Software Engineer

Who we are

The role

The day-to-day

• Architect and implement AWS GovCloud infrastructure that meets CMMC Level 2 requirements and prepares us for certification.

• Create, manage, and execute on a roadmap for adopting, modifying, and deploying Helsing's infrastructure patterns and developer tooling. Work with the Core Infra and DevX teams to adopt or create what makes sense for our specific needs.

• Maintain Terraform and IaC tooling, manage Kubernetes workload infrastructure for builds and AI training, and co-develop Python and Rust based developer tools.

• Improve developer productivity by leveraging existing tools and creating new ones. Support DevOps and MLOps workflows, complete with CI/CD automation and CLI tooling.

• Work with vendors, partners, and service providers to integrate third-party tooling while maintaining our security and compliance requirements.

• As a senior member, you will help interview, onboard, and mentor new engineers. Over time, you will contribute to the growth and culture of the infrastructure teams.

You should apply if you

• Have deep experience with AWS, including designing and operating production infrastructure at scale. Experience with AWS GovCloud, or creating compliant AWS infrastructure, is a significant plus

• Are proficient with Kubernetes and have familiarity with Cloud-Native Technologies, like Helm, ArgoCD, or Flux

• Have strong Infrastructure as Code skills, ideally with Terraform, and can design modular, maintainable infrastructure that evolves with compliance requirements

• Can write clean, maintainable code in Python, Rust, or similar languages to build internal tooling and automation

• Communicate effectively in both technical and compliance contexts and can explain architectural decisions to engineers and security posture to auditors

• Thrive in ambiguity and take ownership of outcomes. You don't wait for perfect requirements; you actively seek context, make pragmatic decisions, and iterate based on feedback

• Value operational excellence and understand that infrastructure reliability directly impacts mission success

• Feel that building technology in service of democratic values is meaningful work worth doing

• Can obtain a security clearance (Secret or Top Secret preferred)

• Are able to work in a hybrid environment in Washington, DC, with occasional travel to customer sites or European offices

Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically under-represented. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarized in a few bullet points.

Nice to Have

• Experience with defense compliance frameworks such as CMMC Level 2, FedRAMP Moderate/High, NIST 800-171, or similar security standards

• Experience with MLOps platforms and infrastructure for training and serving machine learning models

• Familiarity with container security, supply chain security, and vulnerability management in production environments

• Understanding of ITAR restrictions and experience building infrastructure that respects export control requirements

• Experience working in air-gapped or disconnected environments

• Background in distributed systems, networking protocols, or embedded computing

• Prior experience in defense, aerospace, or other highly regulated industries

Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields

• Helsing’s work is important. You’ll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns

• The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world

• Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defense industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward

• In our domain, success is a matter of order-of-magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts

• We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practice responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn’t work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about

What we offer

• A focus on outcomes, not time-tracking

• A generous compensation and benefits package (in addition to base salary) that includes, but may not be limited to, insurance coverage (medical and travel), flexible paid time off, paid holidays, and remote and/or hybrid work available depending on position. All compensation and benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the underlying plans or programs, as applicable and as may be amended, terminated or superseded from time to time.

Helsing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetics, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.