Principal Rust Software Engineer (Analytics & R&D)

We are seeking a Principal Rust Software Engineer to design and develop high-performance, analytics-driven systems supporting mission-critical research and product development initiatives.

This role provides technical leadership in modern software engineering, leveraging Rust-based systems programming, data-intensive architectures, and advanced analytics pipelines to deliver scalable, resilient, and production-ready capabilities. You will work across the full lifecycle—from concept and prototyping to productization—enabling rapid innovation and transition into operational environments.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in systems programming, data processing, and applied analytics, along with experience in Agile environments and continuous delivery practices. You will integrate analytics, software, and infrastructure into cohesive solutions that address complex technical challenges.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical thought leader in systems programming, analytics, and modern software development practices.
• Design and develop high-performance applications in Rust, emphasizing safety, concurrency, and efficiency.
• Architect and implement data pipelines, analytics frameworks, and real-time processing systems to support R&D and product initiatives.
• Leverage open-source and commercial tools to build scalable, modular, and reusable software components.
• Apply software engineering best practices to ensure integration across infrastructure, applications, and data systems.
• Collaborate within Agile teams, participating in daily scrums and frequent technical exchanges.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex system, performance, and data challenges.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical risks across research and product development efforts.
• Rapidly prototype and iterate on new ideas, transitioning successful concepts into production-grade solutions.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 12+ years of relevant technical experience in software engineering, systems engineering, data science, or related fields (additional years experience may substitute for degree).
• Strong experience developing in Rust (or equivalent systems languages such as C++ with willingness to transition).
• Experience building data-intensive applications, analytics platforms, or distributed systems.
• Proficiency with modern software development practices, including CI/CD and Agile methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems and bring structure to ambiguous or unstructured data challenges.
• Experience with data processing, analytics, or machine learning frameworks (e.g., Python ecosystem, Spark, or similar).
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• U.S. Citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline.
• Experience in research environments, including rapid prototyping and experimental system development.
• Familiarity with high-performance computing, distributed systems, or edge computing architectures.
• Experience translating R&D concepts into production-ready products or platforms.
• Background working with cross-functional teams, including researchers, product managers, and external partners.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance

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.

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.