Senior Systems Software Engineer

About the role

Noda-ai constructs software and systems for unmanned platforms that operate in difficult and mission-critical contexts. This position sits at the intersection of software, networking, RF, and hardware to ensure platform coherence when the environment is demanding. You will connect subsystems to isolate performance faults and keep the platform reliable when conditions are far from ideal. The role requires comfort with ambiguity and a drive to solve problems that span protocol layers and physical domains. You will work closely with systems architects to align implementation details with demanding operational concepts. Decisions you make will directly affect how these systems behave when failure is not an option. Your work will be visible in the behavior of deployed systems operating beyond line of sight.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Investigate and resolve cross-system issues that touch software, networking, RF, and hardware simultaneously.
• Identify and fix latency or performance bottlenecks inside the messaging fabric, gateway components, and runtime services.
• Develop and maintain software stacks while operating under the guidance of a systems architect.
• Characterize system behavior when the environment is degraded or operationally contested.
• Use bench tools such as oscilloscopes and multimeters to perform hardware-level diagnostics and correlate electrical behavior with software states.
• Maintain Interface Control Documents and translate operational requirements into precise technical constraints for the implementation.
• Manage system health by analyzing crashes, establishing performance baselines, and providing data that informs release decisions.
• Support CI/CD pipelines and automated regression testing inside both SIL and HIL test environments.
• Observe RF and wireless characteristics like link quality and interference while correlating them with software and network metrics.
• Collaborate with teams that use tactical radios, mesh networking, and MANET concepts to ensure software components interoperate in the field.
• Instrument services for observability, using tools and concepts aligned with OpenTelemetry, Jaeger, and similar frameworks.
• Contribute to simulation workflows, HIL and SIL pipelines, and MBSE artifacts to validate behavior before physical deployment.

Requirements

• Hold 5 or more years of professional software engineering experience with an emphasis on distributed, real-time, or multi-service systems.
• Demonstrate strong proficiency in both C++ and Python across the stack from libraries to services.
• Bring experience with real-time messaging or middleware technologies such as DDS, ROS/ROS2, ZeroMQ, MQTT, or gRPC.
• Show a solid understanding of networking fundamentals including TCP/IP, multicast protocols, and dynamic routing concepts.
• Exhibit familiarity with RF and wireless concepts such as link budget, quality, and sources of interference.
• Prove ability to use hardware bench tools like oscilloscopes and multimeters to debug issues at the electrical and protocol level.
• Apply comfort with Linux command-line tools for diagnostics, scripting, and system exploration on servers and edge devices.
• Be eligible for U.S. Citizenship and able to obtain the necessary security clearance to support defense and aerospace programs.

Nice to have

• Experience operating in denied or contested environments where connectivity is intermittent and unreliable.
• Background in embedded Linux, RTOS, or resource-constrained edge environments where efficiency is critical.
• Knowledge of containerization platforms such as Docker and orchestration tools like Kubernetes, along with observability pipelines.
• Familiarity with simulation workflows, HIL and SIL setups, and MBSE artifacts that guide system design.
• Prior work with tactical radios, mesh networking protocols, or MANET concepts in demanding scenarios.
• Previous employment in defense, aerospace, or other regulated industries that impose strict compliance and reliability standards.

Practical notes

• Typical travel is 20%, with the possibility of up to 50% travel for field exercises and deployments.
• Candidates must be U.S. citizens or otherwise eligible for the required export control and security clearances.
• Employment is full-time and aligned with standard working hours, with flexibility to support operational needs during test and deployment windows.

Benefits and employment details

• Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Contribute to a 401(k) plan with company match to help you build long-term wealth.
• Equity grants that align your interests with the long-term success of the company.
• Unlimited PTO so you can manage your time responsibly while maintaining high performance.
• Enjoy a holiday hiatus period when the organization pauses to rest and recharge.
• Parental leave, military leave, and FSA/HSA/DCFSA options to support your personal and family needs.
• Professional development opportunities and learning resources to grow your skills on the job.
• Access to One Medical for streamlined, high-quality primary care and related services.
• Mental health resources and support programs to help you maintain psychological well-being.
• A culture that values clarity, ownership, and collaboration among diverse and experienced professionals.

Skills & tools

• Core programming in C++ and Python for services that run on edge and cloud platforms.
• Networking using DDS, ROS/ROS2, ZeroMQ, MQTT, and gRPC to move data reliably between components.
• Familiarity with TCP/IP, multicast, and routing to diagnose and resolve communication issues.
• Use of bench tools including multimeters and oscilloscopes to validate electrical and protocol-level behavior.
• Experience with container orchestration via Docker and Kubernetes to deploy services consistently.
• Observability practices using OpenTelemetry, Jaeger, and related tools to understand live system behavior.
• Comfort with simulation, HIL, and SIL workflows as well as MBSE artifacts that document and verify designs.
• Understanding of tactical communication infrastructure, mesh topologies, and MANET concepts when relevant to the mission.

This role is positioned within the engineering team and requires a pragmatic, detail-oriented engineer who can move between code, circuits, and concepts. You will be expected to operate with minimal supervision while maintaining strict standards for reliability and documentation. The successful candidate will contribute not only code but also insight into how systems behave in the real world, from the radio layer to application-level services. If you thrive in environments where software, hardware, and operational constraints intersect, this position offers the opportunity to build systems that make unmanned platforms dependable when it matters most.