Bare-Metal Embedded Software Engineer

Description

Build firmware that runs where operating systems don't, margins are tight, and failure is not an option.

Leidos is seeking a Bare-Metal Embedded Software Engineer to help design and deliver the low-level firmware that powers our uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) platforms and supporting systems.

This role focuses on true bare-metal development on modern microcontrollers. You will work directly with hardware, peripherals, sensors, and real-time constraints to build the foundational software that enables autonomy, communications, and mission execution. There is no Linux safety net here. Your code runs on the metal and must work reliably in demanding operational environments.

You'll join small, focused engineering teams and contribute from early design through integration, test, and delivery, supporting UUV programs that serve critical national security missions.

We value engineers who are curious about hardware, disciplined about quality, and motivated by seeing their work operate in real systems.

Responsibilities:

• Develop production firmware for UUV and embedded systems from project inception through field deployment.
• Design and implement bare-metal application software and utilities in C/C++ on microcontroller platforms with no operating system.
• Interface directly with hardware, including sensors, power systems, and communication devices.
• Implement and maintain low-level drivers and peripheral interfaces, including I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, and related protocols.
• Translate system and firmware requirements into clear, testable embedded implementations.
• Participate in technical design and trade studies, contributing to architecture and implementation decisions.
• Support integration, test, and evaluation, diagnosing issues across software and hardware boundaries.
• Use lab instrumentation such as oscilloscopes and multimeters to debug timing, signal integrity, and hardware/software interactions.
• Collaborate closely with electrical, systems, and software engineers to deliver cohesive embedded solutions.
• Contribute to continuous improvement, refining development practices, tooling, and documentation.

Basic Qualifications:

• Education & Experience
  Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with 0-3 years of relevant experience and strong exposure to embedded systems and hardware.
• Security Clearance
  Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret clearance (U.S. Citizenship required).
• Core Firmware Skills
  Strong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems development.
• Hardware Awareness
  Working understanding of modern microcontrollers, digital electronics, and safe handling of electronic components.
• Debug & Measurement Skills
  Experience using oscilloscopes, multimeters, and related tools for system troubleshooting.
• Linux Familiarity
  Basic proficiency with Linux command-line tools for development and build environments.
• Concurrency Fundamentals
  Basic understanding of thread-safe design and inter-task or inter-process communication concepts.
• Communication & Teamwork
  Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas, designs, and plans within a multidisciplinary team.
• Professional Integrity
  Demonstrated accountability, reliability, and respect for teammates and customers.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Microcontroller Expertise
  Experience developing firmware on the STM32 family and TI family of microcontrollers.
• Peripheral & Bus Interfaces
  Strong experience with I2C, SPI, UART, CAN Bus, and similar embedded interfaces.
• State Machine Design
  Understanding of finite state machines and their application in embedded systems.
• Software Design Practices
  Familiarity with basic software design patterns and structured embedded architectures.
• Systems Modeling
  Exposure to UML tools such as Cameo or MagicDraw.
• Agile Development Experience
  Experience working in Agile environments using tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket.
• Modern Dev Environments
  Familiarity with virtualized or containerized development environments (VMware, Docker).
• Code Maintenance
  Ability to diagnose, debug, and improve both new and legacy embedded codebases.

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.

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.

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand 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.