Mission Dev Software Engineer — Build High‑Stakes Systems

Nominal; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 130,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Unlimited PTO

Lunch and coffee

Development stipend

Hardware lab stipend

Annual company retreat

Job summary

Nominal is seeking a Software Engineer for the Mission Dev team to embed with customers, own end-to-end data challenges, and rapidly iterate on solutions. You will write code for data integrations and custom applications, shaping mission success alongside hardware engineers.

This role requires grit, strong software foundations, and the ability to operate in dynamic environments. You will directly impact customer outcomes, collaborate across Engineering, Product, and Design, and travel to

Qualifications

• Experience designing, building, and shipping software in ambiguous or fast-changing environments.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with a proactive attitude.
• Customer-centric mindset and passion for solving real-world problems with technology.
• Willingness to travel 25–50% to spend time with end-users on-site.

Responsibilities

• Build and deploy custom applications, scripts, and extensions for customer requirements.
• Design and implement data pipelines and integration workflows across varied data systems.
• Collaborate with Sales and Mission Ops to ensure smooth handoffs and pre-sales technical support.
• Gather customer feedback to inform product development and roadmap.
• Help grow the team by sourcing, interviewing, and onboarding new engineers.

Skills

Software design

Analytical thinking

Travel willingness

Job description

Software Engineer - Mission Dev

New York, NY • Los Angeles, CA • Austin, TX

Engineering, Product, Design

In office

Full-time

About Nominal

Nominal is building the connected test and operations platform powering the world's most advanced hardware systems, from spacecraft and autonomous vehicles to next-generation defense programs. Our platform gives hardware engineering teams a single place to ingest data, analyze performance, automate test execution, and collaborate across every phase of development, so they can move faster without sacrificing safety or precision. We're a fast-moving team that owns problems end-to-end, works across disciplines, and thrives at the intersection of hardware and software.

We serve top-tier commercial and defense customers, from autonomy leaders like Anduril and Shield AI to next-generation aerospace teams like Hermeus and REGENT, and performance engineering teams like Pratt Miller Motorsports, alongside mission partners within the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force on programs where failure isn’t an option. We’re backed by Sequoia, General Catalyst, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, and Lightspeed. Our team draws from SpaceX, Palantir, Anduril, Applied Intuition, and other leading companies, united by a common mission: giving hardware engineers the tools to build the future with speed, safety, and confidence.

The Mission Dev team operates at the intersection of cutting-edge software engineering and critical customer missions. As a Software Engineer on the Mission Dev team, you're not just supporting customers; you're embedding with them to solve their hardest data challenges head-on. Think like a startup cofounder or an early-stage CTO: you'll dive into ambiguous problem spaces, own solutions end-to-end, and rapidly iterate to deliver impactful results. This role demands grit, strong software engineering foundations, creativity, and the ability to thrive in dynamic environments where you'll be responsible for everything from understanding core user needs to writing code for data integrations and custom applications.

You’ll be a pivotal force within Nominal's Mission organization, directly applying your technical expertise to ensure our customers succeed with Nominal's platform and achieve their objectives. If you are a builder who wants to tackle complex problems, see your code directly shape mission success, and aren't afraid to forge paths in new territory, this team is where you'll excel.

🫡 About the role

• Build and deploy custom applications, scripts, and extensions to meet specific customer requirements and unlock new capabilities, biasing towards action and rapid prototyping.
• Design and implement resilient data pipelines and integration workflows to connect diverse customer data systems with Nominal’s offerings, often in complex and novel environments.
• Work closely with our Sales and Mission Ops teams to ensure seamless customer handoffs, provide deep technical expertise during pre-sales conversations, and scope customer engagements effectively.
• Gather customer feedback and insights from the frontline to inform product development, influence Nominal's technology roadmap, and improve our offerings.
• Help grow the team by sourcing, interviewing, and onboarding new engineers

🎯 What we’re looking for

• Experience designing, building, and shipping software in potentially ambiguous or fast-changing environments.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills with a proactive, "get things done" attitude.
• A customer-centric mindset and a genuine passion for solving real-world problems with technology.
• Excitement to be a foundational member of the early team building software tools to amplify the capabilities of remarkable hardware engineering teams
• Ability and interest to travel up to 25–50% to spend time with end-users on-site (e.g., rocket test stands, spacecraft clean rooms, automated manufacturing facilities)

⚡ Skills that supercharge us

• Solution-oriented: Experience collaborating with customers to solve complex problems in dynamic, evolving environments.
• Adaptability: Previous experience in startup or entrepreneurial environments, where agility, problem-solving, and end-to-end ownership are essential.
• [Bonus] Security clearance: Active Top Secret clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one.

🚀 Why Nominal

• Backed by world-class investors
• Mission-critical impact with high-profile customers
• Work with deeply technical peers from elite engineering backgrounds
• Build real systems that touch rockets, aircraft, and autonomous systems — not just dashboards

✨ Benefits/Perks

• 🏥 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 🏖️ Unlimited PTO and sick leave
• 🍽️ Free lunch, snacks, and coffee
• 🚀 Professional Development Stipend
• 🛠️ In-office hardware lab with a $250 project stipend
• ✈️ Annual company retreat

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Compensation

The base pay range for this role is $130,000 – $230,000 per year.

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This position requires access to information and technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Your responses to the questions below will be used solely to determine your eligibility under U.S. law to receive information and materials subject to U.S. export controls. Are you any of the following “protected individual(s)” as defined in the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)? *

A person lawfully admitted for permanent residence of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder)

A person admitted as a refugee to the United States under 8 U.S.C. 1157

A person admitted as an asylee to the United States under 8 U.S.C. 1158

A United States citizen or national

None of the above

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Will you require sponsorship from Nominal for employment now or in the future? (e.g, OPT, H1B visa)? *

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No

Clearance Eligibility - Do you presently hold an active U.S. security clearance, or are you eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance? *

Yes, I hold an active U.S. security clearance

Yes, I'm eligible for a U.S security clearance

No

If you have held a U.S. security clearance in the past, what clearance level have you held? *

Confidential

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N/A - have never held a U.S. security clearance

Voluntary Self-Identification

To comply with government reporting requirements, we invite candidates to participate in the self-identification survey below. Your completion of this form is entirely optional, and your decision will neither influence the hiring process nor any subsequent stages. Any information you choose to share will be kept confidential and stored in a secure file. As outlined in our Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we uphold a commitment to non-discrimination based on any protected group status specified in applicable laws.

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Race and ethnicity descriptions

Voluntary Self-Identification of Veteran Status

VEVRAA requires Government contractors to take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment protected veterans. To help us measure the effectiveness of our outreach and recruitment efforts of veterans, we are asking you to tell us if you are a veteran covered by VEVRAA. If you believe that you belong to any of the following categories of protected veterans, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.

Veteran status descriptions

Disabled veteran

A veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military and is entitled to disability compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to disability compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability

Recently separated veteran

A veteran separated during the three-year period beginning on the date of the veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S military, ground, naval, or air service

Active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran

A veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge was authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense

Armed Forces service medal veteran

A veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military ground, naval, or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985 (61 Fed. Reg. 1209).

Veteran status

Req ID: R73