Staff Software Engineer

Who We Are Picogrid builds hardware and software infrastructure to connect and control the systems that power critical industries. Our platform unifies sensors, platforms, and operators to power mission planning, autonomous system control, and real-time decision‑making. We partner directly with operators, technology companies, and federal agencies to deliver rapidly deployable, mission‑critical capabilities where they’re needed most, often on short timelines and in challenging conditions. Our technology is trusted in active operations, not just test environments, and we move quickly to close real‑world capability gaps for those on the front lines. Joining Picogrid means working on high‑impact problems at the intersection of autonomy, national security, and cutting‑edge technology. Role Overview Picogrid is seeking a Staff Software Engineer to drive our core platform, Legion. Legion is a data integration platform used by operators around the world to integrate, command, and coordinate unmanned systems at massive scale. You will solve complex problems including data federation in communications‑degraded environments, multi‑sensor data fusion, and coordination across swarms of unmanned systems. In this role you will design, build, and deploy high‑performance, scalable software systems that power critical defense missions, focusing on the backend platform and integration tools that support the next generation of connected defense infrastructure. Mission & Scope As a Staff Software Engineer, you’ll play a key role in delivering real‑time, reliable, and secure software solutions that function seamlessly across hybrid environments. You’ll work across microservices, APIs, data pipelines, and integration tooling to help unify field systems and bring autonomy to the edge. This position involves more than just code—it requires deep systems thinking, strong collaboration, and the ability to work directly with end users to solve real operational challenges. Required Qualifications U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance 7+ years of engineering experience in fast‑paced, production environments 5+ years of experience in backend development using Go, Java, Python, TypeScript, or similar languages Proven experience building microservice architectures and platform tooling Strong background in distributed systems, data pipelines, or real‑time processing Deep experience with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL), object stores (e.g., S3, MinIO), and geospatial tools Strong grasp of HTTP APIs (REST, gRPC, GraphQL) and authentication/authorization models History of working directly with customers to build and deliver meaningful software Demonstrated ability to operate with urgency, ownership, and high engineering standards Preferred Qualifications Active U.S. Top Secret security clearance Exposure to DOD IL5+, Top Secret, and JWICS environments Experience building cloud‑native, provider‑agnostic software (AWS, Azure, etc.) Familiarity with hybrid operating environments (cloud, edge, on‑prem) Experience with Kubernetes, Helm, and modern deployment pipelines Understanding of regulated software development (e.g., DOD RMF, FedRAMP, NIST 800‑53) Experience supporting Golang‑based applications in production Background in low‑latency FMV, video processing, or video storage systems Experience building TAK (ATAK, WinTAK, iTAK) plugins or plugins for military platforms Experience developing, deploying, or integrating with ML/AI models or MCP services Who You Are You have a bias toward action and take initiative without waiting to be told You have an ownership mentality, owning the full problem space from initial thought through to delivery. You build with a product mindset, always focused on solving real user problems You work well under ambiguity, and bring structure and clarity to open‑ended challenges You hold yourself and others to high technical and ethical standards You’re naturally curious, mission‑driven, and eager to support national security You have experience or a general interest in the defense industry, whether at a company or as an operator on the ground Export Control Requirements To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), refugee under 8 U.S.C., or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Seniority Level Mid‑Senior level Employment Type Full‑time Job Function Engineering and Information Technology; Industry: Technology, Information, and Internet Location and Salary Santa Monica, CA: $130,000 - $150,000 #J-18808-Ljbffr