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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

Salary

The estimated salary range for this position is estimated to be $145,000 - $200,000/year. Total compensation for this position may also include Restricted Stock units, sign-on bonus and other potential future incentives. Further note that total compensation for this position will be determined by each individual’s relevant qualifications, work experience, skills, and other factors. This estimate excludes the value of any potential sign-on bonus; the value of any benefits offered; and the potential future value of any long-term incentives.

Our benefits aim to promote health and wellbeing across all areas of Palantirians’ lives. We work to continuously improve our offerings and listen to our community as we design and update them. The list below details our available benefits and some of the perks that can be enjoyed as an employee of Palantir Technologies.

Benefits

•  Employees (and their eligible dependents) can enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as voluntary life insurance

•  Employees are automatically covered by Palantir’s basic life, AD&D and disability insurance

•  Commuter benefits

•  Relocation assistance

•  Take what you need paid time off, not accrual based

•  2 weeks paid time off built into the end of each year (subject to team and business needs)

•  10 paid holidays throughout the calendar year

•  Supportive leave of absence program including time off for military service and medical events

•  Paid leave for new parents and subsidized back-up care for all parents

•  Fertility and family building benefits including but not limited to adoption, surrogacy, and preservation

•  Stipend to help with expenses that come with a new child

•  Employees can enroll in Palantir’s 401k plan

Life at Palantir

We want every Palantirian to achieve their best outcomes, that’s why we celebrate individuals’ strengths, skills, and interests, from your first interview to your longterm growth, rather than rely on traditional career ladders. Paying attention to the needs of our community enables us to optimize our opportunities to grow and helps ensure many pathways to success at Palantir. Promoting health and well-being across all areas of Palantirians’ lives is just one of the ways we’re investing in our community. Learn more at Life at Palantir and note that our offerings may vary by region.

In keeping consistent with Palantir’s values and culture, we believe employees are “better together” and in-person work affords the opportunity for more creative outcomes. Therefore, we encourage employees to work from our offices to foster connectivity and innovation. Many teams do offer hybrid options (WFH a day or two a week), allowing our employees to strike the right trade-off for their personal productivity. Based on business need, there are a few roles that allow for “Remote” work on an exceptional basis. If you are applying for one of these roles, you must work from the state in which you are employed. If the posting is specified as Onsite, you are required to work from an office.

If you want to empower the world's most important institutions, you belong here. Palantir values excellence regardless of background. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer for all, including but not limited to Veterans and those with disabilities. Palantir is committed to making the application and hiring process accessible to everyone and will provide a reasonable accommodation for those living with a disability. If you need an accommodation for the application or hiring process, please reach out and let us know how we can help.