Software Engineer
- San Francisco, CA
- $180,000-200,000 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
Location: El Segundo, CA
Company Stage of Funding: Early-Stage Venture (Series A)
Office Type: Onsite, 5 Days a Week (with ~25% Travel)
Salary: $180,000 – $200,000 base + equityCompany DescriptionOur client is an early-stage venture-backed company building cutting-edge technology at the intersection of AI, defense, and mission-critical systems. The team is made up of experienced technologists and military leaders from top technology companies and national security backgrounds. Together, they are developing advanced systems that redefine how technology can strengthen resilience, readiness, and deterrence in an uncertain world.This is a rare opportunity to join as an early engineer at a fast-growing defense-tech company, with a chance to work on challenging problems that have real-world impact.What You Will DoDesign, build, and scale core product and platform capabilities.Take ownership of critical backend systems and data integration pipelines, ensuring high performance and accuracy.Deploy and optimize reinforcement learning models in secure environments, integrating with classified sensor data.Collaborate closely with scientists and researchers to translate advanced mathematical models into production-grade code.Partner with customers during integrations—including opportunities to travel (~25%) to unique deployment environments.Ideal Candidate Background2+ years of professional experience as a software engineer, ideally backend-focused with full-stack exposure.Strong coding experience in one or more of the following: Python, Go, TypeScript.Experience taking ownership of backend systems or infrastructure in a fast-paced, startup-like environment.Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to work autonomously and drive clarity in ambiguous situations.Active Top Secret (TS) clearance (required for this role).PreferredPrior experience in defense, aerospace, or other mission-critical industries.Familiarity with reinforcement learning, machine learning models, or secure data environments.Track record of working in early-stage companies or small teams where adaptability and initiative are essential.Compensation & BenefitsBase Salary: $180,000 – $200,000Equity: Competitive early-stage ownership opportunityBenefits: Healthcare, 401(k), generous PTOTravel: Up to 25% (including unique customer integration sites)This is a full-time, onsite role in El Segundo, CA , with the chance to be part of a mission-driven team at the forefront of AI and defense innovation.