Lead, Platform Software

Who We AreNeros is a defense technology company rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We’re hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years.What You Will Be DoingNeros builds the embedded software that powers our drones and ground systems. As a Lead, Platform Software Engineer, you will build and lead the team that owns our foundational embedded platform — the Linux distribution, kernel, bootloader, common runtime, and SDK that our flight, ground-station, and autonomy software teams build on. You will own the platform's roadmap, reliability, and engineering quality while growing and leading the team behind it and treating every other engineering team as your customer.ResponsibilitiesLead and grow the Platform Software engineering team, including hiring, mentorship, and performance managementOwn the roadmap and delivery of the embedded platform — Linux distribution and BSPs, kernel and bootloader, common runtime and libraries, and the cross-compile toolchain and SDKRun the platform as a product: keep the interfaces our flight, ground, and autonomy teams depend on stable, versioned, and evolving without breaking themMake the hard architecture calls — build vs. adopt, interface design, and resource allocation across subsystemsSet and uphold engineering quality practices — code review, testing, and CI/CD — for foundational softwareStay hands-on: review platform code and own architecture, not just processYou should have the followingHas led a software team as a hands-on manager — owning both people management and technical directionDeep embedded-platform background: custom Linux (Yocto/Buildroot), kernel/BSPs, bootloaders, and the runtime/SDK layer other teams build onTrack record of running a platform or foundational-software team as a product — stable interfaces, versioning, and consumer teams who could depend on itStrong judgment on build-vs-adopt, interface design, and resource trade-offs across an embedded systemAble to operate as the interface between the team and senior leadership — managing expectations upward and clearing execution blockersPlayer-coach: still technically credible enough to review BSP/kernel/runtime code and make architecture callsNice to HaveExperience building an embedded platform team from a small nucleusMCU/RTOS platform work alongside embedded LinuxBazel or comparable build-system leadership across cross-compiled targetsReal-time, safety-relevant, or mission-critical embedded platformsBackground bringing up new computer platforms from prototype to productionUS Salary Range$198,000 - $277,000 USDThe salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package.We’re an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.