C++ Software Engineer - Autonomous Systems

About the role

Applied Intuition is seeking a C++ Software Engineer to join the Autonomy Framework team, where you will own the development of core software systems that enable collaborative autonomy behaviors across air, ground, and maritime domains. In this position, you will design and implement high-performance C++ components that serve as the foundation for multi-agent coordination in complex, real-world operational environments. You will work directly with autonomy engineers, domain experts, and product teams to translate requirements into robust, scalable framework solutions. This role emphasizes the use of modern agentic coding tools and AI-assisted development workflows to accelerate delivery and maintain high code quality standards. You will be responsible for optimizing critical paths for real-time performance while ensuring reliability in resource-constrained scenarios. A key part of this role involves automating development and testing workflows to improve velocity and consistency across multidisciplinary efforts. You will play a central role in advancing the collaborative autonomy stack that powers some of the most sophisticated physical AI systems in the industry.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Develop high-performance C++ systems that form the backbone of collaborative autonomy frameworks for diverse operational domains.
• Architect and implement software modules that enable multiple autonomous agents to coordinate seamlessly across air, ground, and maritime environments.
• Integrate autonomy stack components with domain-specific platforms and third-party systems to support end-to-end mission workflows.
• Partner with autonomy engineers and product teams to refine requirements and deliver solutions that meet stringent real-world performance criteria.
• Profile, debug, and optimize latency-sensitive and compute-intensive code paths to meet real-time constraints in embedded and edge environments.
• Create automation scripts, testing tools, and development utilities that enhance engineering productivity and ensure reliable integration across teams.
• Leverage agentic coding tools such as Cursor, Claude Code, and GitHub Copilot to accelerate development cycles and improve code maintainability.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary stakeholders to translate high-level objectives into detailed technical specifications and implementation plans.
• Conduct code reviews and contribute to the evolution of software design standards across the autonomy framework organization.
• Support the deployment and validation of framework components in field trials, demonstrations, and integration events as required by project timelines.
• Maintain deep expertise in C++20 and modern programming practices to ensure the long-term sustainability of critical software assets.
• Work closely with security and compliance teams to ensure that all software deliverables meet organizational and regulatory standards.
• Document system architectures, interfaces, and behavioral characteristics to facilitate knowledge sharing and onboarding of new team members.
• Participate in on-call rotations and incident response activities to address critical issues affecting deployed autonomy behaviors.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of development pipelines, build systems, and testing frameworks used across the autonomy organization.

Requirements

• Must hold U.S. Citizenship due to the nature of the work and security requirements.
• Must be eligible for and able to maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance, and be willing to adhere to all associated obligations.
• Bring 2 or more years of professional software engineering experience in relevant fields.
• Demonstrate strong C++ programming skills with hands-on experience in modern C++ standards such as C++20 or later.
• Show proficiency in using Python and shell scripting for building automation, tooling, and operational workflows.
• Exhibit advanced problem-solving abilities and meticulous attention to detail in complex software environments.
• Have a solid understanding of software design patterns, data structures, and algorithms relevant to large-scale systems.
• Experience with version control systems, particularly Git, and collaborative development workflows in team settings.
• Capability to thrive in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment with shifting priorities and tight deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively collaborate with engineers, product managers, and stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel as required by project needs, including participation in integration and demonstration activities.
• Ability to work independently and make sound technical decisions with limited supervision.
• Commitment to following software engineering best practices, including code reviews, testing, and documentation.
• Readiness to engage with evolving tools and methodologies in the field of autonomous systems development.

Nice to have

• Prior experience with autonomous systems, robotics, or real-time control systems.
• Familiarity with distributed systems and multi-agent coordination architectures.
• Knowledge of network programming and inter-process communication mechanisms.
• Experience with build systems such as CMake or Bazel and modern CI/CD pipelines.
• Exposure to data serialization formats including Protocol Buffers, FlatBuffers, or Cap'n Proto.
• Background with containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes.

Practical notes

• Must be willing to travel as projects require, usually for SW/HW integration and/or demonstrations; estimated average travel is 2-5 days every other month (10-20%).
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must hold or be eligible for a U.S. Secret security clearance.