Why This Job is Featured on The SaaS Jobs
Beacon AI sits at an intersection that many SaaS professionals track closely: software delivered as a platform, applied to regulated, real world operations where reliability matters as much as feature velocity. The work described is not typical CRUD web SaaS; it blends platform thinking with autonomy, embedded constraints, and operator workflows, reflecting a product surface that extends beyond the browser into safety critical environments.
For a SaaS career, this kind of role builds durable strengths in building and operating production systems under tight latency, performance, and validation expectations. Experience integrating data ingestion, perception style pipelines, and edge deployment translates to modern AI enabled SaaS patterns, where product value depends on dependable end to end systems rather than isolated models or services. Working across Python and C++ also broadens the engineering toolkit beyond standard application stacks.
This role fits engineers who like owning systems from development through deployment and who prefer concrete feedback loops from real world usage. It is well aligned to early to mid career builders who want depth in reliability, testing discipline, and hardware software integration while still operating with a product platform mindset.
The section above is editorial commentary from The SaaS Jobs, provided to help SaaS professionals understand the role in a broader industry context.
Job Description
About Beacon AI
We’re a fast-moving team of aviators, engineers, and operators building an AI platform to make flying safer, more efficient, and more capable. Backed by top investors, we’ve secured a dozen Department of Defense contracts and partnered with major airlines to deliver mission-critical systems. We operate without silos or heavy processes. Small, focused teams own what they build, ship quickly, and learn fast, pushing the boundaries of how humans and AI work together in aviation.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Software Engineer to help design and build the advanced pilot assistance software that supports our flight safety platform. In this role, you will develop and deploy autonomy, robotics, and embedded systems that operate in real-world, safety-critical aviation environments. You will contribute hands-on across the stack, working closely with senior engineers to deliver reliable systems that support time-sensitive decision-making for human operators.
What You’ll Do
Design, build, and deploy robotic and embedded software components used in advanced pilot assistance systems.
Contribute to autonomy-related features or subsystems from development through deployment, with a focus on reliability and performance.
Write, test, and maintain high-quality Python and/or C++ code across autonomy, systems, and embedded components.
Integrate software with hardware, sensors, and perception or data ingestion pipelines to support autonomous and operator-in-the-loop decision-making.
Help optimize software for edge compute environments, including managing latency and resource usage.
Participate in testing, validation, and deployment efforts to ensure systems meet safety-critical and mission-critical requirements.
Collaborate in design reviews, code reviews, and hands-on development with senior engineers and cross-functional teams.
What Will Make You Successful
2+ years of experience designing or building robotic software and/or embedded systems, or equivalent experience through projects, internships, or coursework.
Experience writing production-quality code in C++ and/or Python.
Familiarity with real-time or interactive systems that support users making time-sensitive decisions.
Exposure to autonomy-related systems such as planning, decision-making, or reasoning, and working with sensor or perception pipelines.
Some experience working with embedded or edge compute platforms and debugging hardware/software interactions.
Ability to learn quickly and contribute effectively in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.
Bonus Points
Experience working on safety-critical or mission-critical systems, including aviation or robotics domains.
Exposure to robot operating systems or middleware such as ROS or DDS.
Interest in human-in-the-loop systems, simulation environments, or real-time control systems.
Background or strong interest in autonomy, robotics, or advanced mobility.
Work Location
This is a hybrid role based in San Carlos, CA, with 3+ days per week onsite and the option to work remotely on remaining days.
Perks & Benefits (Full-Time Employees)
Healthcare: 100%* of employee medical premiums covered; 25% for dependents
Time Off: 3 weeks PTO plus 13+ paid company holidays
Stipends: Monthly phone and wellness benefits
401(k): Offered (no current employer match, but we are committed to enhancing this benefit in the future).
Due to U.S. export control regulations, we can only hire U.S. Persons (U.S. citizens, Green Card holders, lawful permanent residents, or individuals granted asylum or refugee status). We are unable to provide visa sponsorship or support visa transfers. All work must be performed in the United States.
Beacon AI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit harassment or discrimination of any kind in the workplace and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.
