
Defensive Cyber Software Developer
Required skills
- TS/SCI Clearance
- C++
- Rust
- Go
- Python
- Bash
- CMake
- Meson
- Bazel
- version control
Nice to have
- Wireshark
- Network+
- Security+
- CySA+
- Linux+
- Agile
Role summary
Leidos is seeking a Mid-Level Defensive Cyber Software Developer for its INTEL Sector in Lawton, OK. This full-time role focuses on developing software and techniques for data and network protection, detection, identification, and response to cyber attacks. Responsibilities include research and development of defensive techniques against adversarial attacks on tactical networks, requiring collaboration and deep analysis. The position requires a Bachelor's degree, 4+ years of professional development in C, C++, Rust, Go, or similar, and 2+ years of experience with Python and Bash. A TS/SCI Clearance is mandatory. The role offers competitive benefits and opportunities for technical upskilling.
Leidos has a new and exciting opportunity for a Mid-Level Defensive Cyber Software Developer in our INTEL Sector's Cyber & Analytics Business Area (CABA). Our talented team is at the forefront in Security Engineering, Computer Network Operations (CNO), Mission Software, Analytical Methods and Modeling, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Cryptographic Key Management. At Leidos, we offer competitive benefits, including Paid Time Off, 11 paid Holidays, 401K with a 6% company match and immediate vesting, Flexible Schedules, Discounted Stock Purchase Plans, Technical Upskilling, Education and Training Support, Parental Paid Leave, and much more. Join us and make a difference in National Security!
The Mid-Level Defensive Cyber Software Developer will work with a diverse, highly skilled team to develop unique solutions for Cyber, EW, and PNT threats against US weapon systems. Our products are responsible for alerting our varied array of customers of potential cyber and EW attacks by creative Adversaries highly skilled at attacking. With that problem set in mind, our products need to be developed by equally creative minds that enjoy digging, researching, programming, questioning, and generally learning all they can do to do those exact things the Adversaries would.
This is a full-time position with the Leidos Cyber Electromagnetic Activity (CEMA) team that is based in Lawton, OK, and will require the candidate to be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI Clearance.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Developing software and/or techniques in the protection of data and network capabilities, as well as detection of, identification of and response to attacks, including working toward the most effective methods to present those findings to the user.
- Research and development of signature and behavior-based defensive techniques against adversarial attacks on tactical networks.
- Developing technical solutions that require collaboration with internal experts, deep analyses and understanding of impact on end-product/solution.
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in computer science, computer engineering, cyber engineering, or similar degree from an ABET-accredited program
- Minimum 4+ years of professional development in C, C++, Rust, Go, or similar compiled languages
- Minimum 2+ years of professional experience with Python and Bash or a similar scripting language.
- Comfortable with software build systems, such as CMake, Meson, or Bazel
- Experience with version control tools
- Experience with UI/UX development
- Familiarity with an iterative software design process, such as Agile and/or Continuous Delivery, as well as common tooling associated with the process, such as Jira and Jenkins
- A good understanding of networking – protocols at all layers of the networking stack and network architecture.
- Knowledge of general software development best practices
- Professional experience in Linux, up to and included basic administration
- Must be a US CITIZEN and able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI Clearance
- Ability to travel to customer sites up to 20% of time
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience using Wireshark
- Firm Grasp of Cybersecurity as well as recent tracking of cyber events
- Certifications such as Network+, Security+, CySA+, Linux+
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:
October 6, 2026For 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 $87,100.00 - $157,450.00The 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.
Sample Leidos interview questions
- 1
What are the key considerations when designing a highly available and consistent service registry?
system designmedium - 2
Buildings with an Ocean View Find all buildings that have an ocean view. Input: heights = [1,2,3,4] Output: [3] Explanation: Since the ocean is to the right, only the rightmost tallest building (index 3) is not blocked by any others.
codingmedium - 3
Merge K Sorted Linked Lists Merge K sorted linked lists. Input: lists = [[2,2,3],[1,5]] Output: [1,2,2,3,5] Explanation: Extracts the smallest current node iteratively using a priority queue to build a single merged and sorted linked list.
codingmedium - 4
Optimal Meeting Point Calculate the optimal meeting point for multiple people on a 2D grid. Input: grid = [[1,0],[0,1]] Output: 2 Explanation: The optimal meeting point is either (0,1) or (1,0), requiring exactly 1 step from each person resulting in a total distance of 2.
codingmedium - 5
Maximize the minimum distance between aggressive cows in stalls. Input: stalls = [0,4,3,7,10,9], cows = 3 Output: 4 Explanation: Placing the cows at positions 0, 4, and 10 yields a maximum possible minimum distance of 4 between any two cows.
codingmedium
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