Senior Software Engineer

About the role

This role is the Owner of On-Device Safety UI, responsible for the end-to-end user interface of Verkada's alarm console. You will translate strict physical security needs into calm, dependable on-device interactions that remain clear and responsive under stress. The interface must guide people through critical actions when every second counts, running reliably on resource-constrained hardware seen in thousands of locations worldwide. Your work will directly impact how security professionals perceive and interact with safety systems during high-pressure scenarios. You will operate with a high degree of ownership over both product direction and implementation within the Alarms organization. This position demands a commitment to reliability where user interface decisions can have real-world safety implications.

Position Details

This is a full-time position based in San Mateo, California, United States. The compensation range is $180,000 to $250,000 USD per year. You will report into the Alarms organization and operate with a high degree of ownership over both product direction and implementation. Travel is not required.

What you'll do

• Architect and implement the visual flow and touch interface of the alarm console, ensuring every pixel serves a purpose in high-stress situations.
• Design screens for real-time alerts, live video feeds, and two-way audio communication that remain legible and operable in varied lighting conditions.
• Make deliberate decisions that balance visual clarity with the hardware limitations of safety-critical devices deployed in the field.
• Collaborate closely with firmware engineers to guarantee UI behavior remains consistent across hardware revisions and software updates over multi-year device lifecycles.
• Define the component architecture so that the interface feels unified across the entire alarm product line, from compact panels to large wall mounts.
• Refine interaction patterns with direct input from security operators to align the interface with real-world procedures and emergency response protocols.
• Prepare release builds with careful attention to versioning, add observability hooks, and support validation in the field to gather actionable data.
• Enable monitoring and reliability teams to verify behavior in customer environments through robust logging and diagnostic capabilities.
• Focus relentlessly on performance to ensure the interface remains responsive even under heavy load, such as during simultaneous alarm triggers.
• Contribute to the broader UI ecosystem by integrating with hardware interfaces and learning new protocols as security technology evolves.
• Communicate priorities and tradeoffs clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring alignment on safety-critical requirements.
• Break down complex requirements into simple, actionable design decisions that reduce operator error during emergency events.

Requirements

You must have at least six years of professional software engineering experience, with a proven track record of shipping embedded user interfaces. You have experience with devices such as security panels, kiosks, or industrial displays where uptime and clarity are non-negotiable. You understand how to manage performance tradeoffs on constrained hardware, balancing memory, CPU, and power consumption without compromising safety. You write robust, maintainable code that prioritizes reliability above speed, recognizing that UI failures can have serious consequences. Your experience includes debugging issues that impact real-time behavior, requiring a methodical approach to problem-solving under pressure. You care deeply about details that affect both safety and usability, knowing that small oversights can lead to significant operational risks. You are disciplined in your craft, adhering to coding standards and best practices that ensure long-term maintainability of safety-critical interfaces.

Nice to have

Experience with embedded Linux UI toolkits is a strong advantage for working effectively with the underlying system layers. A background in security or IoT product categories is also valued, providing context for the unique challenges of physical security software. You are comfortable learning new protocols and integrating with hardware interfaces as Verkada continues to expand its device ecosystem. You communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring that safety requirements are understood across the organization. You can break down complex requirements into simple, actionable design decisions that streamline operator workflows. You collaborate closely with partners to align on long-term product goals, contributing to the strategic direction of the alarm console.

Practical notes

This position is full-time and based in San Mateo, California, United States. Travel is not required for this role. The compensation range is $180,000 to $250,000 USD per year.