Head of Software

About the Role

As 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.

You 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team's growth, people management, and strategic planning across all layers of the Picogrid software stack.
• Collaborate 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.
• Act 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.
• Represent the company in external conversations with strategic partners and customers.
• Participate in yearly, quarterly, and monthly planning cycles. Contribute to the development of the product roadmap.
• As 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.
• Successfully 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.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive software engineering experience, with significant time in a hands-on technical lead, principal, or director-level role.
• Preferred: past founding or early-stage fast-growth startup experience.
• Strong inter-personal skills and demonstrated ability to grow people.
• Ability to operate with clarity and urgency in the managed chaos of a rapidly growing startup.
• Expert-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.
• Deep familiarity with modern languages and runtimes used in production: Go, Python, and TypeScript.
• Strong grasp of relational databases (PostgreSQL), object storage, geospatial tooling, and high-reliability deployment patterns.
• Meaningful experience leading both backend platform work and frontend/UI development for complex, data-intensive applications.
• Proven experience taking multiple distinct products through the full development lifecycle, from initial architecture to production at scale.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, with a clear ability to translate technical strategy into product outcomes and articulate it to executive leadership.
• Core values of relentless execution, boundless ambition, continued learning, and kindness. Low ego and open-mindedness.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience 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.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• Exposure to DOD IL5+, Top Secret, or JWICS environments; understanding of DOD RMF, FedRAMP, or NIST 800-53.
• Background in real-time, geospatial, or hardware-adjacent software (e.g., embedded systems, edge compute, fleet management, control systems).
• A track record of being prolific and delivering rapid, high-quality results in resource-constrained, fast-paced environments.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field. (Degree not required.)

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary range: $220,000 - $320,000 per year. Base salary is just one part of your total compensation package at Picogrid.
• Significant stock options with high potential upside as an early-stage company
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family
• Relocation assistance provided (if applicable)
• Unlimited PTO (two-week minimum) and 11 paid holidays per year
• Paid parental leave for both parents
• Lunch provided when working in-office and a fully stocked kitchenette
• Free EV charging at HQ
• Unique office in El Segundo, CA stocked with quality coffee, snacks, and craft beer

Export Control Requirements

To 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.

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