Jobs in Reston, VA

About the role

Leidos is seeking a Jr level, AI Software Developer to join the Airports, Borders, and Security (AB&S) Business Area within the Homeland Sector, building the Travel & Customs Orchestration Platform — a hybrid-cloud, AI-driven system that senses data across the traveler journey (ATC data, manifests, border processing, detection/security, kiosks, e-Gates, staffing, and capacity), predicts demand, orchestrates resources, and measures outcomes. In this position, you will design and implement software solutions independently while working closely with systems engineering, product delivery, and DevSecOps teams. The primary focus is on developing microservices-based applications that power the platform's Sense → Predict → Orchestrate → Measure operating model, including the AI Detection Algorithm Marketplace used to evaluate and deploy third-party and in-house detection algorithms (prohibited items, explosives, weapons, liquids, novel threats, behavioral indicators, and future algorithm types). Experience with AI-enabled or data-driven systems is advantageous. This position supports government programs and requires the ability to obtain and maintain a favorable Public Trust investigation. This role focuses on building and modernizing real-time, mission-critical systems that directly support border and aviation security operations — including dynamic staffing allocation, checkpoint and lane management, passenger routing, exception management, passenger communications, cross-functional alerting, performance reporting, and predictive maintenance — while applying AI tools to accelerate development, improve quality, and enhance system reliability. The platform serves stakeholders across the traveler journey, including TSA, CBP/ICE, airport operators, eu-LISA, airlines, Frontex, ground handlers, and passengers themselves.

What you'll bring

• BS/BA degree and 5 years related experience OR Master’s with 2 years of related experience
• 4 years of related experience in lieu of degree
• Ability to obtain/maintain Public Trust
• Hands-on experience with microservices and at least one modern language (Java, Python, C++)
• Experience with AI-assisted engineering tools and/or AI/ML-enabled systems
• Experience with event-driven / streaming architectures (e.g., Kafka, Pub/Sub) and stream or batch data processing
• Experience building and consuming APIs (REST/gRPC, OpenAPI/AsyncAPI) in distributed systems
• Experience enhancing and maintaining existing software systems while preserving operational stability
• Ability to navigate large, complex distributed systems and translate them into higher-level architecture
• Agile experience
• understanding of APIs and distributed systems
• 1 year software development experience supporting a related industry border/aviation customer (TSA, CBP/ICE, eu-LISA, Frontex, airport operators, airlines)