Lead Firmware Engineer, Autonomous Systems

Description

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 engineering—delivering 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. You'll 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. You'll help bridge the gap between requirements, hardware, firmware, and mission execution.

As a technical leader, you'll 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.
* You're 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 you're passionate about building and integrating real-world systems that directly contribute to critical national security missions, we'd 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

• Bachelor's degree with 12–15 years of relevant experience or Master's degree with 10–13 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 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:

June 2, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

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 [email protected].

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.