Software Engineer

Haystack

San Diego, California, United StatesFull-time$87,100–$157,450Posted Sep 14, 2026

About the role

We're hiring on behalf of a Haystack partner!

The Role

Design, implement, and optimize advanced algorithms for next-generation sensor systems.
Engineer high-performance backend systems for scientific computing and distributed environments.
Integrate, refactor, and optimize scientific codebases for scalability and efficiency.
Translate and enhance existing code for GPU/CUDA acceleration and parallel/distributed execution.
Test, document, and evolve complex software within a Linux/Unix environment.
Contribute to a culture that values technical rigor, creativity, and professional growth.

What You'll Need

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related field, with 6+ years of backend software development experience (or Master's with 4+ years).
U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance.
Demonstrated expertise in C/C++ backend software development for performance-critical applications.
Proven experience with high-performance computing, parallel/distributed processing, and standards like MPI.
Hands-on experience with GPU/CUDA programming and optimization.
Proficiency in Linux/Unix development environments and strong software engineering principles.

What's On Offer

Competitive annual salary ($87,100 - $157,450) plus bonus potential.
Opportunity to work on impactful software that solves real-world defense challenges.
Investment in professional growth through mentorship and hands-on innovation.
A collaborative environment that values curiosity and technical expertise.

Apply via Haystack today!

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and optimize advanced algorithms for next-generation sensor systems.
Engineer high-performance backend systems for scientific computing and distributed environments.
Integrate, refactor, and optimize scientific codebases for scalability and efficiency.
Translate and enhance existing code for GPU/CUDA acceleration and parallel/distributed execution.
Test, document, and evolve complex software within a Linux/Unix environment.
Contribute to a culture that values technical rigor, creativity, and professional growth.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related field.
6+ years of backend software development experience (or Master's with 4+ years).
U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance.
Demonstrated expertise in C/C++ backend software development for performance-critical applications.
Proven experience with high-performance computing, parallel/distributed processing, and standards like MPI.
Hands-on experience with GPU/CUDA programming and optimization.
Proficiency in Linux/Unix development environments and strong software engineering principles.

Benefits

Competitive annual salary plus bonus potential.
Opportunity to work on impactful software that solves real-world defense challenges.
Investment in professional growth through mentorship and hands-on innovation.
A collaborative environment that values curiosity and technical expertise.

Skills mentioned

C++CBackend DevelopmentPerformance OptimizationDistributed SystemsLinuxCUDAConcurrencyMultithreadingSoftware Testing

About Haystack

Haystack combines AI & expert vetting to deliver world-class tech candidates who are engaged, aligned, and ready to interview. We're trusted by over 400,000+ tech candidates, working in Software Engineering, Data, Design, DevOps, Cloud, Tech Management, Testing, Product & Delivery, Architecture and more. 100s of employers from startups and scale-ups like Atom Bank, DuckDuckGo and Goodlord to established enterprises like American Express, Dunelm and AWS use Haystack to connect with qualified tech talent that they can't find anywhere else.

Technology51-200 employeesNewcastle upon Tyne, England