Top Senior Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA

Design, build, and operate cloud-native data platform features and services. Deliver production-quality code, automation, and tooling; improve reliability, scalability, and operability; write tests and runbooks; participate in on-call; mentor junior engineers and collaborate on platform design and standards.

Vannevar is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to lead the deployment of AI-enabled software products in government environments, focusing on security and compliance. Responsibilities include roadmap ownership, technical design, mentorship, and documentation.

Lead integration and validation of the Hivemind autonomy stack across simulation, HIL, and flight platforms. Configure sensors, drivers, communication interfaces, and platform adapters; develop integration tooling and CI/CD; analyze logs/rosbag to triage defects; collaborate with engineering and product teams to ensure interoperability, release readiness, and end-to-end system compliance.

Develop, integrate, and field autonomy software for unmanned platforms; lead a small technical team through design-to-deployment; author ICDs; perform hardware/software debugging, system bring-up, simulation testing, and mission support; mentor engineers and coordinate with internal teams and external integrators. Travel ~10-20%.

Hands-on role integrating and flight-testing Hivemind autonomy across Group 1-3 aircraft. Responsibilities include bench and flight bring-up, debugging autonomy/flight controllers/radios, building test tools and automation in Python/C++, developing hardware interfaces, running SIL/HIL/VIL and live flight tests, analyzing data, and improving test infrastructure in collaboration with software, hardware, and flight teams.

Design, develop, and field high-performance Ground Control Station and C2 software using C++/Qt/QML and QGroundControl. Lead architecture and technical direction, mentor engineers, define APIs/ICDs, debug integration/latency issues, support field tests, implement post-mission debrief tools, and ensure interoperability with C2 standards.

Integrate and deploy autonomy software onto unmanned aircraft, prepare flight-ready systems, support on-site flight tests, debug hardware/software issues, collect and analyze flight data, collaborate across autonomy, GNC, and test teams, and support certification, compliance, and process improvements.

Design and build automated test capabilities for V-BAT: define and automate system-level test cases, implement interfaces/drivers for simulation and hardware, prototype and harden test solutions, and support release and flight test activities working with GNC and Embedded teams.

Lead design, integration, and fielding of autonomy software on unmanned platforms. Develop mission behaviors, platform control, multi-agent coordination, and deployment pipelines; own validation from simulation to live tests. Drive technical strategy, cross-team architecture, standards compliance, mentor senior engineers, and support on-site test/mission operations and hardware/software debugging.

Lead design and implementation of tactical autonomy behaviors for unmanned platforms. Develop, test, and deploy multi-agent coordination, motion/behavior planning, and survivability features across vehicles while owning end-to-end system lifecycle and collaborating with integration teams and end users.

Lead systems engineering for Hivemind-based autonomy products: define and manage requirements, develop system architectures and trade studies, coordinate hardware/software interfaces, support integration/verification/validation and testing, and identify and mitigate technical risks across the system lifecycle.

Develop, integrate, and field autonomy software on unmanned platforms; own end-to-end integration from simulation to live tests; debug embedded/latency-sensitive systems; support on-site flight/sea/space tests; ensure C2 interoperability and improve deployment/test tooling and processes.

Integrate autonomy software onto unmanned aircraft, prepare and validate flight-ready systems, support on-site flight tests, debug hardware/software integration, capture and analyze flight data, collaborate with autonomy/GNC/systems teams, improve integration processes, and assist with certification and compliance. Travel ~30-40% for tests and field events.

Design, implement, and own tactical autonomy behaviors for unmanned platforms. Develop and test multi-agent coordination, motion and behavior planning, target engagement, and survivability features. Work across the software lifecycle, integrate with sensor, estimation, communications, and control systems, contribute to shared frameworks, and support platform integration and testing (travel up to 20%).

Integrate autonomy software onto unmanned aircraft, prepare and validate flight-ready systems, support on-site flight tests, debug hardware/software interactions, capture and analyze flight data, collaborate with autonomy/GNC/systems teams, and support certification and compliance. Frequent travel (~30-40%) for field tests.

Design and implement full‑stack, low‑latency web-based Ground Control Station and C2 systems (map-centric UIs, real-time telemetry, video streaming), lead architecture and APIs, mentor engineers, support field tests and mission deployments, and ensure interoperability with C2 standards.

Provides technical leadership for complex software engineering programs supporting electronic warfare, secure communications, radar warning, and electronic attack systems. Responsibilities include C++ software development in Linux, design analysis, code modification, testing and validation, technical presentations, process improvement, mentoring, and collaboration with systems, hardware, and test engineering teams. The role is fully onsite and requires an active DoD Secret clearance.

Design, develop, test, and maintain front-end applications for mission management systems. Implement responsive UIs from mockups, build reusable components, integrate with REST/GraphQL backends, apply accessibility and performance best practices, participate in code reviews and testing, collaborate with designers/product/backend/QA, and meet program milestones. Role may be staffed at Software Engineer or Principal level and requires operating in a fast-paced, collaborative, on-site defense R&D environment.

Lead development and commercialization of intradermal biosensor software, authoring tested mobile/server/GUI code and SDKs, ensuring regulatory quality-system compliance, mentoring engineers, estimating capacity, and maintaining production services.

Lead design and implementation of real-time perception algorithms (detection, tracking, sensor fusion) for embedded maritime vehicles. Integrate ML and classical methods, optimize for embedded/GPU hardware, build tests and simulations, select and evaluate sensors, mentor engineers, and field-test algorithms on USVs.

Join the Platform Infrastructure team to build and maintain cloud control plane and on-robot software that provisions devices, distributes OTA updates, publishes telemetry, and ensures fleet state convergence. You'll write production-quality backend and on-device code, work with AWS infrastructure (Terraform, ECS, Postgres, S3), pair with senior engineers, use AI-assisted development tools, and collaborate across firmware, cloud, and operations teams. Role requires on-site work in San Diego and focuses on device identity, security, and scalable provisioning.

The Lead Software Engineer will design, implement, and test software for advanced data communications and networking solutions, mentor junior engineers, and lead technical discussions in a fast-paced environment.

Design, build, and operate cloud-native platform services and tooling. Deliver production features end-to-end, improve reliability and operability, write tests and runbooks, participate in on-call, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate on scalable distributed systems deployed to Kubernetes and major hyperscalers.

As a Displays Software Engineer, you'll design and build real-time user interface applications for automated aircraft systems, ensuring safety and usability across platforms.

Design and implement user interfaces for autonomous surface vehicles, mentor teammates, and improve software engineering practices within the team.