(Senior) Backend Engineer C++ (All genders)

Stark; Berlin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

STARK in Berlin designs and manufactures high‑performance unmanned systems and Minerva C2 software. We are seeking a C++ expert to join a senior engineering team to build the core, low‑latency backend that powers autonomous swarms in real‑world environments.

You will architect scalable server‑side components, implement high‑throughput data streams, and create robust gRPC/REST APIs to connect frontends with fielded vehicles.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in backend or systems engineering with focus on high‑performance C++.
• Deep proficiency in Modern C++ (17+) and memory safety.
• Strong understanding of asynchronous networking, IPC, and real-time data streaming.
• Experience in Aerospace, Robotics, Automotive, Sensors, or similar domains is a plus.
• Bonus: familiarity with MAVLink/PX4/ArduPilot, GIS, or safety-critical software.

Responsibilities

• Develop core C++ services orchestrating UAV/USV swarms and battlefield state.
• Design real-time data pipelines and low-latency telemetry handling.
• Build scalable server-side architecture to support 4–20+ vehicles.
• Implement military standards and protocols (e.g., STANAG).
• Create robust test suites ensuring reliability in contested environments.

Skills

Modern C++

High-performance backend

Asynchronous networking

Concurrency & state machines

Tools

gRPC

REST APIs

Job description

About Us

STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments.
We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems - not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe - today.

About the team

Minerva is STARK's command and control software — the brain that connects operators to autonomous systems across multiple domains in real time. The Minerva team is a small, senior software group based in Berlin and Munich, working directly with our systems and hardware teams to build mission‑critical C2 capabilities deployed in active operational environments.
We move fast, ship real software, and operate under constraints most engineers never encounter — low‑bandwidth networks, air‑gapped devices, high‑stakes decision loops. There is no room for abstraction for its own sake. Everything we build ends up in the hands of real operators in the field.

Your mission

This is not a "standard" backend role. You won't be building CRUD apps for a web store. You will be building the high‑performance, low‑latency engine at the heart of Minerva Frontline, our Command & Control (C2) Software, enabling mission planning and operations of Aerial and Maritime asset swarms in real world conditions.
We are looking for C++ developers to build out our core server‑side architecture enabling the increasingly complex CONOPS required by NATO’s Armed forces. You will be responsible for how we maintain a global battlefield state, how we translate high‑level operator intents into machine‑executable actions, and how we stream real‑time telemetry to the frontline.
You will work in a high‑density engineering environment alongside robotics, safety, and mission planning experts. If you care about RAII, memory safety, and squeezing every ounce of performance out of real hardware in the field to ensure mission success, this is the role.

What You'll Build

• The System Brain: You will develop the core C++ services that orchestrate UAV and USV swarms, maintaining a synchronized and robust battlefield state across distributed systems.
• Mission Control APIs: You will design and implement high‑performance gRPC and REST APIs that bridge the gap between our frontend C2 interface and the autonomous vehicles in the field.
• Real‑Time Data Pipelines: You will build and optimize the telemetry pipelines that handle high‑frequency data from diverse sensors, ensuring low‑latency synchronization and delivery.
• Scalable Architecture: You will expand our current C++ architecture to support "affordable mass"—scaling from controlling 4 to 20+ vehicles simultaneously.
• Tactical Integration: You will implement military standards and protocols (such as STANAG), ensuring our systems are interoperable and battle‑ready.
• Robustness & Testing: You will build and maintain the test suites, ensuring our code performs reliably under the most contested conditions.

Responsibilities

• A C++ Native: You write clean, performant Modern C++ (17/20/23). You understand the cost of every allocation and the value of a deterministic system.
• Systems‑Minded: You think in terms of data flows, state machines, and concurrency. You understand that in our domain, "late data is wrong data."
• A Problem Solver: You dive deep into the details to identify, understand, and solve difficult technical problems at the hardware‑software boundary.
• High Agency: You don't wait for perfect specifications. You understand the mission, look at the code, and drive the architecture forward.
• Collaborative: You thrive in a multidisciplinary team, working closely with frontend, robotics, and integration engineers to deliver a cohesive product.

Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of experience in backend or systems engineering, with a primary focus on high‑performance C++ applications.
• C++ Expertise: Deep proficiency in Modern C++ (17 or later).
• Networking: Strong understanding of asynchronous networking, inter‑process communication (IPC), and real‑time data streaming.
• Industry Context: Relevant experience in Aerospace, Robotics, Automotive, Sensors, or High‑Frequency Trading—any domain where software interacts with the physical world in real‑time.
• Bonus Skills: Familiarity with autopilot/flight control systems (MAVLink/PX4/ArduPilot), geospatial data handling (GIS), or building safety‑critical software systems.

Why Join STARK?

• Impact: Build the software that NATO militaries rely on when stakes are highest. Your code will directly influence the outcome of critical missions.
• Engineering Excellence: Work in a culture where technical rigor and architectural beauty are valued. We don't cut corners on safety or performance.
• Novelty: Solve "Genesis‑stage" engineering problems for autonomous swarming that have no off‑the‑shelf solution.
• Growth: As we scale our platforms from the North Sea to the edges of Europe, your role and impact on the organization will grow with us.