Senior Software Engineer - Forward Deployed

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of advanced software systems for autonomy, networking, and mission execution, with a focus on robust performance in dynamic maritime environments
• Drive field testing and deployment strategies, overseeing validation of autonomy, perception, and control systems under operational conditions, and proactively identifying systemic issues
• Own the analysis of mission-critical performance data, translating operational insights into high-impact software improvements that enhance system behavior, reliability, and responsiveness
• Architect and integrate new autonomy capabilities, ensuring compatibility across software, sensors, and vessel hardware, while maintaining a modular and scalable system design
• Partner directly with operators, mission planners, and end-users, translating feedback into actionable requirements and guiding the evolution of the autonomy stack to meet mission needs
• Lead incident response and root cause analysis for complex issues spanning software, hardware, and networking layers, and implement durable solutions that strengthen system resilience
• Mentor and collaborate with cross-functional teams, aligning autonomy development with broader product and mission goals, and elevating engineering practices across the organization
• Establish and maintain technical standards, authoring deployment protocols, diagnostic tools, and documentation to support the reliable scaling of autonomy systems in operational fleets

Job requirements

• 5+ years of experience developing autonomy or robotics systems, with a strong foundation in software engineering
• Proficient programming skills in C++, Rust, Python, or similar languages, with experience building and maintaining performance-critical systems
• Deep technical background in robotics, autonomy, or embedded systems, particularly within maritime, aerospace, or defense sectors
• Strong understanding of networking protocols and distributed systems, including TCP/IP, UDP, DDS, and message-passing frameworks (e.g., ROS, ZeroMQ)
• Extensive hands-on experience with perception sensors such as cameras, radar, GPS, and IMUs, with emphasis on integration and real-time sensor fusion
• Proven ability to debug and resolve complex, cross-disciplinary issues, spanning software, hardware, networking, and autonomy behavior
• Experience adapting autonomy systems to real-world constraints, including variable environments, limited communications, and platform-specific limitations
• Willingness and capability to lead field deployments (up to 50%), with a history of testing and refining autonomous systems in operational maritime or expeditionary contexts