Software Engineer

Founding Software EngineerLocation: Chicago, IL Headquarters Type: Full-time, in office Company Stage: Early-stage / startupThis role is a full-time opportunity to make a meaningful impact as we continue building and scaling our business. We believe this position offers strong ownership, growth potential, and the chance to contribute directly to Autopilot’s next phase of growth.About Us - Our Mission & VisionAt Autopilot, our mission is to free people up to do what they do best by automating everything else. We are building the infrastructure layer that powers autonomy in motion across the physical world — including sports, fitness, logistics, healthcare, and more. Our systems help robots move, record, deliver, train, and connect in real-world environments that have historically lacked modern tooling. Our values are simple and non-negotiable: Do Good. Have Fun. Make Money. We believe these are mutually reinforcing, and we work hard to uphold them as we grow.We move fast, operate scrappy, and care deeply about building something that works. Our and HQ is a large, active space that needs structure, ownership, and someone who can make it run like a machine.BenefitsYou will be eligible to participate in company benefits and perks, which currently include:Base Salary + Annual bonus potential  100% Employer-covered Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance401(k) – Company-administered planFlexible PTO – Time off as needed, coordinated with your teamTravel Reimbursement – Reimbursed in accordance with company policy, where role-related travel is requiredTeam & Culture Events – Team offsites, social events, and company-sponsored activitiesBenefits and policies may be updated from time to time at the company’s discretion.The RoleWe’re looking for a Founding Software Engineer to help build Autopilot from the ground up. This is not a typical engineering role, you’ll be shaping the product, architecture, and culture of the company alongside the founding team.You’ll work across the stack and into the real world; building systems that directly power autonomous workflows, robotics deployments, and physical operations.If you want to build something that actually exists outside of a screen and you’re excited by speed, ownership, and ambiguity, this role is for you.Why This RoleMassive ownership: your work will directly shape the company0 → 1 experience: build foundational systems from scratchReal-world impact: not just dashboards, we’re building systems that operate in physical environmentsTight feedback loops: ship fast, see it work (or break) immediatelySmall, elite team: no bureaucracy, just buildingWhat You’ll DoBuild core product and infrastructure from 0 to 1Design and own systems that connect software to real-world roboticsShip fast, iterate constantly, and talk directly to usersWork across the stack (frontend, backend, APIs, integrations)Make key technical decisions that define the company’s foundationPartner closely with hardware, ops, and product teamsSolve messy, real-world problems that don’t have clean abstractionsWhat We’re Looking For (Must Haves)Ability to work fastProven track record of shipping production software end-to-endStartup or founding engineer experienceComfortable working across the stackHigh ownership with a strong bias to actionThrives in ambiguity and moves independentlyStrong product and engineering judgmentExcited to build systems that operate in messy real-world environmentsAble to collaborate closely with hardware, ops, and product teams4+ years of experienceBonus Points:Experience with robotics, automation, or hardware-adjacent systemsExperience building internal tools, integrations, or workflow enginesStrong cloud / infra / GCP / Supabase systems backgroundTrack record of shipping quickly and iterating from real usageApplySend your resume to takeoff@operationautopilot.com