Full-Time

Firmware Engineer

Chariot Defense

Chariot Defense

11-50 employees

Modular transportable power systems for defense

Compensation Overview

$130k - $180k/yr

+ Equity

San Bruno, CA, USA

In Person

Onsite in San Bruno, CA. Travel up to 10% domestically and internationally.

Bachelor's

Category
Software Engineering (1)
Required Skills
C/C++

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Requirements
  • BS in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent demonstrated experience.
  • 3+ years writing firmware for hardware that ships and runs in the field.
  • Hands-on bare-metal and RTOS development.
  • Fluency in C/C++ for resource-constrained, real-time targets.
  • Demonstrated experience bringing up and debugging firmware on real hardware.
  • This position is an onsite role based in Chariot Defense’s San Bruno, CA, office.
  • Willingness to support 10% travel, domestically and internationally, as well as work extended and weekend hours, when necessary.
  • All employees are required to provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. within their first 3 days of work.
  • A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $130,000-$180,000 annually.
Responsibilities
  • Power electronics control: Write and tune the firmware that commands inverters, chargers, and battery systems to convert and move electrical energy correctly, safely, and efficiently.
  • Safety systems: Build the real-time fault-detection and protection logic that reacts in milliseconds to protect the hardware and the people operating near it; treat safety as core to the design.
  • Thermal control: Implement the control logic that keeps power components within safe operating temperatures under load and across environmental extremes.
  • Data acquisition & telemetry: Collect readings from sensors across the system, and package and export that data so it can be monitored, recorded, and analyzed downstream.
  • User input & system interaction: Implement how operators command and interact with the system in the field.
  • Bare-metal and RTOS development: Architect and deploy firmware across bare-metal targets and real-time operating systems, making the right call on timing, determinism, and resource constraints.
  • Cross-functional integration: Work shoulder-to-shoulder with electrical, power electronics, and hardware engineers, managing the tight coupling between electrical I/O and firmware behavior, and supporting hardware bring-up and debug on the bench.
Desired Qualifications
  • Production Rust experience on embedded targets.
  • Firmware for power electronics, motor control, or battery management.
  • Experience with safety-critical or fault-tolerant systems
  • Experience with ISO26262, DO-178C, or other software functional safety standards
  • Embedded comms interfaces (CAN, SPI, I2C, UART).

Chariot Defense designs and sells intelligent, high-voltage, low-signature power systems for use at the tactical edge. Its Amphora family consists of modular, transportable power systems that store and distribute energy to drones, sensors, radios, electronic warfare gear, and directed-energy devices. The systems can draw power from tactical generators, vehicles, and solar panels and use software-controlled, bi-directional distribution to optimize energy flow. The aim is to retrofit legacy military platforms with modern energy solutions and to serve as a power infrastructure provider for next-generation defense technology, with the goal of becoming a prime contractor for battlefield power. The company differentiates itself through its focus on high-power, low-signature, modular power at the edge, its ability to integrate multiple energy sources, and its track record of fielding systems in DoD exercises, all led by CEO Adam Warmoth.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Series A

Total Funding

$42M

Headquarters

San Bruno, California

Founded

2024

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • February 2026 Series A raised $34 million from a16z, lifting total funding to $41 million.
  • Chariot said it generated revenue within twelve months and sold after Army exercises.
  • The company is hiring power-electronics engineers as demand expands across Army and commercial customers.

What critics are saying

  • Anduril's March 2026 $20 billion Army contract threatens Chariot's budget access.
  • Chariot depends on field demos converting into programs; procurement delays can stall revenue.
  • If primes bundle power into vehicles, Amphora becomes a niche adapter, not platform.

What makes Chariot Defense unique

  • Amphora software-defined power routes energy across drones, radios, sensors, and directed-energy systems.
  • Chariot won DIU Project G.I. Phase 3 in November 2025 after field validation.
  • At PCC6 in July 2026, Amphora unified allied vehicle power into one grid.

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Benefits

Company Equity

Company News

Third News
Feb 25th, 2026
Chariot Defense raises $34M Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz for battlefield power systems

Chariot Defense has raised $34 million in Series A funding led by Andreessen Horowitz, bringing total funding to $41 million. DCVC, LMNT, Marlinspike, Overmatch, Shield Capital, Ensemble and Trenches Capital participated, alongside existing investors General Catalyst and XYZ. Founded in 2024, the defence technology firm develops deployable power systems that enable real-time monitoring and control of energy distribution across military operations. Its Amphora hybrid systems integrate energy storage, conversion and distribution to maximise force effectiveness whilst minimising operational signatures. The funding will accelerate production of Chariot's systems and support development of an integrated operating system for battlefield power management. The company has already generated revenue within its first year and deployed equipment in military exercises. Chariot is expanding its engineering team to meet growing demand from military units.

PR Newswire
Feb 25th, 2026
Chariot Defense Announces $34M Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz to scale command of power on the battlefield.

Chariot Defense announces $34M Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz to scale command of power on the battlefield. Feb 25, 2026, 06:31 ET SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Chariot Defense, a defense technology company pioneering next-generation battlefield power systems, today announced it has raised $34 million in Series A funding, bringing total funding to $41 million. The round was led by new investor Andreessen Horowitz, and with new participation from DCVC, LMNT, Marlinspike, Overmatch, Shield Capital, Ensemble, and Trenches Capital. Existing investors General Catalyst and XYZ also participated. Power is becoming the critical constraint across military operations. To solve this pressing challenge, Chariot Defense has built a deployable, software-defined power layer that senses, prioritizes, and routes power across mission-critical systems in real time, enabling warfighters to operate without interruption, detectable signature, or wasted capacity. "We're on a mission to ensure power is never the limiting factor in modern warfare," said Adam Warmoth, Chariot Defense Founder and CEO. "Power on the battlefield is less about how much energy you carry; it is more about how intelligently you control and distribute it. Chariot's Amphora systems act as a combat multiplier in the field, enabling soldiers to operate with greater freedom. We enhance their ability to see, sense, strike, and survive in contested environments. The speed with which warfighters have adopted our systems is a testament to our technology and our incredible team. We're already turning this capital into capabilities as we scale to meet the growing demand." The funding comes on the heels of new sales and contracts with the U.S. Army, DIU Project GI, and commercial customers. "Incredible breakthroughs in power are happening in the commercial world, from advanced batteries, to next-generation microcontrollers and power electronics, while much of defense still relies on legacy systems," said Erin Price-Wright, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz. "Chariot is bringing that innovation directly into national security and building the software-defined power backbone our modern military systems demand. The future of defense will be shaped by energy, speed, and adaptability, and Chariot is leading that shift." Investing to Meet Urgent Demand The raise will accelerate production of Chariot's agile power system products and support the development of an operating system for the command, control, and distribution of electric power on the battlefield. The funding will also enable Chariot to significantly expand its engineering team to meet surging demand. This news comes just six months after the company launched out of stealth in July 2025. "We are excited to back Chariot again, as they have operationalized the Anduril-style playbook of defense problem solving and productization by driving systems to the field early and iterating essential features quickly to get them deployed." says Ross Fubini, Managing Partner at XYZ Venture Capital. "Demand for rapid fielding has never been stronger, and Chariot is a prime example of transformation in contact." Leading with the Amphora Product Modern operations are failing from lack of power. Chariot's universal and agile Amphora hybrid power systems enhance warfighter lethality and survivability by tightly integrating energy storage, conversion, and distribution capabilities to deliver power when, where, and how it is needed. These systems are already being adopted by units to extend operational independence and better adapt during distributed, expeditionary missions via ubiquitous, dependable power. Chariot has directly sold Amphora systems to customers following recent exercises, including to commercial customers who recognize the importance of power to accelerate their own innovation and to create resilience in their existing deployments. Building for Scale Warmoth concluded: "Chariot went from seed round to air-assaulting equipment into force-on-force exercises within six months and we generated revenue within twelve months. That kind of traction is exactly why we're rapidly expanding." The company is actively recruiting mechanical, electrical, and software engineers with expertise in high-voltage energy storage, power electronics, and distributed systems to build the power infrastructure that will define modern military operations. About Chariot Defense: Chariot Defense is a defense technology company pioneering next-generation power distribution systems built for the demands of modern warfare. Its Amphora platform provides modular voltage and low-signature power at the tactical edge - powering everything from radios and drones to sensors and directed energy systems. Founded in 2024, Chariot is backed by leading national security investors and led by a team with deep experience across defense, technology, and government. SOURCE Chariot Defense

FinSMEs
Jul 16th, 2025
Chariot Defense Raises $8M in Seed Funding

Chariot Defense, a San Francisco, CA-based defense technology company, raised $8m in seed funding.

Axios
Jul 16th, 2025
Chariot Defense Secures $8M for Military Energy

Chariot Defense has emerged from stealth mode with $8 million in seed funding. The company aims to address the energy needs of modern military technologies, such as drones and mobile command posts, which require significant power and often necessitate risky resupply missions.