{"id":15474,"url":"https://alion.io/job/picogrid-head-of-software","title":"Head of Software","company":{"id":4759,"name":"Picogrid","domain":"picogrid.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/picogrid","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":80,"open_postings":20,"ghost_share":0.25,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":60,"computed_at":"2026-10-30T05:48:23Z"}},"role":"Leadership","role_family":"Leadership","seniority":"head","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["El Segundo, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":220000,"max":270000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":270000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"Go","optional":false},{"name":"GraphQL","optional":false},{"name":"gRPC","optional":false},{"name":"PostgreSQL","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Rest API","optional":false},{"name":"TypeScript","optional":false},{"name":"FedRAMP","optional":true},{"name":"NIST 800-53","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-06-08T18:57:03Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-06-08","last_verified_at":"2026-10-30T14:40:19Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":143,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":142},"description":"Who we are\nPicogrid is a leading venture-backed defense technology company founded to bridge the decades-long gap between modern technology and the critical demands of national security. Today, we're building the essential infrastructure to unify sensors, autonomy, and operators with our technology deployed in active operations around the world. Our mission is to deliver an operational advantage to secure the United States and its allies.\nAbout the Role\nAs the Head of Software at Picogrid, you will be the foundational people leader responsible for scaling our software engineering team. This is a highly demanding, hands-on role for a true generalist and leader ready to grow a world-class software department.\nYou will set the team structure and hiring goals across teams that handle backend platforms, real-time geospatial UIs, hardware-software integration, and operator-facing command-and-control systems. You won't just manage, you will architect, build, and ship alongside your team. Work with hardworking, ambitious, world-leading talent to build the future of unmanned system behavior orchestration.\nResponsibilities\nLead the team's growth, people management, and strategic planning across all layers of the Picogrid software stack.\n\nCollaborate with the CTO, the Lead Software Engineer, Product Owners, and Engineering Managers to produce plans and strategy to handle the product and customer development goals.\n\nAct as the primary interface between Software Engineering and all other functions (Go-To-Market, Hardware, and Operations) ensuring software delivers real operational impact for users in the field.\n\nRepresent the company in external conversations with strategic partners and customers.\n\nParticipate in yearly, quarterly, and monthly planning cycles. Contribute to the development of the product roadmap.\n\nAs the founding leader of the Software Engineering Department, you will hire, mentor, and build a high-performing team of engineers across backend, frontend, and platform disciplines.\n\nSuccessfully grow a fully operational Software Engineering Department, deliver the next generation of our platform and operator products, and establish the technical infrastructure for long-term mission success.\n\nRequired Qualifications\n8+ years of progressive software engineering experience, with significant time in a hands-on technical lead, principal, or director-level role.\n\nPreferred: past founding or early-stage fast-growth startup experience.\n\nStrong inter-personal skills and demonstrated ability to grow people.\n\nAbility to operate with clarity and urgency in the managed chaos of a rapidly growing startup.\n\nExpert-level proficiency across the full generalist software skillset, spanning backend systems, event-based architecture, distributed architecture, APIs (REST, gRPC, GraphQL), real-time data pipelines, and production operations.\n\nDeep familiarity with modern languages and runtimes used in production: Go, Python, and TypeScript.\n\nStrong grasp of relational databases (PostgreSQL), object storage, geospatial tooling, and high-reliability deployment patterns.\n\nMeaningful experience leading both backend platform work and frontend/UI development for complex, data-intensive applications.\n\nProven experience taking multiple distinct products through the full development lifecycle, from initial architecture to production at scale.\n\nExceptional leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, with a clear ability to translate technical strategy into product outcomes and articulate it to executive leadership.\n\nCore values of relentless execution, boundless ambition, continued learning, and kindness. Low ego and open-mindedness.\n\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience as a former founder or founding engineer at a successful, fast-moving software company, with a track record of standing up a team or discipline from zero.\n\nU.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.\n\nExposure to DOD IL5+, Top Secret, or JWICS environments; understanding of DOD RMF, FedRAMP, or NIST 800-53.\n\nBackground in real-time, geospatial, or hardware-adjacent software (e.g., embedded systems, edge compute, fleet management, control systems).\n\nA track record of being prolific and delivering rapid, high-quality results in resource-constrained, fast-paced environments.\n\nBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field. (Degree not required.)\n\nCompensation & Benefits\nBase salary range: $220,000 - $320,000 per year. Base salary is just one part of your total compensation package at Picogrid.\n\nSignificant stock options with high potential upside as an early-stage company\n\n401(k) with employer matching\n\nMedical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family\n\nRelocation assistance provided (if applicable)\n\nUnlimited PTO (two-week minimum) and 11 paid holidays per year\n\nPaid parental leave for both parents\n\nLunch provided when working in-office and a fully stocked kitchenette\n\nFree EV charging at HQ\n\nUnique office in El Segundo, CA stocked with quality coffee, snacks, and craft beer\n\nExport Control Requirements\nTo conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.\nEqual Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy\nPicogrid is committed to providing a professional work environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. 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