Cloud IoT Software Engineer [Multiple Seniority Levels]

About Beacon AI

We’re a fast-moving team of aviators, engineers, and operators on a mission to transform aviation with an AI platform that makes flying safer, more efficient, and more capable. Backed by top investors and having already secured a dozen Department of Defense contracts and worked with three major airlines, we’re flying through barriers and working on a mission that matters.

At Beacon AI, there are no silos or layers of overhead. Small, focused teams own what they build, ship fast, and learn even faster. Every line of code, data pipeline, or system we design pushes the boundaries of how humans and AI work together in the cockpit and beyond. If you thrive at the intersection of hard-tech ambition and mission urgency, you’ll build faster here than anywhere else.

Role Overview
We are seeking Cloud IoT Engineers at multiple seniority levels to design, implement, and optimize our cloud and edge infrastructure. This pivotal role combines deep cloud expertise with edge computing strategy to ensure reliable, scalable, and secure deployment of applications to connected devices in the field. You’ll work across cloud and device environments, own key product infrastructure, and collaborate closely with embedded systems engineers. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a startup environment, takes ownership, and is excited to bring ideas from 0 to 1.

What You’ll Do

• Cloud & Edge Infrastructure Leadership: Design, implement, and maintain infrastructure that enables secure cloud-to-edge deployments using tools like AWS Greengrass and other edge platforms. Connect field devices to cloud systems reliably and securely.

• Fleet & Device Management: Build scalable systems for provisioning, registration, and ongoing fleet management of Linux-based edge devices. Implement secure bootstrapping workflows and manage device lifecycle operations.

• Deployment & CI/CD Ownership: Build and manage CI/CD pipelines for both cloud infrastructure and field devices, including strategies for OTA updates, rollbacks, and continuous monitoring. Ensure high system reliability and uptime across environments.

• Performance & Cost Optimization: Optimize infrastructure for cost, observability, and performance—especially in resource-constrained edge environments.

• Monitoring & Incident Response: Develop infrastructure monitoring tools and contribute to a robust incident response strategy for IoT and cloud systems.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with embedded systems engineers to integrate edge applications with cloud services, ensuring seamless interoperability and data flow.

What Will Make You Successful

• Infrastructure Experience: Experience in cloud infrastructure, DevOps, or Site Reliability Engineering roles, ideally with significant exposure to edge or IoT systems.

• Hands-on Technical Expertise: Experience with AWS services (Greengrass, IoT Core), containerized deployments (e.g., Docker), and Infrastructure as Code tools like AWS CDK, Terraform, or Kubernetes.

• Edge & Device Focus: Experience provisioning, securing, and deploying software to edge compute devices (Jetson, Raspberry Pi, etc.) in production environments.

• Secure Communication & System Design: Understanding of edge-to-cloud messaging protocols like MQTT and encrypted data exchange between devices and cloud systems.

• Ownership & Initiative: Thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with a strong bias toward action. Capable of driving large infrastructure initiatives with minimal supervision.

• Collaborative Leadership: Effective at working across disciplines (hardware, embedded, software) and mentoring junior engineers to raise the technical bar.

Bonus Points

• Experience managing OTA updates and rollback strategies in real-world deployments

• Familiarity with edge observability and logging tools like Datadog, CloudWatch, or Prometheus

• Knowledge of compliance frameworks and security-constrained environments

• Background working with high-throughput time series data or multimedia streams

• Aviation or transportation industry experience.

Leveling Breakdown:

Software Engineer (3–5 yrs)

• Owns subsystems, delivers production features.

• Builds device provisioning, OTA updates, observability.

• 3–5 yrs cloud/infra; hands-on AWS IoT, Docker, IaC, MQTT/TLS.

Senior/Staff Software Engineer(6+ yrs)

• Leads architecture + strategy for IoT/edge.

• Mentors, sets best practices.

• 6+ yrs cloud/IoT; deep expertise in distributed systems, OTA, IaC.

This is a hybrid role and requires working from our San Carlos, CA office at least three days a week, with the option to work remotely the remaining days.

Perks & Benefits for Full-Time Employees:

• Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage: Enjoy peace of mind with our generous health benefits, with 80% of medical costs covered by the company for the employee and 25% for their dependents.

• Paid Time Off: Recharge and relax with 3 weeks of paid vacation, in addition to 14 company-paid holidays each year.

• Connectivity Stipend: Stay connected with our cell phone benefit, ensuring you have the tools you need to excel in your role.

• Health and Wellness Allowance: Use this towards a gym membership or subscription to a meditation app, empowering you to prioritize self-care and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

• Financial Planning: Prepare for the future with our 401(k) program. While we currently do not offer matching, we are committed to enhancing this benefit in the future.

For nearly all roles, the following may apply:

At this time, due to United States Department of State regulations, we are only able to hire U.S. Persons. A U.S. Person is a lawful permanent resident (U.S. citizen, legal immigrant with a 'Green Card', or a protected individual who has been granted permanent asylum or refugee status.) These aerospace restrictions mean that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship or consider candidates who require visa transfers. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or in the future. All work must be performed in the United States.

Beacon AI provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, employer complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. Employer expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.