Senior Software Engineer, Autonomous Systems

True; California; Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

Unknown company specializing in robotic autonomy seeks a backend engineer to build and optimize mission-critical services. You will design real-time data processing pipelines and integrate sensors, effectors, and autonomous platforms, including drone swarms.

You will collaborate with robotics and AI teams to deliver scalable, fail-safe cloud/edge services and support rapid operator decisions in demanding environments.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of backend or service-layer software engineering with ownership of core services (APIs, microservices, middleware).
• Proficiency in Rust, Python, C++, or Java, with real-time data/messaging integrations experience.
• Technical degree in computer science, robotics, electrical engineering, or related field.
• Experience in autonomy (drones, robotics, autonomous vehicles, or factory automation) with shipping software from prototype to field.
• Familiarity with LLM systems, AI agents, or toolchains is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and optimize backend and service-layer software for mission-critical autonomous systems.
• Develop real-time processing for heterogeneous sensor data, including state estimation and threat detection.
• Build integrations with sensors, effectors, and autonomous platforms, including swarms.
• Develop LLM- and AI-enabled capabilities to assess situations and support rapid operational decisions.
• Engineer reliable, scalable, and fail-safe services for high-stakes environments.
• Collaborate with robotics, hardware, sensing, AI, and systems engineering teams to deliver integrated solutions.

Skills

Rust

Python

C++

Java

Real-time data

Backend API design

Education

Technical degree in CS/Robotics/EE

Tools

APIs / Microservices

LLM toolchains

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

Join a customer-facing product engineering team building command-and-control and autonomy software for robotic and autonomous systems. You will develop cloud and edge services that help users integrate sensors, platforms, and AI-driven decision-making for demanding operational environments.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Design, build, and optimize backend and service-layer software for mission-critical autonomous systems.
• Develop real-time processing for heterogeneous sensor data, including state estimation and threat detection.
• Build integrations with sensors, effectors, and autonomous platforms, including individual systems and swarms.
• Develop LLM- and AI-enabled capabilities to assess situations and support rapid operational decisions.
• Engineer reliable, scalable, and fail-safe services for high-stakes environments.
• Work with robotics, hardware, sensing, AI, and systems engineering teams to deliver integrated solutions.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• At least 4 years of hands-on backend or service-layer software engineering experience, with ownership of core services such as APIs, microservices, or middleware.
• Proficiency in one or more of Rust, Python, C++, or Java, plus experience building real-time data and messaging integrations across external systems.
• A technical degree in computer science, robotics, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in autonomy, such as drones, robotics, autonomous vehicles, or factory automation, and a record of shipping software in fast prototype-to-field environments.
• Practical engineering experience beyond algorithm, simulation, or ML research roles; familiarity with LLM systems, AI agents, or toolchains is beneficial.
• Existing U.S. work authorization, U.S. citizenship, and eligibility to obtain a security clearance are required. Visa sponsorship is not available.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Annual base salary: $145,000 to $275,000 USD. Visa sponsorship is not available.

LOCATION

Hybrid role based in California, United States. Candidates should be located in or willing to relocate to Seattle, New York City, Washington, D.C., or Palo Alto.