Senior Software Engineer – Autonomous Systems

Location: Washington DC Baltimore Area (with travel requirements)

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer with a passion for autonomous systems to design, develop, integrate, and deploy software solutions that enable intelligent behaviour in robotics and automation technologies.

In this role, you will directly support real-world missions involving fleets of autonomous ground vehicles used by national security and defence customers. You will work on the deployment and continuous improvement of autonomy software, ensuring reliable performance across complex operational environments.

The ideal candidate will have a strong software development background, familiarity with robotics and autonomous systems, and a proven ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams of engineers, researchers, and product managers to develop robust, scalable software for complex systems.

About the Company

The organisation develops advanced autonomous technologies designed to support defence and national security operations. Its focus is on delivering intelligent autonomous platforms capable of operating in complex, unpredictable environments.

By integrating autonomous ground vehicles, advanced sensing technologies, and intelligent software systems, the business aims to improve operational efficiency, enhance mission capabilities, and reduce risks to personnel.

Its technology enables distributed control, dynamic routing, and real-time responsiveness, supporting autonomous operations across demanding mission environments.

The Role

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will play a key role in bringing autonomous systems from development into real-world operational environments.

You will integrate and deploy autonomy software onto customer-specific hardware platforms, work directly with end-users to understand operational requirements, and collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to improve system performance.

The position combines hands-on software development with hardware integration, system-level optimisation, testing, and deployment. It offers the opportunity to work on technically challenging robotics applications where software performance directly impacts real-world operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Autonomy Integration and Deployment

• Integrate and deploy autonomy software stacks onto customer-bound hardware platforms.
• Validate autonomous systems in real-world operational environments.
• Support the deployment of autonomous ground vehicles across a range of customer applications.
• Troubleshoot integration challenges and ensure reliable software performance across different hardware configurations.

2. Customer and Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work across the organisation and directly with end-users to develop new autonomous behaviours, payload integrations, and emerging mission capabilities.
• Understand operational challenges and translate user feedback into technical requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, and research teams to deliver solutions that meet customer needs.
• Support the development and implementation of new use cases for autonomous systems.

3. System-Level Optimisation

• Take a holistic approach to autonomous vehicle performance, considering the interactions between sensing, computing, controls, and other subsystems.
• Identify system-level performance bottlenecks and implement improvements.
• Optimise software behaviour across integrated hardware and software systems.
• Work with multidisciplinary engineering teams to improve the reliability, efficiency, and performance of autonomous platforms.

4. Testing, Debugging and Problem Resolution

• Analyse test results to identify software issues, performance limitations, and underlying root causes.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to investigate and resolve technical problems.
• Validate software changes through testing and integration activities.
• Support the continuous improvement of deployed autonomous systems based on operational feedback and test data.

5. Autonomy Stack Development

• Identify performance shortfalls within the core autonomy stack and develop appropriate solutions.
• Design, implement, and maintain enhancements to autonomous software systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to improve autonomy capabilities.
• Develop robust, maintainable, production-quality software for complex robotics applications.

6. Customer Requirements and R&D Collaboration

• Partner with business development and engineering teams to translate customer requirements into technical specifications and deliverable autonomy capabilities.
• Support the transition of research and development outputs into practical, deployable software solutions.
• Contribute to technical planning and solution development for emerging customer requirements.
• Ensure software development activities align with operational needs and product objectives.

7. Travel and On-Site Support

• Travel requirements will range from approximately 10–25% to 25–50%, depending on candidate preferences and role placement.
• Candidates must be able to commute to Arlington, Virginia, as required.
• Support on-site integration, testing, deployment, and customer engagement activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Three or more years of relevant professional experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Robotics, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience demonstrating relevant skills.
• Experience integrating software onto hardware products.
• Strong programming skills in languages such as C++, Python, or Java.
• Solid software engineering fundamentals, including software design, unit testing, debugging, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to consistently deliver production-quality software within a continuous integration environment.
• Strong understanding of algorithms, data structures, and software design principles.
• Demonstrated ability to write clean, maintainable code and produce clear technical documentation.
• Experience working collaboratively within engineering teams.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and resolving complex technical challenges.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing software for robotics and autonomous systems.
• Experience working with safety-critical systems or relevant standards, such as MIL-STD-882, ISO 26262, or DO-178.
• Experience with ROS 2.
• Experience with state machines, motion planning, and path planning.
• Knowledge of navigation, mapping algorithms, and robotic perception.
• Familiarity with real-time operating systems and embedded software development.
• Experience leading or coordinating cross-functional software engineering teams.

Compensation

The salary offered will depend on several factors, including relevant professional experience, education, specialised training, technical expertise, and the requirements of the position.

Equity may also form part of the overall compensation package for eligible full-time positions.

Benefits

Full-time employees may be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Healthcare: Three medical plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan, with the employer covering 80% of the premium for employees and their dependants.
• Life and Disability Insurance: Employer-paid basic life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, alongside short-term and long-term disability coverage. Additional life insurance options are available.
• Paid Time Off: 20 days of accrued paid time off annually.
• Company Holidays: A generous company holiday calendar, including a winter break in December.
• Parental Leave: At least seven weeks of fully paid parental leave for birth or adoption.
• Professional Development: Up to $9,000 annually for tuition reimbursement or professional development.
• Retirement Savings: A 401(k) retirement savings plan with traditional, Roth, and after-tax contribution options, including an employer match of up to 4%.
• Workplace Amenities: Office refreshments and beverages.

Further details regarding compensation, equity eligibility, and benefits will be provided during the recruitment process.