Senior Backend Engineer, Physical AI & Defense Autonomy

Decisive Point; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Intuition in Ann Arbor is seeking experienced backend engineers to scale our defense product ecosystem. You will design and own high-performance C++ systems for Axion and Acuity, delivering robust software that operates at the edge of capability.

You will join small, high-ownership teams, collaborating with autonomy researchers, product teams, and defense customers to translate mission requirements into reliable solutions.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional software engineering experience, with strong C++ at the core.
• Deep backend engineering fundamentals: systems programming, concurrency, performance optimization, and distributed systems.
• Genuine interest in autonomy, robotics, or physical AI; you want to understand how your code connects to machines operating in the real world.
• Exposure to or curiosity about multi-domain defense systems; a defense pedigree is not required but welcomed.
• Strong CS/CE/EE foundation; rigorous thinking about correctness and performance.
• Python proficiency for tooling and integration work.
• Excellent communication skills to explain technical tradeoffs to engineers and non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement high-performance backend systems in C++ for Axion and Acuity, Applied's core defense autonomy products
• Tackle hard autonomy challenges across multi-domain environments, from unmanned platforms to broader joint-force integration scenarios
• Build scalable, reliable infrastructure that enables autonomous systems to operate in contested and degraded conditions
• Partner closely with autonomy researchers, product teams, and defense customers to translate mission requirements into robust software solutions
• Own end-to-end execution of high-stakes engineering workstreams; architecture through deployment
• Contribute to the Ann Arbor site's rapid buildout, helping shape team culture, technical standards, and engineering practices as we scale
• Interface with DOD programs and defense customers to ensure solutions meet real-world operational demands

Skills

Backend engineering

Concurrency

Python

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Engineering

Tools

C++

Python

Job description

Applied Intuition in Ann Arbor is seeking experienced backend engineers to scale our defense product ecosystem. You will design and own high-performance C++ systems for Axion and Acuity, delivering robust software that operates at the edge of capability.

You will join small, high-ownership teams, collaborating with autonomy researchers, product teams, and defense customers to translate mission requirements into reliable solutions.