Software Developer

Leidos•Gaithersburg, MD

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

Leidos is seeking a Software Engineer specializing in System Management for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) program. This role is critical for ensuring the seamless integration and functionality of air traffic management systems, contributing to the modernization of systems that support air traffic control operations. The TFDM program is a key NextGen initiative focused on airport surface management, aiming to enhance efficiency in airport surface and terminal airspace through a comprehensive, integrated traffic control and management system. The successful applicant will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. This position is based in Gaithersburg, MD, requiring 3 days in the office and 2 days remote. Approximately 25% travel is expected, involving visits to various airports across the country for TFDM system deployments, typically lasting 1 to 2 weeks per trip.

Requirements

Ansible - Deep experience with playbooks, roles, custom plugins, callbacks, and inventory systems
Python - Strong scripting, automation, and tool development
Bash/Shell scripting - Complex build orchestration and system automation
Linux system administration – Red Hat Enterprise Linux, package management, integration of Linux technologies
Container technology - Podman/Docker, container builds, orchestration
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices
Configuration management at scale
CI/CD and build automation
Release management and versioning
Git workflows and collaboration
Network configuration (VLANs, IP schemes, switch configs)
Physical hardware provisioning (PXE boot, kickstart)
Virtual machine lifecycle management (VMware and KVM)
Multi-environment deployment (dev/test/prod/lab)
Package ecosystem management (RPM, pip, Ansible Galaxy)
Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
2+ years of proven experience in Software Engineering

Nice To Haves

Ansible best practices
YAML templating and variable hierarchies
Ansible vault and secrets management
Multi-site infrastructure coordination
Custom Ansible plugin development
AI assisted development
Enterprise infrastructure management
Mission-critical system deployment
Multi-processor-type system architectures
Air-gapped or classified environments
Systems Thinking: Understand complex interdependencies (200+ Ansible roles, multiple processor types)
Trace issues across numerous environment configurations
See how changes ripple through the architecture
Systematic & Methodical: Follow documented workflows (TCM verification, CAS validation)
Problem-Solving Approach: Debug across multiple abstraction layers
Collaboration: Work with established patterns rather than reinventing

Responsibilities

Ensure the seamless integration and functionality of air traffic management systems.
Contribute to the modernization and enhancement of systems supporting air traffic control operations.
Manage the full lifecycle of systems from bare metal to operational deployment across multiple environments.
Implement and manage configuration at scale.
Automate build processes and manage releases.
Manage package ecosystems (RPM, pip, Ansible Galaxy).
Coordinate across multiple sites and environments.
Test thoroughly before deployment.
Debug across multiple abstraction layers.
Work within constraints of existing architecture.