Leidos has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Principal Software Data Engineer to support the design of a new data foundation. This foundation will drive AI/ML tools for both generative and predictive applications and enable analysis of diverse data sets.
We are looking for an engineer with the ability to define the foundation (tools, schemas, and ontologies) and document that definition so that software engineers can implement, and management can understand the capabilities that the foundation can support.
Primary Responsibilities:- Design and implementation of big data systems, ETL pipeplines and Data Lakes/Lakehouse/Meshes.
- Design and implementation of schema and ontologies.
- Design and implementation of data foundation to support AI/ML applications and to support business analytics.
- Design and implementation of row/cell level data access control.
- Documentation of data definitions and designs.
Basic Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree with 12+ years of experience or a Master's degree and 10+ years of experience. Will consider experience in lieu of the degree requirements.
- Active Secret clearance with the ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance.
- 5+ years of experience with design and development of systems to analyze structured and unstructured large data sets from disparate sources.
- 5+ years of experience with principals associated with AI/ML applications.
- Ability to develop tools, algorithms and queries to improve business performance.
- Ability to develop new technical solutions to achieve project goals.
- Ability to develop intelligent systems that analyze data, learn from patterns, predict outcomes, and make informed decisions autonomously.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to communicate data engineering to non-technical audience .
- Experience working directly with product owners.
Preferred Qualifications:- Experience integrating and / or operating: Apache Spark, Delta Lake, Apache Airflow, Kafka, Great Expectations, Apache Ranger.
- Experience with digital Engineering (SysML).
- AI/ML algorithm development.
- Experience with operational support to data foundation and devOps.
- Familiar with Medallion style architectur
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:January 30, 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 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.
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