Senior Software Engineer, Autonomy

About Ditto:

Ditto is redefining how data moves at the edge. Our mission is to make it seamless for developers to build resilient, real-time applications, regardless of network conditions. Whether you're in a stadium, airplane, or remote military base, Ditto's peer-to-peer sync engine ensures devices stay connected and data stays consistent, even without internet. With more than $145 million in funding and trusted by organizations like Chick-fil-A, Delta Airlines, and the U.S. military, Ditto powers mission-critical experiences across aviation, retail, travel, hospitality, defense, and more. As a globally distributed, fast-growing startup, we’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the wide range of perspectives needed to solve the world’s hardest connectivity problems.

About the Position

As a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), you are the technical tip of the spear. FDEs are elite, versatile engineers who work shoulder-to-shoulder with our most critical users to solve complex challenges in real time. Your primary mission is to radically decrease the time-to-value of our software by integrating it directly into the user's operational environment.

Because you see firsthand how our technology performs in the wild, you will also act as a crucial conduit, feeding technical insights and feature requirements back to our core product engineering team. This role requires a highly adaptable problem-solver who is comfortable moving fast, navigating ambiguity, and figuring things out quickly in high-stakes environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Integrate with Robotic Platforms: Lead the on-site software integration of our platform with unmanned ground, aerial, and maritime systems, building reliable data bridges between our synchronization layer and robotic autonomy stacks.

• Develop on ROS2 and DDS Middleware: Architect, build, and troubleshoot software nodes within ROS2frameworks, leveraging DDS (Data Distribution Service) for real-time, publish-subscribe communication between robotic subsystems and our core platform.

• Implement MAVLink Integrations: Build and optimize MAVLink-based communication pipelines for telemetry, command, and control of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), ensuring reliable data exchange between our platform and autopilot firmware.

• Solve Problems in Real-Time: Act as the first line of technical defense, rapidly diagnosing and resolving software, sensor, and communication issues on robotic platforms as they arise during field testing and live operations.

• Bridge the Gap: Translate the unique realities of robotic systems integration—sensor noise, real-time constraints, autonomy edge cases—into actionable technical requirements for the core product development team.

What You'll Need

• Clearance Requirement: Must hold an active Secret clearance (Due to federal security clearance requirements, U.S. Citizenship is strictly required for this role).

• 5+ years of experience in robotics software engineering, autonomous systems development, or related fields. This includes hands-on experience developing, integrating, and testing software on physical robotic platforms (ground, aerial, or maritime).

• 2+ years of technical experience working with ROS2 (Robot Operating System 2), including node development, lifecycle management, launch files, and real-time communication via DDS middleware.

• Prior experience with MAVLink protocol for UAS telemetry and command/control, including integration with autopilot systems (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot) and ground control stations.

• Familiarity with motion planning concepts and algorithms, including path planning, trajectory optimization, and obstacle avoidance in real-world operational environments.

• A highly adaptable, problem-solving mindset, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, move fast, and balance immediate operational fixes with long-term technical fidelity.

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal. As the crucial bridge between the operational edge and our core development team, you must be able to translate complex, edge-case technical realities and user workflows into clear, actionable requirements for product engineers.

Nice to Haves

• Experience with sensor fusion and perception pipelines, including integration of LiDAR, IMU, GPS, and camera data for localization and mapping (SLAM).