Embedded Software Engineer

About Albacore

Albacore Inc. is a venture-backed defense technology startup building advanced underwater drones designed to deter maritime invasions. Founded by defense veterans Dante and John, the company brings together deep experience from energy technology, defense manufacturing, and government contracting.

In just 10 months, Albacore has built and tested two full-scale vehicle iterations and demonstrated 150-pound warhead payloads. With initial production runs planned for early 2026, the company is scaling rapidly. Albacore completed Y Combinator, has raised $7.5M from top national security investors, and now employs ~20 full-time team members dedicated to pushing the limits of maritime autonomy and deterrence.

The Role

We're looking for an Embedded Software Engineer to design, develop, and deploy software for ruggedized underwater drone systems operating in high-stakes environments. You'll be responsible for building reliable, performant embedded systems that integrate tightly with complex hardware platforms and operate effectively in extreme conditions.

Responsibilities

Develop and deploy software on resource-constrained embedded systems for underwater drones.

Implement robust, fault-tolerant code optimized for performance and reliability in harsh maritime conditions.

Collaborate with hardware and systems engineers to integrate embedded software with onboard sensors, control systems, and propulsion modules.

Design and maintain scalable deployment pipelines for embedded software updates.

Contribute to the full software lifecycle, from architecture and prototyping to validation and field testing. Qualifications

4-8 years of embedded systems software engineering experience.

Proven experience deploying software on resource-limited hardware in ruggedized or real-world operational environments.

Proficiency in C++ and working knowledge of Kubernetes and K3Ds.

U.S. work authorization required.

Ability to obtain or hold an active TS/SCI clearance. Nice to Have

Experience with Python, JavaScript, or Rust.

Background in defense, robotics, or unmanned systems.

Familiarity with simulation, mission planning, or autonomy stacks. Compensation

Salary: $175,000-$225,000

Bonus and Equity: Competitive performance-based incentives and meaningful ownership