Senior Software Engineer
- Phoenix, AZ
- $165,000-185,000 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
Location : On-site in Phoenix, AZ (Deer Valley Airport) — relocation flexibility available (1–2 months remote to ease transition)
Company Stage of Funding : High-Growth Startup (Defense Robotics)
Office Type : On-site, Full-Time
Salary : $165,000-$185,000 (based on experience) + EquityCompany DescriptionWe’re representing a defense robotics company developing small, autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) swarms — known as “FireAnts.” These systems are designed to operate in demanding environments and deliver real-world mission-critical value. The company is backed by strong investors, growing quickly, and building at the cutting edge of robotics and autonomy.This is a hands-on, high-ownership engineering role where you’ll join a talented, cross-functional team that is innovating rapidly to deliver robust, production-grade systems. If you’re passionate about defense technology, autonomous systems, and building impactful software from the ground up, this is the perfect opportunity.What You Will DoDesign, implement, and optimize core software systems for autonomous robotic swarms.Build high-performance, production-grade C++20 software that scales reliably in real-world environments.Contribute to system design and architecture, ensuring modular, stable, and scalable codebases.Collaborate with cross-functional teams across the full robotics stack, rapidly delivering features to production.Debug complex, multithreaded systems and optimize for reliability in resource-constrained environments.Lead technical discussions, share innovative ideas, and mentor other engineers.Implement metrics and performance benchmarks to continuously improve subsystems and overall system performance.Work directly with both x86 and ARM architectures, building cross-platform capabilities.Ideal BackgroundDeep expertise in modern C++ (C++20) with a proven track record of delivering mission-critical software.5–10+ years of experience building production-grade software systems.Proficiency in system design, architecture, and performance optimization.Strong experience debugging and optimizing multithreaded and low-level systems.Hands-on experience with data processing pipelines, CI/CD, and Git-based workflows.Ability to work onsite in Phoenix, AZ (relocation support available).Excitement about contributing to the defense of the United States and its allies.Eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance (no active clearance required).PreferredMS or PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent experience.Experience with robotics technologies including networking, ML ops pipelines, data processing, or microcontroller development.Proficiency in Python for supporting tools and scripting.Experience developing and testing multi-agent autonomous systems deployed in real-world environments.Compensation and BenefitsSalary: Competitive based on experienceEquity: Offered as part of total compensationWork Setup: On-site at Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, AZ (relocation flexibility: 1–2 months remote allowed)Other Benefits:Collaborative, cross-functional team environmentOpportunity to work on cutting-edge robotics and defense systemsHigh ownership role with direct technical impactVisa sponsorship considered on a case-by-case basisThis is a high-impact opportunity for an engineer who thrives in fast-paced environments, loves working in modern C++, and is excited to help build the future of autonomous defense robotics. Salary Range: $165,000-$185,000 base. https://www.recruitingfromscratch.com/