SQL Engineer SME

Description

If you've spent the last few years sharpening your skills in SQL, Java, and missiondriven engineering, and you're ready for work that actually moves the needle, this is the opportunity cleared engineers look for when they're ready for real impact. If you take pride in writing your own resume, owning your craft, and delivering results that senior leaders actually see, you'll thrive here.

We're hiring a SQL Engineer SME to support a highly visible, datadriven application that powers analytics and reporting across the organization. In this role, you'll write complex queries, shape data for dashboards, optimize performance at scale, and deliver highquality datasets that stakeholders rely on every day. Our primary development team operates out of Gaithersburg, MD, but innovation doesn't stop there. We're able to support onsite engineers in Alexandria, VA; Chantilly, VA; Aurora, CO; St. Louis, MO; and Tucson, AZ, giving top talent multiple paths to join the mission.

And while the requisition requirements may seem standard fare, the position is not as it will join a high performing team that is changing the way digital engineering and mission operations intelligence is enabled for our customer.

Why This Role Stands Out * High Impact: Your work directly supports a widely used application that drives real-time decision-making* High Visibility: Partner with engineering teams and key stakeholders across programs* Career Growth: Expand your expertise in large-scale data systems, performance optimization, and advanced SQL engineering* Challenging Work: Tackle complex data problems, not routine queries

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop advanced, high-performance SQL queries across large, complex datasets (multi-table joins, window functions, aggregations)
• Optimize query performance using execution plans, indexing strategies, and query refactoring
• Ensure data accuracy and integrity across reporting datasets
• Troubleshoot and resolve data issues across database and application layers
• Shape and structure data for efficient and intuitive dashboard visualization
• Collaborate with ETL engineers and dashboard developers to ensure reliable, end-to-end data delivery

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree with 12-15 years of experience, or Master's with 10-13 years of experience. May possess a Doctorate in technical domain
• U.S. Citizenship
• Active TS/SCI with the ability to successfully pass a Polygraph
• Expert-level SQL skills, including:
  • Complex joins across large datasets
  • Query optimization and execution plan analysis
  • Aggregations, subqueries, and window functions
• Strong experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, or similar)
• Experience working with large-scale data supporting analytics/reporting
• Proficiency in Linux environments
• Ability to work independently and solve complex data challenges

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Grafana or similar visualization tools
• Python for data manipulation (pandas, scripting, automation)
• Experience with materialized views, caching strategies, or query acceleration techniques

#MARU

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: April 21, 2026

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.

Pay Range: Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

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

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

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 View email address on click.appcast.io.

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.

Required

Preferred

Job Industries

• Other