Software Engineer (Early Career) – C++ & Systems

About the job

Job Title: Software Engineer (Early Career) – C++ & Systems

Location: On-Site (San Leandro, CA)

Job Type: Full-Time

Role Overview

SirenOpt is seeking a Software Engineer to help build and maintain the real-time data pipeline behind our sensing platform: acquiring data from multiple sensors, processing and storing it on Linux-based systems, and delivering it to the applications our customers rely on. 

You will work primarily in modern C++ and Python, with mentorship from senior engineers, and you will be hands-on with real hardware in our lab to test and validate what you build. This is a role for someone who wants to grow into a well-rounded systems engineer by shipping production software end to end, from a first design discussion to a feature running at a customer site. 

What You'll Do

• 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 the 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 our codebase 
• Use AI coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, 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 your changes, including setting up sensors and collecting data 
• Participate in code reviews, both 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 your work so that others on the team can build on it

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field (recent graduates welcome) 
• 0–2 years of professional software development experience; internships, co-ops, research, and substantial personal or open-source projects count 
• Solid foundation in C++, including memory management, references and pointers, the standard library, and basic object-oriented and generic programming 
• Strong 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; our codebase spans several languages and you will need to read, and occasionally modify, code outside of C++ and Python 
• Understanding of core computer science fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, operating systems, and concurrency basics 
• Comfortable with the everyday toolchain: Linux command line, build tools (CMake or similar), a debugger, and Git-based workflows (branches, pull requests, code review) 
• Hands-on experience using AI coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor) as part of a real development workflow, and the judgment to review and test what they produce 
• Comfortable working hands-on with lab and test equipment: setting up sensors, running the system on real hardware, and collecting data for testing and validation (we will train you on our specific equipment) 
• Clear written and verbal communication, and the ability to work well with teammates across disciplines

Nice to have:

• 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 

What You'll Learn

You will work on a real-time sensing platform that is already running at some of the largest manufacturers in the world, on a small team where your code reaches customers quickly.

• How a high-throughput, multi-sensor data pipeline is built end to end, from acquisition through processing and storage, and kept reliable in production
• Modern C++ and Linux systems engineering, with regular code review and mentorship from senior engineers
• How software, firmware, and hardware teams work together to ship a physical product
• How to use AI coding tools effectively and responsibly in a professional engineering workflow
• A clear path to grow into a mid-level engineer with ownership of your own components