Front End Software Engineer (egui / ImGui)

Praetorian Aeronautics; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Ownership via ESOP

Career growth

Direct access to leadership

Flexible start/finish times

Job summary

Praetorian Aeronautics is seeking a front-end specialist to build operator interfaces in Rust using egui, turning real-time sensor and system data into fast, readable displays for native, web and ruggedised hardware.

You'll work with backend, autonomy and test engineers to deliver Hadrian's clear, actionable interfaces, focusing on performance, cross-platform compatibility and a strong UX for high-pressure defence environments.

Qualifications

• Experience building with an immediate-mode GUI framework (egui in Rust or Dear ImGui in C++).
• Strong understanding of performance in real-time, data-heavy interfaces.
• Experience shipping cross-platform applications, including WebAssembly.
• Good UX instincts and comfort in a fast-moving startup.

Responsibilities

• Build high-performance operator interfaces in Rust with egui for native and WebAssembly targets.
• Render real-time tracks, maps, telemetry and system status.
• Turn operator workflows into simple, intuitive interactions.
• Integrate with backend services, data links and third-party C2 systems.
• Support field trials to see your work in operational use.

Skills

Immediate-mode GUI

Rust

egui

Cross-platform

UX instincts

Performance UI

Tools

Bevy

Dear ImGui

WebAssembly

Job description

Build the interface that puts a full counter-drone response in the hands of a single operator.

About Praetorian

Praetorian Aeronautics builds autonomous systems that protect defence operators against the rapidly evolving threat of drone warfare. Headquartered in Adelaide, with offices in Melbourne and Darwin, we design and manufacture a sovereign Australian counter-autonomy ecosystem:

• Arrow – a man-portable VTOL interceptor for neutralising drone threats beyond visual range.
• Dagger – a long-range, high-altitude interceptor for larger threats at extended distances.
• Venator – an autonomous mothership that carries interceptors forward across air, land and maritime missions.
• Hadrian – a battle management system that lets a single operator detect, decide and defeat complex threats.
• Cerebrum – a counter-swarm AI plugin for Hadrian that coordinates responses against large drone swarms.

The Role

In counter-drone operations, the interface decides how fast a threat is defeated. As a front-end specialist in our software team, you'll build operator interfaces in Rust using egui, an immediate-mode GUI framework, turning real-time sensor, track and system data into displays that stay fast and readable under pressure on native, web and ruggedised hardware. You'll work closely with backend, autonomy and test engineers, and you'll be the one making Hadrian's promise of clarity over complexity real.

What You'll Do

• Build high-performance operator interfaces in Rust with egui (and Bevy where needed) for native and WebAssembly targets
• Render real-time tracks, maps, telemetry and system status without compromising responsiveness
• Turn operator workflows into simple, intuitive interactions based on user and trial feedback
• Integrate with backend services, data links and third-party C2 systems
• Support field trials to see your work in operational use

What We're Looking For

• Experience building with an immediate-mode GUI framework: ideally egui in Rust, or Dear ImGui in C++ with a willingness to work in Rust
• Strong understanding of performance in real-time, data-heavy interfaces
• Experience shipping cross-platform applications, ideally including WebAssembly
• Good UX instincts and comfort in a fast-moving startup

Nice to Have

• Experience with Bevy
• Mapping, geospatial or 3D visualisation experience (e.g. walkers, wgpu)
• Exposure to defence, C2, TAK or MAVLink
• Background in robotics, drones or safety-critical systems

What We Offer

• Flexibility that's rare in defence: hybrid work and flexible start and finish times.
• Ownership from day one: no layers of approval between your work and the product, with your code in operators' hands at trials.
• A stake in what you build: access to our Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP).
• Clear growth: your scope grows with the company, backed by a defined engineering career framework.
• Breadth: you'll work alongside specialists in flight sciences, electronics, autonomy and test, with direct access to leadership.

Security & Compliance Requirements

Due to the nature of our work, candidates must have full rights to work in Australia and hold either PR with a pathway to Australian Citizenship in the next 12 months, or citizenship of a Five Eyes nation. This role doesn't currently require a security clearance, but it may in the future.