions across sensor networks, unmanned systems, and tactical platforms. Known for achieving industry firsts in some of the most challenging maritime environments, our team continues to push the boundaries of undersea innovation.

If you're a hands-on Software Engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and seeing your work tested in real-world maritime environments, this could be the opportunity for you!

What You'll Work On:

In this role, you will collaborate with a small team of engineers and technicians to develop, test, and deliver uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) based on system requirements. Your work will focus on software development supporting UUV operations, sensor integration, and system performance, with opportunities to participate directly in hands-on testing and evaluation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and refine user interfaces and controls for various sensors integrated onboard UUVs.
• Develop and optimize UUV behaviors to accomplish assigned tasks while maximizing opportunities for sensor data collection.
• Develop platform-independent data processing tools.
• Produce software performance reports based on test and evaluation requirements.
• Create engineering and training documentation to support technological deliveries.
• Participate in testing activities onboard small boats and ships, including launching and recovering systems at sea and conducting post-test data analysis.
• Analyze post-test data and document findings in official technical reports and briefing materials.
• Support development and testing activities primarily in San Diego, with occasional travel for testing, training, and/or operations at locations throughout the U.S. and abroad. Some assignments may require spending multiple days at sea onboard ships.

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field with 8+ years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 6+ years of relevant experience.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must have an active Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain a TS/SCI (Active TS/SCI highly preferred!)
• Self-motivated engineer with demonstrated hands-on hardware/software bring-up and benchtop troubleshooting experience.
• Strong systems programming capabilities in Linux, Python, and C or C++.
• Practical understanding of TCP networking and socket-level data transport.
• Familiarity with ROS2 package development and DDS middleware.
• Experience interfacing with CAN bus, UDP, and alternate communications methods (serial, RF datalinks).
• Demonstrated ability to perform statistical analyses and generate visualizations using large-scale datasets, including telemetry and bench logs.
• Experience working independently and collaboratively to develop solutions, deliver products, and test and evaluate performance.
• Experience analyzing experimental data, interpreting results, and incorporating findings into the development cycle.
• Strong technical writing skills, including the ability to contribute to or develop technical reports and briefing materials.
• Ability to identify a solution to a presented problem and map it to a schedule.
• Strong leadership skills with experience working with and managing small teams.
• Must be flexible and responsive to evolving customer needs.
• Process-oriented mindset with strong attention to detail.

Work Environment & Schedule:

• This is an onsite position at NIWC PAC in San Diego, CA, working alongside the government team in a collaborative, mission-focused R&D environment.
• The position follows a 9/80B work schedule, consisting of 80 hours over nine working days within a two-week period, allowing for every other Friday off.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to climb ladders up to 20 feet.
• Requires frequent movement around piers, docks, and facility spaces.
• Required to transport or lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds across the facility.
• Requires constant use of hands/fingers to operate machinery, tools, or computer equipment.
• Requires ability to move about the warehouse, stoop, kneel, or reach for extended periods.
• Able and willing to work aboard marine vessels of various sizes, sometimes overnight.
• Requires work in various temperatures and inclement weather.

SUBSEAMSS

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:

November 10, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

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.