Remote Senior Software Engineer - Rust

About the RoleWe are seeking a mission-driven Rust Software Engineer to build resilient software systems that enable human-machine-AI teaming and autonomous capabilities for military operators at the tactical edge.In this role, you will design and implement high-performance systems in Rust that operate in constrained, contested environments. You will contribute across the full system lifecycle — from architecture and hardware integration through simulation, testing, and field deployment.You will work alongside engineers, researchers, and operators to develop systems that fuse sensing, autonomy, and decision support while ensuring traceable, deterministic builds and reliable deployments in mission-critical environments.This role is ideal for engineers who enjoy systems programming, autonomy, and solving real-world problems for national security missions.ResponsibilitiesDesign and implement high-performance, distributed, software systems in Rust, targeting cloud-native as well as resource-constrained and edge computing environmentsParticipate in system architecture, network topologies, hardware part evaluation, and engineering reviews for both existing product revisions and new systemsDevelop software/models systems that supports human-in-the-loop and human-on-the-loop autonomy workflows for distributed operationsBuild infrastructure enabling deterministic builds, reproducible environments, and configuration management to ensure traceability and maintainabilityImplement and maintain systems with over-the-air (OTA) update mechanisms for field-deployed systems - virtual machines, containers, and embedded packagesIntegrate software with microcontroller peripherals and hardware buses (SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, USB, AXI, etc.)Develop and execute comprehensive experiment and test strategies including:Unit testingSoftware-in-the-Loop (SITL)Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL)Functional, end-to-end system/field/scale testingCollaborate with mission heroes and multidisciplinary teams to deploy and sustain systems, supporting integration and various exercises and operational eventsOptimize systems for performance, reliability, power consumption, and maintainabilityRequired QualificationsProfessional experience in software engineering, embedded systems, or firmware development - delivering production-grade productStrong proficiency in Rust - experience in low-level, embedded or no_std environments a bonusExperience integrating with microcontroller peripherals and hardware interfaces (SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, USB, etc.)Familiarity with software design, algorithm implementation, debugging/testing/profiling, and performance optimizationWorking knowledge of:Distributed systems, data-distribution and network architecturesNetworking protocols and technologies (TCP/UDP, BLE/LoRa, routing)Trust systems, certificate management, and encryption schemesModern data patterns, CRDTs, offline-first, synchronization/replicationStrong communication skills and ability to collaborate across engineering disciplinesU.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret / SCI security clearancePreferred QualificationsExperience developing autonomy, robotics, or human-machine-AI teaming systemsExperience applying machine learning techniques, including supervised/unsupervised learning, clustering, and classificationExperience with software-defined radio, MANET, and industrial/robotics communications systemsExperience optimizing systems for speed, size, power consumption, and costExperience contributing to open-source projects or industry standards bodiesExperience deploying systems in contested or disconnected edge environmentsWhat You'll Work OnDistributed autonomy platforms that assist operators in decision-making and mission executionHuman-machine-AI collaboration systems operating around the globeReal-time sensor integration, edge processing, and data distributionRobust deployment infrastructure enabling secure, trusted/traceable updates in fielded systemsSystems that must operate reliably in degraded, disconnected, or adversarial environmentsFull compensation packages are based on candidate experience. Compensation ranges are established using national benchmarking data and apply across all geographic locations within the United States.Remote - USA$148,750 - $201,250 USDWho We AreDefense Unicorns delivers mission value by streamlining software delivery so our customers can focus on the most important challenges. We share a vision of freedom and security for the advancement of progress and innovation. Our commitment to this vision, and to our mission-driven customers, means a commitment to speed, user experience and optionality, without compromising security. Our team is composed of innovators, software engineers, and veterans with decades of experience delivering technology programs across the federal market.What We DoWe create and deliver secure solutions for continuous software integration and delivery. Defense Unicorns consolidates the best practices for security pipelines, testing, and deployment automation in order to meet the high security requirements valued by mission owners. Our solutions are agnostic by design and we believe that growing a robust ecosystem of secure, cloud-native software solutions can help enterprise customers inside and outside the federal market buy and integrate software more easily.Who We ServeDefense Unicorns' customers are mission-focused leaders across public and private enterprises. We proudly support defense and civil agencies across the U.S. government and we work closely with the creators of leading-edge software solutions to deliver value to the mission-owner by improving the security and consumability of commercial software products.What We Work OnKubernetesCloud Environments (AWS/GCP and Azure)Infrastructure-as-code (like Terraform/Pulumi)Continuous Delivery and automation toolingGitOpsContainersCNCF projects and open source products and packagesHelm/Kustomize-Value Stream MappingBuilding and improving security deliveryBuilding Kubernetes and cloud native applicationsBenefits Our Unicorns EnjoyHealth:Medical/Dental/VisionPremiums are 100% Company PaidHealth Savings AccountLife InsuranceDisability InsuranceFinancial:401k Retirement PlanCompany Stock OptionsHome Office BudgetLeave:We offer all full-time Unicorns Flexible Time Off (FTO) plus all Federal Holidays, one week for Thanksgiving, and two weeks for Christmas and New Year'sPaid Parental LeaveLearning:Reimbursement for approved trainings/subscriptionsConferences (travel, lodging, and fees)Don't have all the preferred experience or qualifications? Studies show that underrepresented groups like women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs if they don't meet every requirement listed.At Defense Unicorns, we're committed to diversity. If you're enthusiastic about the role but don't match every criteria, we encourage you to apply. You could be the perfect fit for this or another role! Defense Unicorns is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.CCPA DISCLOSURE