(Senior) Backend Engineer C++

About the Position

(Senior) Backend Engineer C++ (All genders)

Locations: Berlin, Munich

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent employee

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About Us

STARK is a pioneering defence technology company revolutionizing the deployment of autonomous systems across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance, software-defined, and cost-effective unmanned systems. Our focus is on delivering deployable, high-performance systems to bolster the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe.

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About the Team

The Minerva team, based in Berlin and Munich, is responsible for STARK's command and control software-the brain that connects operators to autonomous systems in real time. This small, senior software group works directly with our systems and hardware teams to build mission-critical C2 capabilities deployed in active operational environments. We operate under constraints most engineers never encounter-low-bandwidth networks, air-gapped devices, high-stakes decision loops. There is no room for abstraction for its own sake. Everything we build ends up in the hands of real operators in the field.

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Your Mission

This is not a "standard" backend role. You will be building the high-performance, low-latency engine at the heart of Minerva Frontline, our Command & Control (C2) Software, enabling mission planning and operations of Aerial and Maritime asset swarms in real-world conditions. We are looking for C++ developers to build out our core server-side architecture enabling the increasingly complex CONOPS required by NATO’s Armed forces. You will be responsible for maintaining a global battlefield state, translating high-level operator intents into machine-executable actions, and streaming real-time telemetry to the frontline. You will work in a high-density engineering environment alongside robotics, safety, and mission planning experts. If you care about RAII, memory safety, and squeezing every ounce of performance out of real hardware in the field to ensure mission success, this is the role.

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What You'll Build

• The System Brain: Develop the core C++ services that orchestrate UAV and USV swarms, maintaining a synchronized and robust battlefield state across distributed systems.
• Mission Control APIs: Design and implement high-performance gRPC and REST APIs that bridge the gap between our frontend C2 interface and the autonomous vehicles in the field.
• Real-Time Data Pipelines: Build and optimize the telemetry pipelines that handle high-frequency data from diverse sensors, ensuring low-latency synchronization and delivery.
• Scalable Architecture: Expand our current C++ architecture to support "affordable mass"-scaling from controlling 4 to 20+ vehicles simultaneously.
• Tactical Integration: Implement military standards and protocols (such as STANAG), ensuring our systems are interoperable and battle-ready.
• Robustness & Testing: Build and maintain the test suites, ensuring our code performs reliably under the most contested conditions.

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Responsibilities

• A C++ Native: Write clean, performant Modern C++ (17/20/23). Understand the cost of every allocation and the value of a deterministic system.
• Systems-Minded: Think in terms of data flows, state machines, and concurrency. Understand that in our domain, "late data is wrong data."
• A Problem Solver: Dive deep into the details to identify, understand, and solve difficult technical problems at the hardware-software boundary.
• High Agency: Don't wait for perfect specifications. Understand the mission, look at the code, and drive the architecture forward.
• Collaborative: Thrive in a multidisciplinary team, working closely with frontend, robotics, and integration engineers to deliver a cohesive product.

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Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of experience in backend or systems engineering, with a primary focus on high-performance C++ applications.
• C++ Expertise: Deep proficiency in Modern C++ (17 or later).
• Networking: Strong understanding of asynchronous networking, inter-process communication (IPC), and real-time data streaming.
• Industry Context: Relevant experience in Aerospace, Robotics, Automotive, Sensors, or High-Frequency Trading-any domain where software interacts with the physical world in real-time.
• Bonus Skills: Familiarity with autopilot/flight control systems (MAVLink/PX4/ArduPilot), geospatial data handling (GIS), or building safety-critical software systems.

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Why Join STARK?

• Impact: Build the software that NATO militaries rely on when stakes are highest. Your code will directly influence the outcome of critical missions.
• Engineering Excellence: Work in a culture where technical rigor and architectural beauty are valued. We don't cut corners on safety or performance.
• Novelty: Solve "Genesis-stage" engineering problems for autonomous swarming that have no off-the-shelf solution.
• Growth: As we scale our platforms from the North Sea to the edges of Europe, your role and impact on the organization will grow with us.

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About Us

SECURITY CLEARANCE

Due to the nature of our work in the defence sector, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance required for this position. Details will be provided during the recruitment process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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If interested in this opportunity, send us your CV in English, and we will reach out to you soon!