Mission Control Software Engineer - Robot Interfaces

Are you an elite engineer seeking the freedom and resources to achieve the impossible? THEN COME BUILD GIANT TERRAFORMING ROBOTS THAT WILL BUILD A BETTER FUTURE!

At TerraFirma, we're not just building robots — we’re redefining how the world moves earth for construction.

Our team, founded by former SpaceX engineers and backed by Bain Capital Ventures, is driven by a mission to make construction faster, more efficient, and more sustainable through pragmatic human-in-the-loop automation.

Visit www.buildgiantrobots.com for more information.

Our Mission:

TerraFirma was founded to build a brighter future for humanity by revolutionizing how we construct the large-scale physical infrastructure our civilization desperately needs. From enabling mega-scale renewable energy projects and constructing resilient cities, to building efficient transportation and eco-friendly water infrastructure, our work today paves the way for a brighter, more sustainable future. The first step in all of these projects is to move massive amounts of dirt incredibly efficiently, both in the near-term and distant future. As we look to the stars, we recognize that mining, processing, and moving raw materials will be the foundation of humanity's expansion into the cosmos. TerraFirma is pioneering the technology that will not only secure a sustainable future for humanity on Earth but also unlock the boundless possibilities of interplanetary expansion.

Our Company:

TerraFirma was born from the minds of Noah Schochet (CEO) and Noah McGuinness (CTO), two accomplished SpaceX engineers who first met while studying engineering at Princeton. At SpaceX, Schochet led the design and mass production of Starlink user terminals and Starship rockets, while McGuinness developed flight software for the satellite constellation. Now, they're applying the SpaceX mentality - rapid iteration based on engineering first principles - to revolutionize the construction industry.

We're moving at light speed, scaling our team and operations to transform how we build critical infrastructure on Earth. Our groundbreaking ecosystem retrofits existing earthmoving machines, allowing a single operator to control multiple excavators, bulldozers, and loaders simultaneously.

Headquartered at our "Robot Ranch" in Austin, TX, we're committed to rapid iteration and swift innovation. Our facility boasts fully equipped mechanical and electrical workshops, giant machines to retrofit, and ample testing grounds. We're surrounded by earthworks projects and eager customers, creating the perfect environment to develop and deploy our cutting-edge technology at warp speed.

What we are really looking for is an owner for Mission Control, which is the operator hub that we control and task all of our machines from.

What We're Seeking:

We’re seeking innovators, boundary-pushers, and people who will move heaven and earth to achieve the impossible. If you are someone who:

• Is driven by a relentless need to make the world better

• Thrives in fast-paced, high-pressure environments

• Hates being a cog in a machine and wants extreme ownership and opportunities to learn

• Has developed versatile technical skills by building amazing projects

• Can wear many hats, and loves learning new skills quickly

Then you're in the right place!

The Role

IMPORTANT:

1. Applications that do not contain any supplementary materials (portfolio, sample work, personal website etc.) will be immediately rejected due to the volume of applications being received.

2. Additionally, before the on-site interview, candidates will be required to complete a take-home coding assignment relevant to the role that will take ~5 hours to complete. Do not apply if you are unwilling to participate.

Role Description

In this role, you should expect to take hands-on ownership over a variety of projects related to developing software to task, supervise, and interact with autonomous or semi-autonomous robotic systems. You will work across the full stack to build intuitive, high-performance interfaces for enabling real-time remote control of heavy machinery via novel user interfaces. This role requires a balance of frontend expertise in creating seamless and effective user interfaces, along with backend experience to ensure a secure, scalable, and efficient system architecture. Day-to-day responsibilities will involve prototyping platforms to create real-time data-rich visualizations, building data pipelines for complex sensor data (e.g. LiDAR, geospatial, 3D representations), and optimizing user experiences. A heavy emphasis will be placed on rapid prototyping and iteration with users in the loop. Engineers in this position should additionally expect to contribute to managing production environments, building and deploying applications (web or otherwise, game dev experience welcome), and applying best practices for networking, security, and deployment. This role is best suited for fast learners who are comfortable working with a high degree of autonomy and a large scope of responsibility.

Responsibilities:

• Design and build intuitive, high-performance user interfaces for tasking, supervising, and remotely controlling autonomous robots and workflows

• Develop real-time visualizations for complex sensor data, including LiDAR, 3D models, and geospatial information, with a focus on rapid prototyping and user feedback

• Apply best practices in networking, authentication, and security to ensure low-latency, reliable communication between systems

• Architect and maintain scalable, secure backend systems, ensuring efficient deployment and operation in production environments (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)

• Iterate quickly, collaborate cross-functionally, and optimize the full-stack experience to deliver robust and user-friendly solutions

• Lead interdisciplinary teams, mentor new employees, and actively participate in the hiring process

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.

• 3+ years of professional or project experience as a full-stack or application developer, working across frontend, backend, and infrastructure

• Proficiency in building interactive UIs using modern frameworks and platforms (e.g., React, Vue.js, Unity, Unreal, or equivalent)

• A strong understanding of computer networking principles, including routing and protocols across the OSI model

• Proficiency in developing software to run on Linux-based systems.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience working with real-time data systems or low-latency communication protocols (e.g., WebRTC, gRPC)

• Experience with data visualization, transformations, and working with 3D, geospatial, or LiDAR data

• Experience developing for game engines (e.g., Unity, Unreal Engine) and using them for data visualization or UI prototyping

• Familiarity with containerization and orchestration tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)

• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure) and edge computing strategies.

• Understanding of cybersecurity best practices for application development, networking, and data handling.

• Demonstrated ability to prototype and test multiple solutions to determine optimal approaches

• Ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced environment

Additional Requirements:

• Must be willing to work extended hours or weekends when needed to support critical deadlines or triage urgent deployment issues

• Must be willing to relocate to Austin, TX if not within commuting distance

Compensation & Benefits:

TerraFirma is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The annual salary range for this role is $120,000 - $180,000. Base compensation will vary based on factors such as relevant experience and education. Salaries and leveling will be determined on a case-by-case basis if an offer is extended. Our total compensation package also includes generous equity in TerraFirma. Relocation packages are available to compensate employees for moving costs if applicable.