Senior Software Engineer

Cardone Ventures
Leesburg, United States of America
29 days ago

Role details

Contract type
Permanent contract
Employment type
Full-time (> 32 hours)
Working hours
Regular working hours
Languages
English
Experience level
Senior
Compensation
$ 220K

Job location

Remote
Leesburg, United States of America

Tech stack

Artificial Intelligence
Application Layers
DevOps
Django
Open Source Technology
Software Engineering
Large Language Models
Backend
Front End Software Development

Job description

Defense-Grade AI SystemsRemote (US Only) | Must Be Eligible for Security Clearance (US Residency Required) Compensation Range: $150,000 - $220,000 About the Role We are building defense-grade, production-ready AI systems that solve real national security problems at scale. This is not a DevOps role and not a maintenance role. This is a hands-on engineering position for senior builders who want to design, ship, and evolve high-impact software used by hundreds or thousands of users. You will work on a mix of new IRAD initiatives and existing products, contributing directly to architecture decisions, feature development, and modernization efforts. We are assembling a small, elite engineering team and are intentional about who joins it. If you are a senior engineer who thrives in environments where you build new things that make a real world impact, take extreme ownership of your craft and strive for continuous growth, this role is designed for you. What You'll Be Working On

  • Building/evolving AI-powered applications using modern frameworks and open-source tools
  • Designing and shipping production-grade software with real users, not hobby projects
  • Developing backend systems in Rust and application layers in Django
  • Working with large language models and AI tooling, including OpenAI-based systems
  • Contributing to new product development as well as modernizing existing platforms
  • Collaborating closely with leadership and other senior engineers to shape technical direction
  • Operating as a true individual contributor with autonomy and accountability

Requirements

  • 8 to 12 years of professional software engineering experience
  • Minimum of 5 years working on enterprise or production-grade software
  • Strong experience with Django and front end application development systems
  • Strong experience with Rust for backend systems
  • Hands-on experience working with LLMs, AI tooling, or OpenAI-style frameworks
  • Demonstrated ability to ship software used by hundreds or thousands of users
  • Ability to self-start, propose solutions, and execute with empowerment
  • Comfortable owning problems end-to-end, from concept to deployment
  • Experience in national security or defense is not required, but interest in the space is expected., * Based on Security Clearance Requirements - Candidates Must Be United States Citizens w/Ability to Clear Security Clearance Protocols (US Residency is Required), * Django for Frontend Buildouts: 1 year (Preferred)
  • Production Grade Software: 5 years (Required)
  • Rust for Backend Systems: 2 years (Preferred)

Benefits & conditions

How We Evaluate Candidates We take the candidate experience seriously while maintaining a high bar.

  • Our interview process includes
  • Brief cultural and behavioral interview
  • Deeper dive into your technical skills through a customized case study evaluation
  • Closing out with a brief core values presentation to assess intentionality, alignment, and communication fits within the team

We value thoughtful preparation, clarity of thinking, and ownership more than perfect answers. Compensation and Equity

  • Base salary range: $150,000 to $220,000
  • Exceptional candidates may be considered at higher compensation levels
  • Bonuses and performance-based incentives
  • Opportunity to grow with the company toward a targeted IPO timeline

We are transparent about compensation and structure offers thoughtfully for the right people. Why Join Us

  • You'll work on real products with real impact
  • You'll join a small, senior team with high standards and low bureaucracy
  • You'll have visibility, ownership, and influence from day one
  • You'll help shape systems, not just tickets
  • You'll be part of a company focused on building real value, not inflated narratives

This is a role for engineers who want to build, not hide. Join us in driving innovation through technology as we enhance our service delivery capabilities! Job Type: Full-time Benefits:

  • 401(k)
  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance

About the company

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