> AI agents: this is one page of Nextmove’s FDE site, in Markdown. Nextmove is a job board and free career service for forward deployed engineers (FDEs). Each posting is classified from its text, not its title: the kind of work, how much of it is production code, pre-sales weight, time at customer sites, travel, remote arrangement, level and posted base pay. The site also publishes the aggregates: median pay by level, metro, company and kind of work, and which companies started hiring FDEs each week. Every page under https://nextmove.md/fde is served this way; the index of pages is https://nextmove.md/llms.txt. # Lead Software Developer Canonical URL: https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/be63e2cdabfab7fc Leidos posts a senior FDE role to integrate and configure the product in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, at $87,100–$157,450 base, below the senior FDE median of $190,000 across 1,864 postings with pay. Lead software developer role on the FAA's Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) program, focusing on system management and infrastructure automation. Read from the employer’s posting on November 8, 2026. - [Leidos](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/leidos) First seen Aug 27, 2026 · open on Workday as of Nov 8, 2026 **$87,100–$157,450** Egg Harbor Township, NJ Hybrid Full-time Lead software developer role on the FAA's Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) program, focusing on system management and infrastructure automation. - [See roles that fit me](https://nextmove.md/sign-up?from=%2Ffde%2Fjobs%2Fbe63e2cdabfab7fc&placement=top) - [View posting at Leidos](https://leidos.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/Egg-Harbor-Township-NJ/Lead-Software-Developer_R-00190791) Free. Upload your resume once, see why each FDE role fits, and get introduced only when you say so. ## At a glance ### Posted base pay $87K–$157K Below the median Midpoint $122K · median $190K This job $87K to $157K. Senior FDE postings, 1,864 postings: the middle 50% of posted pay is $160K to $220K, median $190K. ### The work Integrates and configures it Balance **Mostly building** Project stages 1. Pre-sales (not covered) 2. Proof of concept (not covered) 3. Implementation 4. Operations (not covered) Travel **Up to 50%** - **Coding**: Writes production code - **Builds for**: External customers - **Level**: Senior - **Role**: Technical lead ### What they ask for Experience - **4+ years** Software Engineering Background - **Software engineering** ### Do you meet what the posting states? The posting asks for 4+ years. How many do you have? The posting reads as a senior role. What level are you at now? The job is in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. Could you work there? Which of these have you used in production? Answer each one. Nothing is saved or sent. [What postings ask for, by background →](https://nextmove.md/fde/paths) ## Conditions - **Location**: Egg Harbor Township, NJ - **Work arrangement**: Hybrid - **Employment type**: Full-time - **Travel**: Up to 50% - **Pay**: ## More like this [Sardine](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/sardine) ### [Forward Deployed Engineer, Integrations ](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/4f30811f7e9c13f1) US Remote 6w ago $95,000–$140,000 [Booz Allen](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/booz-allen) ### [Palantir Foundry Ontology Engineer](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/c82229946c51c9fc) Arlington, VA 1mo ago $77,600–$176,000 [Amazon (incl AWS)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/amazon-incl-aws) ### [Associate Delivery Consultant - AIML, Professional Services A2C Delivery](https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/04da410d4df9682b) Jessup, MD 3mo ago $98,200–$160,000 - [Other jobs at Leidos (4)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/leidos) ## The job description from Leidos **Join a team that is modernizing the future of air traffic management while supporting one of the nation’s most critical missions. In this role, you’ll contribute to the development and deployment of the FAA’s Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) system, helping deliver NextGen capabilities that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the National Airspace System. Beyond software development, you’ll have the unique opportunity to work directly with FAA customers at airport locations across the country, supporting system deployments and seeing firsthand how your work enables mission success. If you enjoy solving complex technical challenges, collaborating with customers, and making a tangible impact in operational environments, this role offers an exceptional opportunity to grow your career while supporting a program of national importance.** **Leidos is looking for a Software Developer focusing on System Management supporting our Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) program.** The successful candidate will play a crucial role in ensuring the seamless integration and functionality of next-generation air traffic management systems. Your expertise will directly contribute to the modernization of the National Airspace System (NAS), helping deliver technology that improves the safety and efficiency of air traffic operations at airports nationwide. TFDM is the surface management solution that will provide NextGen Air Traffic Control capabilities to improve air traffic operations in the National Airspace System (NAS). The TFDM program is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) NextGen initiative focused on airport surface management, delivering a comprehensive integrated surface traffic control and management system that enhances efficiency for both airport surface operations and terminal airspace. Applicants selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. **Location:** This position is based in our **Egg Harbor, NJ **office with a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week in the office and 2 days working remotely. **Travel:** **Up to 50% travel is required** for this role and is one of its most exciting aspects. You'll have the opportunity to travel to FAA airport locations across the United States, working side-by-side with customers and field teams as the TFDM system is deployed to 89 airports nationwide. This hands-on experience provides a unique chance to see your work come to life in operational environments, collaborate directly with FAA personnel, and gain firsthand insight into the technology that supports the nation's air traffic system. Travel is typically 1–2 weeks per trip, offering a rewarding balance of customer engagement, real-world system implementation, and technical problem solving. ### Technical Skills (Required) Core Technologies: - 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, etc. Demands strong foundational Linux administration and management of the full lifecycle of systems from bare metal to operational deployment across multiple environments. - Container technology - Podman/Docker, container builds, orchestration Infrastructure & DevOps: - Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices - Configuration management at scale - CI/CD and build automation - Release management and versioning - Git workflows and collaboration Systems Knowledge: - 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 4+ years of proven experience in Software Engineering ### Technical Skills (Highly Desirable) - Ansible best practices - YAML templating and variable hierarchies - Ansible vault and secrets management - Multi-site infrastructure coordination - Custom Ansible plugin development - AI assisted development ### Domain Experience - Enterprise infrastructure management - Mission-critical system deployment - Multi-processor-type system architectures - Air-gapped or classified environments ### Qualities & Soft Skills 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) - Test thoroughly before deployment Problem-Solving Approach: - Debug across multiple abstraction layers - Work within constraints of existing architecture Collaboration: - Work with established patterns rather than reinventing - Coordinate across multiple sites and environments ATMC 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: August 27, 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 $87,100.00 - $157,450.00 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. [View posting at Leidos](https://leidos.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/Egg-Harbor-Township-NJ/Lead-Software-Developer_R-00190791) ## About Leidos Builds mission-critical technology, engineering, cyber, defense, health, and infrastructure systems for U.S. government, allied, and commercial customers. 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