(Senior) System software engineer

You want to help build Europe's resilience. You want to protect people and critical infrastructure - ultimately saving the lives of thousands. You want to work at the frontier of high-performance autonomous systems.

At CDDS, you'll build the software platform that connects our next-generation interceptor drones with sensors and operators, the nervous system of a counter-drone defense network protecting critical infrastructure and, ultimately, saving lives.

We're looking for a strong all-around software engineer to:

Build the platform that fuses radar, sensors, and third-party data into a single, real-time operational picture

Integrate our drones with external systems at low latency, under conditions where reliability isn't optional

Design fleet-management tooling to monitor, configure, and coordinate drones operating in the field

This is real-time, safety-critical software with actual physical stakes. You'll work close to hardware, close to operators, and close to the mission. We move fast and priorities shift as the threat landscape does.

Tasks

What you will own

Architect the ground-segment platform that fuses radar and multi-sensor data into a real-time operational picture, under latency budgets where milliseconds decide outcomes

Build the integration layer connecting our drones to third-party sensors and platforms, designing the plugins and data interfaces that make it work reliably in the field

Design and own fleet-management and provisioning tooling that commands and coordinates a live interceptor fleet

Profile, tune, and harden system performance so it holds up under real-world load

Work close to the field: see your code deployed on real hardware, in front of real customers

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS

MSc or PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field from a top-tier university, with an outstanding track record

3+ years of professional experience building production software, with deep, demonstrable Python expertise

Fluency in Linux-based development environments

Solid grounding in software security fundamentals

NICE TO HAVE

Experience integrating with command and control (C2) systems

Experience working with radar feeds or other external sensors

Knowledge of networking protocols and secure communication

Comfort living in a bash CLI

Benefits

WHY CDDS

Direct impact on a mission‑critical technology shaping Europe’s security landscape

Fast‑moving startup environment with high ownership

Work with a highly technical, ambitious, and hands‑on team

Real‑world testing, deployments, and customer demonstrations

Attractive compensation

DETAILS

Location: Hardbrucke (Zurich), on‑site

Start date: when you are ready

Environment: Rapidly growing deep‑tech startup, high‑impact mission