Top 10 Leidos Software Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Software engineering is an exciting field that combines technical expertise with creative problem-solving As a leading technology company that tackles complex challenges for clients in national security, health, and engineering, Leidos attracts some of the best software engineering talent

If you have an upcoming Leidos software engineer interview, you want to be fully prepared to showcase your skills In this article, I’ll share the top 10 Leidos software engineer interview questions based on insights from Glassdoor reviews and online resources I’ll provide tips and sample responses to help you ace your interview.

1. Can you walk me through your experience with cloud computing platforms, especially regarding cybersecurity solutions?

With cyber threats growing daily, expertise in cloud security is highly sought after at Leidos. Interviewers want to assess your hands-on experience with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

Tips:

• Highlight specific cloud security tools/services you’ve worked with like AWS GuardDuty for threat detection.

• Discuss how you’ve used the cloud to implement security features like firewalls, encryption, and access controls.

• Emphasize your understanding of industry compliance standards like ISO 27001, NIST, and HIPAA.

Sample Response: As a software engineer, I have 3+ years of experience leveraging the cloud to build secure infrastructures. At my previous role, I spearheaded the migration of on-prem systems to AWS while ensuring robust security policies. We utilized services like GuardDuty for anomaly detection, VPC for network isolation, and a host of encryption mechanisms for data security. I also led training on cloud security best practices for our team. This hands-on expertise equips me to contribute to Leidos’ mission of cyber threat detection and response through innovative cloud-based solutions.

2. How would you go about debugging an issue in a complex proprietary system used by defense agencies?

Debugging defense-related systems requires precision given the sensitive data involved. With this question, interviewers evaluate your structured debugging approach and your ability to exercise discretion.

Tips:

• Discuss steps like reproducing the issue, isolating the root cause, and testing fixes.

• Emphasize secure coding practices, compliance protocols, and responsible disclosure policies you would follow.

• Highlight experience debugging complex systems while maintaining confidentiality.

Sample Response: When debugging defense-related systems, I take a methodical approach focused on precision and security. Firstly, I gather details about the issue and attempt to reproduce it in a test environment. Once replicated, I leverage tools like debuggers and logs to pinpoint the root cause. Before implementing any fix, I conduct a thorough analysis of potential security impacts and test rigorously. I would also adhere to Leidos’ protocols around responsible disclosure and compliance. Having debugged proprietary platforms in the past for clients like XYZ, I understand the care required when handling sensitive systems and data.

3. How do you ensure quality and reliability when developing software for critical healthcare systems?

Healthcare software must be robust, as any glitches or vulnerabilities can have serious consequences. With this question, interviewers want to know if you truly understand the paramount importance of quality and reliability in this domain.

Tips:

• Discuss best practices like extensive testing, code reviews, adherence to compliance standards, and designing for scalability.

• Provide examples of developing reliable healthcare software, if applicable.

• Emphasize how you prioritize quality, not just functionality.

Sample Response: Developing healthcare software requires an uncompromising focus on quality and reliability. I leverage practices like unit testing, integration testing, UI testing, and code reviews to minimize defects. I also conduct penetration testing and risk analysis to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities proactively. From a design perspective, I architect software for scalability and high availability to meet the demands of this industry. I stay current on healthcare standards like HIPAA and incorporate relevant controls into my process. For instance, at Company XYZ, I spearheaded initiatives to improve the reliability of our EHR system through rigorous QA and infrastructure upgrades. With healthcare, I understand we must go the extra mile on quality or lives are at risk.

4. How would you go about optimizing a data analytics application for an aviation client?

This question tests your analytical abilities and your understanding of the aviation industry’s challenges. Interviewers want to assess how you would enhance software to meet specific business needs.

Tips:

• Ask clarifying questions on metrics to optimize for e.g. accuracy, speed, scalability.

• Discuss processes like gathering requirements from users, identifying bottlenecks via monitoring, and an iterative optimization approach.

• Highlight expertise in relevant techniques like predictive analytics and machine learning.

Sample Response: To optimize a data analytics application for an aviation client, I would start by consulting users and stakeholders to understand their specific pain points and objectives. Key metrics could include improving predictive accuracy for flight delays or enhancing algorithm efficiency to scale. I would then analyze the application architecture to identify bottlenecks…like slow database queries. Taking an iterative approach, I would tackle the most urgent issues first and measure improvements via A/B testing. I would also look to integrate advanced techniques like machine learning to take the analysis to the next level. With every iteration, I would collaborate with users for feedback to ensure we’re moving in the right direction. My optimization efforts would balance speed and scale, with a focus on boosting value for the client.

5. How do you ensure code quality when working on large, complex government systems with tight timelines?

Maintaining code quality under the pressures of government work is key. Interviewers want to know you have the discipline to avoid sloppy coding despite looming deadlines.

Tips:

• Discuss your use of unit testing, code reviews, continuous integration, linting, and compliance with coding standards.

• Provide examples of when you maintained quality under pressure.

• Emphasize that you never compromise clean coding practices despite tight timelines.

Sample Response: Working on complex government systems requires a stringent focus on code quality, even when facing tight deadlines. I leverage practices like unit testing, integration testing, linting, and peer code reviews to catch bugs early. I also make sure developers adhere to industry and organizational coding standards, like Google’s Python style guide. We use continuous integration with every commit and robust monitoring to identify issues proactively. Personally, I will push back on unreasonable deadlines if I feel quality is at risk. Having built government systems with XYZ company, I ensured we never compromised our coding principles, contributing to our reputation for bug-free software under pressure.

6. How would you approach developing machine learning capabilities for a client in the biotechnology sector?

This question evaluates your working knowledge of machine learning and how you would apply it to create business value. For a biotech client, the focus is likely on capabilities like drug discovery, personalized medicine, or process optimization.

Tips:

• Ask clarifying questions to understand the client’s use case and objectives.

• Demonstrate your knowledge of relevant machine learning algorithms like neural networks, decision trees, etc.

• Emphasize the importance of factors like quality training data, validation, and continuous improvement.

Sample Response: To develop effective machine learning capabilities for a biotech client, I would start by thoroughly understanding their goals. This helps guide the selection of appropriate algorithms and datasets. For use cases like drug discovery, neural networks could help identify promising compounds. While for genomic analysis, techniques like clustering and dimensionality reduction may be more suitable. I would also emphasize continuous model improvement over time as more quality data becomes available. Factors like explainability and bias mitigation are also critical for healthcare ML applications. I would validate models extensively to minimize false positives and false negatives. Overall, I would take a collaborative, iterative approach focused on creating lasting value for the end client. My years of experience in ML and passion for healthcare enable me to make a meaningful impact here.

7. Can you tell me about a time you successfully delivered a complex software project under tight time constraints?

With large government contracts, deadlines are unavoidable. This question evaluates how you perform under significant time pressure while maintaining standards.

Tips:

• Share a relevant example demonstrating your time management, focus, communication, and teamwork.

• Discuss how you used project management methodologies like Agile to improve outcomes.

• Emphasize that you never compromise software quality due to time constraints.

Sample Response: In my current role, my team was tasked with delivering a supply chain management system in an extremely short 6-month timeframe. To manage this, I spearheaded daily scrums and active collaboration between business analysts, developers, QA, and IT teams. We worked in rapid sprints, focusing on the most critical functionalities first. I also pushed back on unrealistic expectations, being upfront about time needed to deliver quality software. With tight coordination and efficient prioritization, we successfully met the accelerated 6-month deadline without quality issues. This experience demonstrated my ability to deliver under tight timelines through focus, transparency, and relentless prioritization. I was also able to earn more reasonable schedules moving forward.

8. How do you stay on top of the latest developments and technologies in the software engineering field?

The software industry evolves at a breakneck pace. Interviewers want to assess your commitment to