Senior Software Engineer - Autonomous Systems

A World-Changing Company Palantir builds the world’s leading software for data-driven decisions and operations. By bringing the right data to the people who need it, our platforms empower our partners to develop lifesaving drugs, forecast supply chain disruptions, locate missing children, and more. The Role We are seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer to join a newly-formed team focused on developing advanced autonomous systems for area defense.

This role involves building state-of-the-art solutions combining sensors, effectors, and intelligent decision-making systems to protect civilian and military installations from a variety of threats, including drone attacks. As a part of this team, you will contribute directly to the development of autonomous systems that integrate sensors (radar, cameras, RF, and other modalities) with real-time response actuation through effectors such as kinetic and non-kinetic systems or drone swarms. You will work alongside other experts in sensing, artificial intelligence, and systems engineering to shape solutions that redefine complex area defense scenarios.

Core Responsibilities Design, implement, and optimize software for mission-critical autonomous systems using modern technologies and methodologies. Develop algorithms to process data from heterogeneous sensors for real-time state estimation and threat detection. Build AI-driven systems capable of assessing threats and rapidly making decisions to deploy responses to those threats.

Develop integrations with a range of sensors, effectors, and autonomous platforms. Engineer scalable, reliable, and fail-safe systems capable of functioning in high-stakes environments. Partner with multidisciplinary teams, including robotics experts, hardware engineers, and system integrators, to deliver integrated solutions.

What We Value Proven experience in software development for autonomous systems, embedded systems, or robotics. Knowledge of AI/ML, sensor processing, or swarm behaviors is highly desirable. Ability to manage complexity, optimize for performance, and think critically under pressure.

Experience deploying and maintaining robust production systems. What We Require 5+ years of professional software development experience 2+ years of experience contributing to the system design or architecture (architecture, design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems 2+ years of experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team Strong proficiency in Rust, Python, or Java Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or related fields Active US Security clearance or eligibility and willingness to obtain a US Security clearance