Lead Firmware Engineer, Autonomous Systems

Lead Firmware Engineer, Autonomous Systems

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.

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.