Sr. Software Engineer

For East Coast candidates: MD or VA

Based on Security Clearance Requirements - Candidates Must Be United States Citizens w/Ability to Clear Security Clearance Protocols (US Residency is Required)

Experience:

Django for Frontend Buildouts: 1 year (Preferred)

Production Grade Software: 5 years (Required)

Rust for Backend Systems: 2 years (Preferred)

About the Role

We are building defense-grade, production-ready AI systems that solve real national security problems at scale. This is not a DevOps role and not a maintenance role. This is a hands-on engineering position for senior builders who want to design, ship, and evolve high-impact software used by hundreds or thousands of users.

You will work on a mix of new IRAD initiatives and existing products, contributing directly to architecture decisions, feature development, and modernization efforts. We are assembling a small, elite engineering team and are intentional about who joins it.

If you are a senior engineer who thrives in environments where you build new things that make a real world impact, take extreme ownership of your craft and strive for continuous growth, this role is designed for you.

What You’ll Be Working On

Building/evolving AI-powered applications using modern frameworks and open-source tools

Designing and shipping production-grade software with real users, not hobby projects

Developing backend systems in Rust and application layers in Django

Working with large language models and AI tooling, including OpenAI-based systems

Contributing to new product development as well as modernizing existing platforms

Collaborating closely with leadership and other senior engineers to shape technical direction

Operating as a true individual contributor with autonomy and accountability

What We’re Looking For

8 to 12 years of professional software engineering experience

Minimum of 5 years working on enterprise or production-grade software

Strong experience with Django and front end application development systems

Strong experience with Rust for backend systems

Hands-on experience working with LLMs, AI tooling, or OpenAI-style frameworks

Demonstrated ability to ship software used by hundreds or thousands of users

Ability to self-start, propose solutions, and execute with empowerment

Comfortable owning problems end-to-end, from concept to deployment

Experience in national security or defense is not required, but interest in the space is expected.

How We Evaluate Candidates

We take the candidate experience seriously while maintaining a high bar.

Our interview process includes

Brief cultural and behavioral interview

Deeper dive into your technical skills through a customized case study evaluation

Closing out with a brief core values presentation to assess intentionality, alignment, and communication fits within the team

We value thoughtful preparation, clarity of thinking, and ownership more than perfect answers.

Compensation and Equity

Base salary range: $150,000 to $220,000

Exceptional candidates may be considered at higher compensation levels

Bonuses and performance-based incentives

Opportunity to grow with the company toward a targeted IPO timeline

We are transparent about compensation and structure offers thoughtfully for the right people.

Why Join Us

You’ll work on real products with real impact

You’ll join a small, senior team with high standards and low bureaucracy

You’ll have visibility, ownership, and influence from day one

You’ll help shape systems, not just tickets

You’ll be part of a company focused on building real value, not inflated narratives

This is a role for engineers who want to build, not hide.