C++ Principal Software Engineer

The Elevator Pitch  

Are you looking for a role that has meaning and purpose on a team that is crafting the future of security? Evolv’s R&D team is looking for an experienced and innovative principal software engineer to provide technical leadership, improve software engineering practices, and be hands on with our team of SW engineers with expertise in embedded, real-time, and computer vision. In Evolv's fast-paced development environment the R&D team is continuously innovating new features and integrating complementary technologies into our products.  

Success in the Role: What are performance outcomes over the first 6-12 months you will work toward completing?  

In the first 30 days, you will:  

• Demonstrate technical depth and earn the respect of senior developers 
• Mentor junior developers 
• Review code and architecture during the first 30 days 
• Submit PRs for small changes from day 15 
• Pair with junior developers on a regular basis 
  

Within 3 months, you will:  

• Define and communicate a clear architectural vision and roadmap for real-time embedded Linux systems. 

• Submit production-quality pull requests (PRs) for small to medium-sized features or improvements by day 30–45. 
• Identify and resolve at least one performance bottleneck or technical debt issue in the existing codebase. 
• Actively participate in architecture and design discussions, contributing ideas and identifying potential risks or improvements 
• Evaluate current CI/CD and build automation processes; propose at least one improvement or optimization.  
• Familiarize yourself with the full software development lifecycle at Evolv, including DevOps, QA, and hardware integration touchpoints 

By the end of the first year, you will:  

• Lead the design and implementation of a major new feature or system component, from concept to deployment. 
• Translate complex mathematical algorithms into optimized, production-ready C++ code. 
• Drive performance benchmarking and optimization initiatives, improving system efficiency and scalability. 
• Serve as a go-to technical mentor for the C++ team, helping to elevate the overall engineering skill level. 
• Lead at least one internal technical workshop or knowledge-sharing session. 
• Influence and improve cross-functional workflows, particularly around testing, deployment, and system reliability. 
• Help define and enforce coding standards, design patterns, and best practices across the team. 
• Provide input into long-term architectural decisions and product roadmap planning. 
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and psychological safety. 

The Work: What type of work will you be doing? What assignments, requirements, or skills will you be performing on a regular basis?  

• Maintain and improve existing C++ codebase with a focus on performance, reliability, and scalability. 
• Identify and resolve software defects and performance bottlenecks. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including SQA, DevOps, and hardware engineers. 
• Participate in code reviews and mentor junior developers. 
• Contribute to system design and architecture discussions. 
• Support build automation and CI/CD pipelines. 
• Translate mathematical algorithms into optimal C++ code. 
• Build C++ software components that follow industry-standard design patterns, development methodologies, and deployment models 
• Design and implement real-time systems with deterministic performance and low-latency requirements.  
• Develop multithreaded applications using modern C++ concurrency primitives, thread synchronization, and lock-free programming.  
• Integrate ML inference engines into fast-path pipelines with minimal latency impact while optimizing control software for embedded systems and real-time hardware interfaces. 
• Perform technical performance benchmarking and analyses to support engineering decisions. 
• Write clean, well-documented, and testable code. 
• Maintain quality throughout software development through peer code review, unit and functional testing. 

What is the leadership like for this role? What is the structure and culture of the team?  

You will be joining the C++ Software Development Team. This role reports to the VP of Software Engineering and you will join a team of 15 C++ engineers.   

The team culture is one based on building trust, collaboration, on-going development through kindness, authenticity, courage, drive and fun!  

Where is the role located? 

Our headquarters (and this role) is located in Waltham, Massachusetts. As a member of the Engineering team we expect you to come into the office daily, but we understand that things come up—you can work remotely from time to time for one-off needs.  

Compensation and Transparency Statement 

The base salary range for this full-time position is $135,000 – $215,000. In addition to base salary, this role offers a competitive target bonus, equity, and a comprehensive benefits package. This range reflects our commitment to pay transparency and equity, in alignment with applicable state laws. Our compensation ranges are determined based on factors such as role, level, location, market benchmarks, and internal equity. The posted range represents the good-faith estimate of what we expect to pay for this role across U.S. locations. Actual compensation within the range will be based on the candidate’s skills, experience, education, and geographic location. 

In accordance with state and local pay transparency laws—including those in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and others—we disclose salary ranges in all job postings and provide additional information upon request. 

During the hiring process, your recruiter will share: 

• The specific salary range for your preferred location 

• A general overview of our benefits and equity offerings 

• Insights into how compensation decisions are made, including factors that influence starting pay 

We are committed to fair pay practices, and we regularly review our compensation programs to ensure they are competitive, equitable, and aligned with our values. 

At Evolv, we’re on a mission to help make public spaces safer through innovative security technology. So, we're looking for future teammates who embody our values, people who: 

• Do the right thing, always; 

• Put people first' 

• Own it; 

• Win together; and continue to  

• Be bold, stay curious. 
  

Our Benefits Include: 

• Equity as part of your total compensation package 
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) 
• A 401(k) plan (and 2% company match) 
• Unlimited vacation policy  
• Quarterly stipend for perks and benefits that matter most to you 
• Tuition reimbursement to support your ongoing learning and development 
• Subscription to Calm 

Evolv Technology (“Evolv”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We welcome and encourage diversity in the workplace, and all employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by law in the locations where we operate. Evolv will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Evolv is committed to offering an inclusive and accessible experience for all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of the job application process, please connect with us at [email protected].