Head of Software

Mach is a defense manufacturing company that builds munitions to help the United States win future wars. Backed by $85M in funding from top venture firms, our small lean team ideates, designs, manufactures, and sells cutting-edge weapons to the Department of Defense.

About Us

Mach Industries is building next-generation defense technology. We move fast, value craftsmanship and mission-readiness, and are driven by a deep respect for engineering rigor. Our work spans hardware, flight software, autonomy, and operator experience—and we are scaling fast.

Role Overview

As Head of Software Engineering, you will lead the growth and performance of Mach’s software organization. Your focus is on people, process, and execution. You bring clarity and momentum to a highly capable and speedy engineering team. While the Chief Software Architect defines our system-level architecture, you will ensure the team delivers against that vision; building a culture of technical excellence and accountability. You are responsible for day-to-day engineering leadership: managing talent, growing careers, and making sure teams ship great software under pressure.

This is a role for a leader who understands engineers, earns trust through competence and candor, and knows how to scale culture alongside code.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Culture

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performance software team across embedded systems, ground software, infrastructure, and internal tooling.

• Create and protect a culture of clarity, trust, and execution—especially in the presence of strong opinions or technical complexity.

• Drive hiring, onboarding, and team structure decisions to support rapid growth and long-term team health.

• Help engineers grow into leaders.

Execution & Delivery

• Own engineering velocity: drive on-time delivery of high-quality software that meets real-world requirements.

• Ensure clear, cross-functional communication and planning with autonomy, product, systems, and test teams.

• Implement best-in-class development practices including CI/CD, test automation, milestone planning, and issue triage.

• Translate architectural direction into clean team-level execution plans in partnership with the Chief Architect.

Technical Credibility

• Maintain deep enough technical fluency to lead conversations across embedded, application, and infrastructure domains.

• Champion quality, reliability, and maintainability without compromising speed.

• Review key architectural and implementation decisions—ensuring scalable, testable, and understandable solutions.

Organizational Glue

• Act as the connective tissue between product intent and engineering execution—surfacing risks early and creating momentum.

• Interface with hardware, test, and manufacturing leads to ensure software requirements and constraints are aligned.

Qualifications

Experience

• 8+ years in software engineering, with 3+ years in technical leadership or engineering management roles.

• Proven success managing and scaling high-performing engineering teams.

• Strong technical foundation across modern software systems, even if not specialized in embedded or aerospace software.

Execution & Culture

• Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, resolve interpersonal conflict, and lead with calm under pressure.

• Deep respect for process—but not at the expense of speed or clarity.

• Track record of mentoring engineers and developing future leaders.

Communication & Collaboration

• Clear communicator who can translate technical vision into action and accountability, especially outside the software org.

• Experience aligning multiple toward shared goals.

Preferred Background

• Experience working in or adjacent to embedded, real-time, or regulated systems.

• Familiarity with software development in hardware-integrated contexts.

• Exposure to high-stakes environments (defense, aerospace, healthcare, etc.).

• Experience growing early-stage engineering teams in startup or growth-stage companies.

Why Mach Industries?

Your joining Mach means building not just software, but a culture and a team that will define how software gets built in the defense and manufacturing for the next decade and beyond. You’ll work alongside top-tier engineers, contribute to systems that matter, and lead a team that moves fast and ships proudly.

Benefits at Mach Industries

At Mach Industries, we are committed to supporting the well-being and success of our team members. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to offer financial security and foster personal and professional growth. Here’s an overview of the benefits available to full-time employees:

Competitive Compensation Package
The salary range for this position is an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors, including experience, education, skills, and business considerations. The actual salary offered may vary. In addition to a competitive base salary, employees may receive equity grants, which are considered part of Mach Industries’ total compensation package.

Healthcare & Wellness Benefits

• Platinum Healthcare Coverage: For U.S. employees, Mach Industries provides platinum-level coverage for medical, dental, and vision insurance at no cost to the employee, with 90% of coverage for dependents.

Generous Time Off & Leave Policies

• Holiday Calendar: We offer a generous holiday schedule including 13 holidays.

• Holiday Shutdown: An additional 10 days off at the end of December.

• Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO) Policies

Company-Provided Meals

• Daily Meals & Snacks: Daily catered lunches, fully stocked kitchens with snacks, drinks, a coffee bar, and more!

Retirement & Financial Security

• 401(k) Plan (U.S. Only): We offer a company 401k with a 5% match to provide for your financial future.

Relocation Assistance

• We offer relocation support for eligible positions, ensuring a smooth transition for team members moving for work.

At Mach Industries, we are committed to offering a comprehensive benefits package that supports your health, financial security, and personal growth. We want to ensure you have the tools and resources you need to thrive both inside and outside of work.

Why Mach Industries?

At Mach Industries, we are pioneering the future of defense through scalable, decentralized technologies. You’ll be part of a small, dynamic team tackling some of the hardest engineering problems in modern warfare. Your work will directly contribute to building systems that ensure global stability and preparedness through innovative, manufacturable designs.

Join us in shaping the future of warfare and securing the American way of life.

Disclosures

This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).  Please note that any offer for employment may be conditioned on authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations without sponsorship for an export license.

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offers may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and training, critical skills, and business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in most offers and are considered part of Mach’s total compensation package. Mach offers benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.

Mach is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. If you’d like to defend the American way of life, please reach out!