Software Engineer

About the role:

Applied Intuition is rapidly scaling its defense product ecosystem in Ann Arbor! We're looking for talented software engineers at all levels who are ready to work on some of the hardest challenges in simulation, tooling, and autonomy infrastructure for physical AI.

You'll be a core contributor to Axion, our flagship defense data and tooling platform, building the systems that unify developers and operators in a shared digital environment — accelerating testing, integration, and deployment across all domains. This is not a maintenance role. You'll design, implement, and own software that runs at the edge of what's technically possible, in environments where the stakes are real.

The team sits at the intersection of Applied Intuition's commercial technology velocity and defense-grade requirements, giving you access to a rapidly evolving product suite and direct real-world impact. You'll work in small, high-ownership teams where your code ships, your decisions matter, and your contribution to national security is tangible.

At Applied Intuition, you will:

• 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
• Contribute to the San Diego site's rapid buildout, helping shape 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

We're looking for someone who has:

• 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

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