Software Engineer - Mission Dev - USG/DoD

Nominal • New York, NY

237d • $140,000 - $170,000

About The Position

Nominal is a venture-backed software company with offices in LA, Austin, and NYC, building next-generation tools for testing and validating complex physical systems-like drones, rockets, satellites, and nuclear reactors. Backed by leading investors (Founders Fund, Lux, General Catalyst), we are trusted by both the U.S. Department of Defense and the broader federal aerospace and defense ecosystem. We're a team of former Palantir, SpaceX, Applied Intuition, and Anduril engineers on a mission to empower hardware teams with the software infrastructure they need to validate and deploy faster, safer, and at scale. This role is ideal for software engineers passionate about making an impact by developing mission-critical solutions deployed directly to customer sites. The Mission Dev role balances technical skill, problem-solving, and end-user engagement to deliver robust solutions for complex, data-intensive systems. Expect to work on high-frequency, multi-modal data pipelines, real-time analytics, and on-site integrations in demanding environments.

Requirements

• Active Top Secret clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one.
• Minimum of 2 years supporting U.S. federal or DoD programs (uniformed, civilian, or contractor).
• Demonstrated proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, Rust, TypeScript/JavaScript, or similar.
• Able to explain complex technical concepts to a range of audiences-from engineers to program managers.
• Education and experience in fields such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Software Engineering, and Physics.
• Willing to travel up to 25-50% to support field deployments, particularly with government and DoD customers.

Nice To Haves

• Experience collaborating with customers to solve complex problems in dynamic, evolving environments.
• Background in data processing, analysis, and big data technologies, with experience navigating intricate codebases.
• Previous experience in startup or entrepreneurial environments, where agility, problem-solving, and end-to-end ownership are essential.
• Familiarity with modern data technologies like Spark, Apache Arrow, Flink, Kafka, etc.; experience with cloud-based and on-premise deployments is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build, deploy, and scale solutions directly at customer sites, addressing high-priority operational needs with fast-paced, iterative development.
• Own the full lifecycle of Nominal's software in secure customer environments, adapting deployments to the unique needs of high-assurance defense programs.
• Collaborate with blended growth and engineering teams to implement, test, and refine solutions in real-world environments, including challenging field conditions.
• Establish metrics, logging, and monitoring tools to enhance the reliability and transparency of our software at scale.
• Partner with end-users, transforming their feedback into impactful features that balance user needs with engineering constraints.

Benefits

• 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Unlimited PTO and sick leave
• Free lunch, snacks, and coffee
• Professional Development Stipend
• Annual company retreat

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Publishing Industries
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees