Lead, Software Application

Neros; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 198,000 - 277,000; Full time

Job summary

Neros is recruiting a Lead, Software Application Engineer to own the development of web, desktop, and Android tools and backend services used to plan missions, configure the system, and analyze flight data. You will lead the team and drive delivery across front‑end and backend capabilities.

You will stay hands‑on, review code, and shape architecture while growing a high‑performing, cross‑functional team to support rapid capability delivery for operators in dynamic environments.

Qualifications

• Led a software team with hands-on management and technical direction.
• Experience in modern web and cross‑platform desktop development with backend services.
• Built applications that function offline and synchronize when online.
• Strong judgment on architecture, data modeling, and security trade‑offs.
• Interfaces between team and leadership; blockers cleared effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the application/backend development team, including hiring and mentorship.
• Own end‑to‑end application development across Windows, Linux, macOS, and web.
• Oversee backend services, APIs, data pipelines, identity, tenancy, and software updates.
• Ensure offline capability and seamless operation without backend connectivity.
• Make critical architecture calls on front‑end, data model, and security considerations.
• Set engineering/operational quality: code review, testing, CI/CD, observability, on‑call.
• Remain hands‑on: review code and contribute to architecture across stack.

Skills

Team leadership

Cross‑platform development

Backend services

APIs and data

Offline/edge usability

Architecture decisions

Code reviews/mentorship

Job description

Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.

As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We’re hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years.

What you will be doing

Neros builds first-person-view drones for the modern battlefield. As a Lead, Software Application Engineer, you will own the development of applications — the web, desktop, and Android tools and backend services our operators and engineers use to plan missions, configure the system, and record and analyze flight data. You will own the development, quality, and delivery across both, and grow the team behind them.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the team across application and backend development — hiring, mentorship, and performance management
• Own application development end to end using modern cross-platform stacks spanning Windows, Linux, macOS, and web
• Own the backend behind them — services and APIs, data pipelines into our analytics datalake, identity and tenancy, and software update
• Build for offline: our tools run with or without a connection to the backend, and offline is a normal operating state rather than a failure to handle
• Make the hard architecture calls — front-end architecture, build vs. adopt, data model, tenancy and security, local vs. backend state
• Set and uphold engineering and operational quality — code review, testing, CI/CD, observability, on-call
• Stay hands-on: review code and own architecture, not just process

You should have the following

• Has led a software team as a hands-on manager — owning both people management and technical direction
• Strong background in application development (modern web and cross-platform desktop) and the backend behind it (services, APIs, data, identity, CI/CD, observability) — you can lead and review across both
• Experience building applications that work offline — local-first state, syncing when a connection returns, and staying fully usable while disconnected
• Strong judgment on application architecture, build vs. adopt, data modeling, and security trade-offs
• Able to operate as the interface between the team and leadership — managing expectations upward and clearing blockers
• Player-coach: still writes code and reviews PRs, and is technically credible enough to own architecture across front-end, service, and data

Nice to Have

• Cross-platform desktop delivery (Electron or similar) shipped to real users
• Android development, particularly device-facing or field-tool applications
• Defense, industrial, robotics, or field-deployed apps and backends
• Data-pipeline and analytics depth — streaming, time-series, telemetry at scale
• Identity/access/tenancy for multi-customer or multi-tenant systems
• Experience building a team spanning app and backend development from a small nucleus

US Salary Range

$198,000 - $277,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Export Compliance:The person hired will have access to information and items controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), and, therefore, must be a "U.S. Person" or otherwise eligible to receive an export license. As defined in the ITAR, a “U.S. Person” includes U.S. citizens, noncitizen U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain other classes of individuals (e.g., asylees/refugees). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.” To assist Neros in assessing its export compliance obligations in relation to your application, please identify which statement best applies to you: * Select...