General Software Engineer (C++) - Physical AI

About Applied Intuition

Founded in 2017, Applied Intuition, Inc. is a Silicon Valley company valued at $15 billion. They are creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet, serving automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining, and agriculture industries.

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Applied Intuition has offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.

About The Role

We are rapidly scaling our defense product ecosystem in Ann Arbor and are seeking talented software engineers to join our team. You will be working on some of the hardest challenges in simulation, tooling, and autonomy infrastructure for physical AI.

• Design and implement high-performance software in C++ for Axion, Applied Intuition's defense tooling and data platform
• Build and extend simulation environments and virtual worlds that enable autonomous systems to be tested and validated before real-world deployment
• Develop scalable infrastructure that supports multi-domain autonomous operations — from unmanned ground and aerial platforms to broader joint-force integration scenarios
• Partner with autonomy researchers, product teams, and defense customers to translate mission requirements into robust, mission-ready software solutions
• Own end-to-end execution of engineering workstreams; from architecture through deployment
• Interface with DoD programs and defense customers to ensure solutions meet real-world operational demands

Requirements

• Professional software engineering experience, with strong C++ at the core
• Experience with Unreal Engine or other real-time simulation/game engine environments (e.g., Unity, Gazebo, or custom simulation stacks)
• Solid software engineering fundamentals: systems programming, concurrency, performance optimization, and real-time rendering or simulation pipelines
• Genuine interest in simulation, autonomy, robotics, or physical AI — you want to understand how your software connects to machines operating in the real world
• Exposure to or curiosity about multi-domain defense systems — you don't need a defense pedigree, but you're excited to develop one
• Strong CS/CE/EE (or similar) foundation; you think rigorously about correctness and performance
• Python proficiency for tooling, scripting, and integration work
• Comfort with ambiguity; you drive clarity and progress in fast-moving, high-stakes environments
• Excellent communication skills; you can explain hard technical tradeoffs to both engineers and non-technical stakeholders

Nice to Have

• Prior work in simulation for autonomy, robotics, gaming, or defense applications
• Familiarity with sensor simulation, synthetic data generation, or physics-based environments
• Experience with distributed systems or real-time data pipelines in constrained environments

Security Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must hold or be eligible for a U.S. Secret security clearance

Compensation

Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Pay Transparency

The base salary range for this full-time position in the location listed is: $100,000 – $200,000 USD annually.

Application Instructions

Don't meet every single requirement? If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.