Lead Software Engineer - Multi-Agent Mission Systems
$10k - $20k • Ann Arbor • FullTime
Posted 1mo ago
About the job
Applied Intuition is seeking a Technical Team Lead with strong foundations in algorithmic optimization, multi-agent systems, and leadership skills. This role will lead a team tackling complex computational challenges in a real-time decision-making platform, setting the technical direction for advanced algorithms in autonomous coordination and planning. The focus is on next-generation human-machine teaming and real-time decision-making systems, guiding engineers in building intelligent agents that plan and execute missions using advanced reasoning, planning, and optimization algorithms. The work spans real-time scenarios, heterogeneous platforms, and software integrating with human operators, offering an opportunity to own outcomes in fast-moving, mission-oriented environments and build autonomy for warfighters.
Responsibilities
- Drive the technical vision, architecture, and roadmap for the Autonomous Behaviors and Agents team, and direct execution from concept through delivery.
- Lead, mentor, and grow a team of engineers, driving design reviews, setting engineering standards, and raising the bar on code quality and algorithmic rigor.
- Guide the design and implementation of multi-agent optimization algorithms for distributed decision-making and coordination problems.
- Direct development of temporal logic frameworks and constraint-satisfaction algorithms for complex planning scenarios.
- Partner with product, program, and customer-facing stakeholders to translate mission needs into technical priorities, scope, and delivery commitments.
- Coordinate cross-team integration and de-risk dependencies across the Axion and Acuity system families.
Requirements
- MS or PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field, OR 8+ years of professional experience developing intelligent agents or planning systems.
- 8+ years of hands-on experience developing performant modern C++ (C++20), with 2+ years leading engineering teams or serving as a technical lead on complex software programs.
- Depth in automated and temporal planning (PDDL, HDDL, HTN).
- Depth in multi-criteria constraint and combinatorial optimization (MILP, CP-SAT, graph/matching, metaheuristics).
- Depth in temporal logic (LTL/STL/MTL) for constraint specification and verification.
- Depth in distributed consensus and CRDTs for coordination under partial connectivity.
- Depth in formal verification / model checking for auditable, certifiable behavior.
- Track record of setting technical direction, driving architectural decisions, and delivering complex systems through a team.
- Strong theoretical understanding and practical experience implementing algorithms for constraint satisfaction, scheduling, and optimization problems.
- Deep procedural and object-oriented programming experience with clean code principles and OOP design patterns.
- Experience developing in Docker and containerized development environments.
- Experience using Linux-based operating systems (e.g., RHEL, Ubuntu).
- Understanding of service-oriented architecture and message broker vs. data broker paradigms.
- Experience making system-level architectural tradeoffs.
- Ability to translate complex mathematical concepts into clear technical documentation.
- Ability to communicate designs, tradeoffs, and status crisply to both engineers and non-technical stakeholders.
- Experience mentoring engineers, running design and code reviews, and building healthy, high-performing team culture.
- Prior work on defense, aerospace, or other safety-critical autonomy programs (nice to have).
- Experience representing engineering in customer or program reviews (nice to have).
Benefits
- Occasional travel required (approx. 10–20%) for demonstrations, integration, or customer engagement.