Software Engineer Early Career - C++ & Systems
$120k - $160k+ Equity
Entry
Bachelor's, Master's
San Leandro, CA, USA
In Person
Software EngineeringBackend Engineering
About the job
Requirements
- A bachelor's or master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field; recent graduates are welcome.
- Zero to two years of professional software development experience; internships, co-ops, research, and substantial personal or open-source projects count.
- A solid foundation in C++, including memory management, references and pointers, the standard library, and basic object-oriented and generic programming.
- Ability to read, understand, and write Python, including working within existing Python codebases used for automation, testing, and data analysis.
- Ability to pick up new programming languages quickly and read, and occasionally modify, code outside of C++ and Python.
- Understanding of data structures, algorithms, operating systems, and concurrency basics.
- Familiarity with the everyday toolchain, including the Linux command line, build tools such as CMake, a debugger, and Git-based workflows involving branches, pull requests, and code review.
- Hands-on experience using AI coding tools such as Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or Cursor in a real development workflow, and the judgment to review and test their output.
- Comfort working hands-on with lab and test equipment, including setting up sensors, running the system on real hardware, and collecting data for testing and validation; training on the company's specific equipment is provided.
- Clear written and verbal communication and the ability to work well with teammates across disciplines.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain software components in modern C++ (C++17/20) for Linux-based systems, with guidance from senior engineers.
- Implement features, fix bugs, and write unit and integration tests across the data pipeline, from sensor acquisition through processing and storage to services that deliver results to applications.
- Write and maintain Python scripts for automation, testing, and data analysis.
- Read and, where needed, modify existing code written in other languages across the codebase.
- Use AI coding tools such as Claude Code and GitHub Copilot to accelerate development, and verify their output through testing, profiling, and code review.
- Run the system on real hardware in the lab to test and validate changes, including setting up sensors and collecting data.
- Participate in code reviews by receiving and giving feedback, and follow team conventions for code quality.
- Help diagnose and debug issues across software and hardware boundaries, working with firmware and hardware engineers.
- Measure and improve performance of existing code under the direction of senior engineers.
- Document work so that others on the team can build on it.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience with Qt, gRPC, or Protocol Buffers.
- Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and automated testing.
- Experience with profiling and debugging tools such as perf, Valgrind, GDB, or sanitizers.
- Familiarity with hardware communication interfaces such as Ethernet, USB, or Serial.
- Contributions to open-source projects.
About the company
SirenOpt creates sensors and software to speed up research and development and make manufacturing of high-performance thin films cheaper. Its hardware sensors collect real-time data on thin-film processes, while the accompanying software analyzes the data, runs models, and helps users optimize production. The company combines both hardware and software with consulting services to help clients integrate these tools into existing workflows. This blend of devices, analytics, and advisory support sets SirenOpt apart from others who may focus on just one part of the stack. The goal is to help customers in electronics, renewable energy, and advanced materials innovate quickly and produce high-quality thin films at lower costs, enabling scalable, efficient manufacturing.
Company Size
11-50
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$18.5M
Headquarters
San Leandro, California
Founded
2022
Get referred to SirenOpt
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- On August 26, 2026, CEC awarded SirenOpt $2.4M BRIDGE funding.
- On August 27, 2026, Hitachi Ventures and InMotion Ventures backed commercialization.
- NSF’s $275K Phase 1 grant signals external validation for inline electrode quality control.
What critics are saying
- Autumn 2026 ECF rollout failure kills SirenOpt’s first marquee factory reference.
- Battery-electrode focus concentrates revenue around one manufacturing vertical and narrow buyer base.
- SirenOpt depends on grants and strategic investors before meaningful commercial scale.
What makes SirenOpt unique
- PlasmaSens combines cold atmospheric plasma with real-time, non-destructive manufacturing inspection.
- Autumn 2026 ECF deployment gives SirenOpt a rare pilot-to-factory validation path.
- Hitachi Ventures, InMotion Ventures, and grant funding reinforce hardware-plus-software differentiation.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- 401(k) Company Match
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Holidays