Senior C++ Software Engineer - Defense Air
Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining, and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. The company is trusted by eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, to deliver physical intelligence. Headquarters are in Sunnyvale, California, with additional offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo.
We are an in-office company, expecting employees to primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we recognize the importance of flexibility and trust employees to manage their schedules responsibly, including occasional remote work or adjusted hours for personal commitments.
About the role
Applied Intuition is rapidly scaling its defense product ecosystem in the Fort Walton Beach, FL area. We're looking for talented backend C++ engineers at all levels to work on some of the hardest autonomy challenges in physical AI today. You'll be a core contributor to Axion and Acuity, our flagship defense products, building the foundational systems that power multi-domain autonomous operations.
This role involves architecting, implementing, and owning backend infrastructure that operates at the edge of technical possibility in high-stakes environments. The A2 team bridges Applied's commercial technology velocity and defense-grade requirements, offering access to a rapidly evolving product suite and real-world impact. You'll work in small, high-ownership teams where your code ships, your decisions matter, and your work directly impacts national security.
Responsibilities
- Design and implement high-performance backend systems in C++ for Axion and Acuity, Applied's core defense autonomy products
- Tackle hard autonomy challenges across multi-domain environments, including unmanned ground and aerial platforms and broader joint-force integration scenarios
- Build scalable, reliable infrastructure enabling autonomous systems to operate in contested and degraded conditions
- Partner closely with autonomy researchers, product teams, and defense customers to translate mission requirements into robust software solutions
- Own end-to-end execution of high-stakes engineering workstreams, from architecture through deployment
- Contribute to the Ann Arbor site's rapid buildout, shaping team culture, technical standards, and engineering practices as we scale
- Interface with DOD programs and defense customers to ensure solutions meet real-world operational demands
Requirements
- 6+ years of professional software engineering experience, with strong C++ at the core
- Deep backend engineering fundamentals: systems programming, concurrency, performance optimization, and distributed systems
- Genuine interest in autonomy, robotics, or physical AI; understanding of how code connects to real-world machine operations
- Exposure to or curiosity about multi-domain defense systems (no defense pedigree required, but enthusiasm to develop one is essential)
- Strong CS/CE/EE (or similar) foundation; rigorous thinking about correctness and performance
- Python proficiency for tooling, scripting, and integration work
- Thrives in ambiguity and comfortable driving clarity and progress in fast-moving, high-stakes environments
- Excellent communication skills; ability to explain hard technical tradeoffs to both engineers and non-technical stakeholders
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Must hold or be eligible for a U.S. Secret security clearance
Benefits
- Comprehensive health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance coverage
- 401k retirement benefits with employer match
- Learning and wellness stipends
- Paid time off
- Equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units
Pay
Compensation for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. The base salary range for this position is $150K - $200K. The actual base salary offered will be influenced by factors such as experience, credentials, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.