Software Engineer - Mission Dev - USG/DoD

About Nominal

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.

🫡 About The Role

• 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.
  
  

🎯 What We’re Looking For

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

⚡ Skills That Supercharge Us

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

🚀 Why Nominal?

• Backed by world-class investors
• Mission-critical impact with high-profile customers
• Work with deeply technical peers from elite engineering backgrounds
• Build real systems that touch rockets, aircraft, and autonomous systems — not just dashboards
  
  

✨ Benefits/Perks

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

$140,000 - $170,000 a year

Compensation at Nominal for eligible roles consists of a base salary, equity, and benefits. The base salary is just one part of the overall compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of stock options. In addition, we offer comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, life coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan, a learning stipend, and unlimited PTO. Please note that benefits may vary based on your location and are subject to change.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

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.