Senior Software Engineer, Autonomous Systems (C2/Backend/Service)

True Talent Solutions Partners

Palo Alto, California, United Statesunknown$145,000–$275,000Posted Nov 5, 2026

About the role

About the Role

Join a customer-facing product engineering team building command-and-control and autonomy software for robotic and autonomous systems. You will develop cloud and edge services that connect sensors, platforms, and AI-enabled decision-making for operational missions.

What You'll Do

Design, build, and optimize software for mission-critical autonomous systems.

Develop services that process data from diverse sensors for real-time state estimation and threat detection.

Build AI- and LLM-enabled systems that assess situations and support rapid operational decisions.

Integrate sensors, effectors, and autonomous platforms, including systems operating individually or in groups.

Engineer reliable, scalable, and fail-safe software for high-stakes environments.

Work with robotics, hardware, sensing, and systems engineering teams to deliver integrated solutions.

What We're Looking For

Four to ten years of backend or service-layer software engineering experience, with recent hands-on individual contributor work.

Experience building and owning backend services such as APIs, microservices, or middleware, and real-time data or messaging integrations across live services.

Proficiency in one or more of Rust, Python, C++, or Java, and a degree in computer science or a related technical field.

Practical experience in autonomy, robotics, drones, autonomous vehicles, or factory automation, beyond algorithm, simulation, or ML research alone.

Experience shipping software in a fast-paced, prototype-to-field environment.

Experience integrating LLM systems or AI agents and building toolchains is helpful.

US work authorization without sponsorship and eligibility to obtain a security clearance are required.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary: $145,000 to $275,000 USD annually. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Location

Hybrid in Palo Alto, California.

Responsibilities

  • Design, build, and optimize software for mission-critical autonomous systems.
  • Develop services for real-time sensor data processing, state estimation, and threat detection.
  • Build AI- and LLM-enabled systems that support operational decision-making.
  • Integrate sensors, effectors, and autonomous platforms.
  • Engineer reliable, scalable, fail-safe software for high-stakes environments.
  • Collaborate with robotics, hardware, sensing, and systems engineering teams.

Qualifications

  • Four to ten years of backend or service-layer software engineering experience, including recent hands-on individual contributor work.
  • Experience building and owning backend services and real-time data or messaging integrations.
  • Proficiency in Rust, Python, C++, or Java and a degree in computer science or a related technical field.
  • Practical experience in autonomy, robotics, drones, autonomous vehicles, or factory automation.
  • Experience shipping software in fast-paced prototype-to-field environments.
  • US work authorization without sponsorship and eligibility to obtain a security clearance.

Skills mentioned

PythonC++Backend DevelopmentMicroservicesDistributed SystemsEvent-Driven ArchitectureRoboticsSystems EngineeringLarge Language ModelsAI Agents