Founding Software Engineer at Helicon

Jack & Jill; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Helicon is seeking a Founding Software Engineer in Los Angeles to build Argos, the core operating system, from the ground up. You will create CAD automation tools and real-time digital twins for factory robotics, owning the full stack and shipping production-grade code with high autonomy.

You will work directly with founders to shape the platform, orchestrating material sourcing, quoting, pricing, and finishing parts. This is a high-ownership role with equity potential in a robotics startup.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience shipping production-grade code using TypeScript on the frontend and Python or Go on the backend.
• High-agency builder who owns problems end-to-end and can ship high-quality products at scale without heavy PM or QA support.
• Must meet ITAR requirements as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to work on advanced space and defense technology.

Responsibilities

• Architect and build Argos, the core OS orchestrating materials, quoting, pricing, and finished parts.
• Develop Argos Sim to automate CAD design and mold generation, speeding up composite design cycles.
• Integrate real-time sensor data from manufacturing equipment into a 24/7 digital twin powering autonomous factory operations.

Skills

TypeScript

Python

Go

Job description

Job Title

Founding Software Engineer

Salary

Not Disclosed

Company Description

Helicon is a venture-backed robotics and manufacturing startup industrializing composites. Backed by the investors who were first believers in Applied Intuition, Relativity Space, and Flock Safety, Helicon is building autonomous factories to mass-produce carbon fiber parts, reinventing how the West maintains its competitive edge in advanced materials.

Job Description

As a Founding Software Engineer at Helicon, you will build the core OS, Argos, from the ground up to orchestrate complex manufacturing workflows. You'll develop CAD automation tools and real-time digital twins for factory robotics. Working directly with founders, you'll own the entire stack, shipping production-grade code with high autonomy and agency.

Location

Los Angeles, USA

Why this role is remarkable

• Build the software foundation for a "Bethlehem Steel" of the 21st century, industrializing mass-scale carbon fiber production.
• Backed by elite investors who were the first believers in category-defining companies like Applied Intuition, Flock Safety, and Relativity Space.
• Work directly with founders from ETH Zürich and former leadership at high-growth startups, enjoying meaningful equity and total autonomy.

What You Will Do

• Architect and build Argos, the core operating system orchestrating everything from raw materials and quoting to pricing and finished parts.
• Develop Argos Sim to automate CAD design and mold generation, leveraging simulation to drastically speed up composite design cycles.
• Integrate real-time sensor data from manufacturing equipment into a 24/7 digital twin that powers autonomous factory operations.

The ideal candidate

• 2+ years of experience shipping production-grade code using TypeScript on the frontend and Python or Go on the backend.
• High-agency builder who owns problems end-to-end and can ship high-quality products at scale without heavy PM or QA support.
• Must meet ITAR requirements as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to work on advanced space and defense technology.