Software Engineering Lead: Field & Lab Automation

EarthOptics; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance - 90% funded byEarth

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Equity

401k Plan + Employer Match

Paid Time Off 17 days + 11 holidays

Parental Leave

Dev Stipend

Referral Program

Bonus Program

Flexible Schedule

Hybrid/Remote Work Environment

Job summary

EarthOptics is seeking a Software Engineering Lead to own the Mobile GroundOwl application, bridge software with hardware, and drive reliability in field environments. You’ll work across product, hardware, and operations to deliver maintainable, scalable solutions for agri-tech challenges.

The role emphasizes production-grade mobile apps, embedded interfaces, and hands-on hardware integration, with hybrid Raleigh work expectations and equity-based compensation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field—or equivalent practical experience.
• 2+ years of professional software engineering experience, or equivalent via internships/co-ops/research/projects.
• Maintaining or shipping a production mobile application. React Native and TypeScript/JavaScript experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong Python development and comfort working in C/C++ or another language used for embedded, automation, or systems development.
• Working hands-on with sensors, motors, motor drivers, actuators, microcontrollers, data acquisition, and basic electronics troubleshooting.
• Rapid prototyping: defining a problem, building a solution, testing it with real hardware, diagnosing failures, and iterating.
• Git, code review, automated testing, and dependable software release practices.
• Using AI coding assistants effectively while independently validating generated output and maintaining high standards for quality, correctness, security, and safety.
• Communicating clearly, documenting your work, operating independently, and collaborating effectively across software, hardware, lab, product, and operations teams.

Responsibilities

• Take primary engineering ownership of the Mobile GroundOwl (GO) application following a structured handoff and maintain a stable, high-quality field application.
• Improve reliability and maintainability of Mobile GroundOwl through automated testing, observability, documentation, and support tooling.
• Design and develop lab automation systems that integrate application software, firmware, sensors, motors, actuators, microcontrollers or single-board computers, and custom electronics.
• Contribute software across EarthOptics products and platforms, including customer-facing applications, backend services, integrations, device software, and internal engineering tools.
• Apply strong engineering practices across prototypes and production systems, including design, code review, automated testing, observability, security, and documentation.

Skills

Ownership

Problem solving

Rapid prototyping

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation

Testing & release

AI-assisted development

Clear communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/EE/ME or equivalent

Tools

React Native

TypeScript/JavaScript

Python

C/C++

Embedded systems

Git & CI

Job description

EarthOptics is seeking a Software Engineering Lead to own the Mobile GroundOwl application, bridge software with hardware, and drive reliability in field environments. You’ll work across product, hardware, and operations to deliver maintainable, scalable solutions for agri-tech challenges.

The role emphasizes production-grade mobile apps, embedded interfaces, and hands-on hardware integration, with hybrid Raleigh work expectations and equity-based compensation.