Software Engineer - International Compliance

Collaborative autonomy is how self-tasking teams of machines will solve hard human problems, and HavocAI is an unquestioned leader in collaborative autonomy. We set the standard for autonomous surface vessels for a wide range of defense and commercial maritime missions. Success requires us to grow quickly, and we’re looking for teammates who are passionate about solving hard problems, about pushing the envelope, and about preventing conflict and saving lives. Ambition is welcome to apply within.

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to lead our international software development efforts and drive the architectural separation of our codebase for export compliance (EAR). This role blends deep software engineering expertise with systems integration, technical leadership, and cross-cultural collaboration. You will own a major company initiative: enabling HavocAI to build, maintain, and deploy autonomy software across multiple countries while protecting controlled technologies.

This role will lead the Commercial & International Software Integration Team, partnering closely with engineering groups in the U.S. and abroad. You will define processes, interfaces, and tooling to ensure that international builds remain clean, compliant, and scalable across multiple partner nations.

• Lead the architectural split of HavocAI’s software stack into EAR-controlled and export-cleared components.

• Define and enforce code boundaries, documentation standards, and compliance workflows for international development.

• Build the engineering processes and tooling required for safe collaboration with international teams (e.g., repo partitioning, access controls, CI/CD for multi-country builds).

• Develop and maintain software interfaces that support integrations across diverse commercial and international platforms.

• Partner with global engineering teams to deploy and integrate autonomy software onto vessels and systems in multiple countries.

• Collaborate with autonomy, perception, embedded, and mission systems teams to ensure consistent functionality across U.S. and export versions of the autonomy stack.

• Conduct technical reviews to ensure export-cleared code meets quality, safety, and performance requirements.

• Serve as the primary technical lead for the commercial & international integration team, mentoring engineers and guiding technical direction.

• Travel internationally to support integration efforts, partner onboarding, and engineering coordination.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

• 5+ years of software engineering experience with proficiency in C++.

• Familiarity with export compliance concepts (EAR/ITAR) or experience working in regulated or classified environments.

• Experience architecting or maintaining large, modular codebases with strict interface boundaries.

• Experience with ROS/ROS2, autonomy frameworks, or real-world robotic systems.

• Strong background with Linux, modern software tooling, and CI/CD pipelines.

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to coordinate across distributed, multicultural teams.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen and eligible to obtain a Secret Clearance.

• Experience leading engineering teams or acting as a technical lead.

• Background integrating systems across multiple international engineering organizations.

• Experience building governance processes for access control, code segregation, or multi-tier software distribution.

• Familiarity with maritime systems and communication protocols (CAN, NMEA2000, J1939).

• Experience developing software intended for commercial deployment at scale.

• 100% Employer paid Health, Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your families

• Life Insurance

• Ability to participate in the companies 401k program

• Unlimited PTO policy with an enforced 2 week minimum

• Equity Package

• Work / Home Office Stipend

• Global Entry

• 16 Week Paid Parental Leave

• Monthly Health and Wellness Stipend

• Innovation: We are driven to break new ground. Every day presents an opportunity to challenge the status quo, think boldly, and deliver advanced solutions that transform the future of defense technology.

• Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, ensuring transparency, accountability, and trust in all our actions and partnerships.

• Mission-Driven: We are focused on achieving impactful outcomes that align with our core mission—protecting lives through innovation.

• Forward-Leaning: We continuously seek out new opportunities and remain at the forefront of technological advancements. We embrace change and anticipate the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and creativity.

• Ownership of All Tasks: At HavocAI, no problem is too complex or too trivial. We believe that greatness comes from tackling the hardest challenges, but also in handling the smallest, sometimes thankless, tasks with the same level of commitment and care.

• Servant Leadership: We lead by serving others, whether it’s supporting our employees, partners, or the broader community. Empowering those around us is key to achieving long-term success and making a lasting impact.

HavocAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.