Application Software Engineer

About the role

Sift is seeking an Application Software Engineer to act as the critical bridge between our high-performance telemetry infrastructure and the complex real-world demands of our customer base. In this capacity, you will own the implementation of custom solutions that directly translate platform capabilities into tangible engineering outcomes for mission-critical operations. You will act as a hands-on technical partner, diving deep into customer workflows to ensure our software stack evolves in alignment with actual field requirements. The role demands a proactive mindset that thrives on solving ambiguous problems before they escalate into critical failures for hardware systems. You will be responsible for forging strong, trust-based relationships that position you as an advocate for both the customer and the long-term vision of Sift. Success in this position means you are not just writing code, but enabling the next generation of physical AI systems to operate with unprecedented reliability. You will report directly to the team's Lead and be measured by your ability to drive adoption and deliver measurable value to our partners.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Partner directly with customer engineering teams to dissect intricate technical barriers and tailor Sift's platform to resolve them.
• Architect and deploy bespoke integrations leveraging Sift APIs, transforming abstract customer needs into robust, scalable software solutions.
• Synthesize complex customer feedback into clear, actionable product requirements that guide the strategic roadmap of the platform.
• Streamline and own the creation of integrations with prevalent engineering tools, ensuring seamless alignment with established customer workflows.
• Orchestrate and lead technical onboarding sessions, crafting training materials that empower customer teams to maximize platform efficiency.
• Establish enduring professional relationships with key stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor and influential advocate for Sift's capabilities.
• Investigate and diagnose anomalies within customer data pipelines to ensure the integrity and reliability of telemetry for critical systems.
• Collaborate with internal engineering and product teams to prioritize features that unlock new use cases across aerospace and energy sectors.
• Adapt documentation and operational procedures to reflect the latest platform changes, maintaining clarity for internal and external users.
• Support the expansion of platform functionality to accommodate emerging requirements in autonomous vehicle and defense technology landscapes.

Requirements

US Person Required: Must be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card Holder due to ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) / EAR (Export Administration Regulations) compliance requirements.

• Possess a minimum of 2+ years of hands-on experience in software engineering or data engineering roles within a professional capacity.
• Demonstrate advanced proficiency in Python, including the ability to write clean, efficient, and maintainable codebases.
• Exhibit a functional understanding of REST APIs, including design principles, authentication, and payload management.
• Apply basic knowledge of data analysis and visualization techniques to interpret complex datasets and derive meaningful conclusions.
• Utilize strong problem-solving skills to navigate ambiguous requirements and identify root causes in distributed systems.
• Communicate effectively, translating highly technical jargon into accessible language for stakeholders across diverse technical backgrounds.
• Cultivate a deep passion for industries such as aerospace, autonomous systems, and renewable energy to align with our mission.
• Embrace an adaptive learning mindset to thrive in the fast-paced, shifting priorities inherent to a startup environment.
• Hold a Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, engineering, math, physics, or another STEM discipline that provides a rigorous technical foundation.

Nice to have

• Bring prior experience in aerospace systems, satellite operations, or the development of autonomous vehicle technologies to the table.
• Leverage expertise in data streaming technologies or time-series databases such as Kafka or InfluxDB to optimize real-time data flows.
• Apply solid understanding of SQL and database concepts to manage and query complex data structures efficiently.
• Contribute knowledge of major cloud platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure to deploy and scale resilient infrastructure.
• Navigate software integration challenges within complex, heterogeneous systems that demand high reliability.
• Implement machine learning or AI applications to derive predictive insights from engineering telemetry data.
• Demonstrate a proven track record of rapidly learning and assimilating new technologies to solve immediate customer pain points.

Practical notes

• Ability to travel 10-15% required. Varies by location and customer needs.
• Sift headquarters is located in Los Angeles (Marina del Rey), and we work in a hybrid environment. We work closely with hardware companies building everything from autonomous vehicles to spacecraft, and it's essential to be nearby for site visits and collaboration.
• We collaborate in person four times a week - Monday through Thursday - and come together for a full week every quarter.
• We are open to relocating candidates to LA or working from our San Francisco office for the right candidate.
• Salary range: $125,000 - $175,000 per year. Plus equity and benefits.