Senior Software Engineer - Autonomous and Unmanned Systems

Role Description

Defense Unicorns is seeking a Senior Full-Stack Engineer to join our Autonomous and Unmanned Systems Delivery Team, focused on integrating and delivering Fleet Management and Edge Management capabilities aboard unmanned systems operating in distributed and disconnected environments.

This role is centered on developing complex, data-driven interfaces that allow users to understand, manage, and operate distributed systems across edge and remote environments. These are not simple CRUD interfaces; they are operational control surfaces for real-world systems.

You will hone a frontend experience tailored to our nation’s most experienced warfighters, while working across the stack to ensure tight alignment between UI behavior, APIs, and underlying system capabilities.

You’ll collaborate closely with backend engineers, platform engineers, and designers to build responsive, reliable, and intuitive experiences on top of complex APIs and distributed system state. You’ll also partner with cross-functional teams to help deliver software that supports autonomous platforms operating in bandwidth-constrained and RF-enabled environments.

While frontend-focused, this role requires strong full-stack awareness—understanding how data flows through systems, how APIs are designed, and how frontend decisions impact system behavior, especially in asynchronous and distributed environments.

What You’ll Work On

• Deliver interfaces for managing individual assets and large fleets of autonomous and unmanned systems.
• Design and implement data-rich UIs that reflect real-time and distributed system state.
• Work with stakeholders to develop workflows for deploying, updating, and monitoring systems across edge, remote, and disconnected environments.
• Handle complex state management and asynchronous data flows.
• Integrate frontend applications with backend APIs, platform services, and communications technologies.
• Improve usability and clarity for technically complex operational workflows.
• Partner with UX to translate complex system behavior into intuitive user experiences.

Responsibilities

• You will serve as a crucial link between applications, either custom development, COTS, or OSS, and the DoW platform environment, advocating best practices and facilitating communication between application teams and platform teams.
• Evaluate and weigh different methods for solving complex technical problems, identifying innovative solutions that support autonomous and unmanned systems operating in distributed and disconnected environments.
• Demonstrate technical expertise across multiple knowledge domains while contributing deep experience in one or more technologies such as full-stack application development, cloud-native technologies, Kubernetes, CI/CD, GitOps, AWS, Go, or similar modern software development practices.
• Develop and integrate software with backend APIs, platform services, and communications technologies to support reliable operations across edge and remote environments.
• Exhibit strong programming skills and deep familiarity with Linux/Unix operating systems.
• Implement infrastructure as code and contribute to the build and maintenance of Kubernetes clusters across multiple distributions (e.g., EKS, RKE2).
• Apply secure software development practices and cloud-native deployment methodologies, including vulnerability remediation and infrastructure automation.
• Collaborate closely with backend, platform, product, and UX teams to deliver intuitive, mission-focused software solutions for complex operational environments.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, translating operational requirements into technical solutions while contributing to the strategic direction of the Autonomous and Unmanned Systems portfolio.
• Travel Expectations: 4-12 times per year.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in frontend or full-stack software development.
• Strong proficiency with modern frontend frameworks (Svelte or React preferred; Angular or similar frameworks acceptable).
• Strong familiarity with modern frontend tooling and build system best practices.
• Experience with testing strategies across frontend applications.
• Experience building data-intensive or state-heavy applications.
• Strong understanding of API design and integration (REST, GraphQL, etc.).
• Experience working closely with backend systems and distributed architectures.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate complex systems.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with both technical teams and operational end users.
• U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance.

Preferred Experience and Qualifications

• Experience with RF communications, tactical radios, mesh networks, or other distributed communications technologies.
• Experience integrating software aboard autonomous or unmanned systems.
• Experience designing for constrained, disconnected, or unreliable network environments.
• Experience working with Special Operations or other Department of Defense mission customers.
• Experience building interfaces for infrastructure, DevOps, or platform systems.
• Familiarity with Kubernetes, containers, or distributed systems concepts.
• Experience with CI/CD and deployment pipelines.
• Contributions to open-source or developer tooling projects.

Benefits

• Health:
  • Medical/Dental/Vision
  • Premiums are 100% Company Paid
  • Health Savings Account
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
• Financial:
  • 401k Retirement Plan
  • Company Stock Options
  • Home Office Budget
• Leave:
  • Flexible Time Off (FTO) plus all Federal Holidays, one week for Thanksgiving, and two weeks for Christmas and New Year’s
  • Paid Parental Leave
• Learning:
  • Reimbursement for approved trainings/subscriptions
  • Conferences (travel, lodging, and fees)