Valinor is a new type of defense and government tech company focused on solving the problems others don't. Our unique model of centralized go-to-market and decentralized engineering allows us to move with unparalleled efficiency to identify unmet needs, build right-sized solutions, and get products where they matter most - in the hands of users. Unlike others in the space, who focus on the flashy problems, Valinor exists to solve the quiet, unaddressed problems-the small but significant ones that lead to cracks in the country's strength, stability, and security.
Backed by General Catalyst, Founders Fund, and Friends & Family Capital, Valinor was founded in 2024 and has established strategic partnerships with Palantir, Anduril, and Helsing. We are building the dream team, and we want you on it.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Valinor Terra is looking for a Senior Software Engineer to take ownership of Terra’s software offering, the platform that connects environmental sensors in military barracks to the facilities teams responsible for keeping them safe and livable. Terra aims to turn sensor readings into alerts and work orders so problems get fixed before they become emergencies. This role is onsite in Austin.
We’re looking for someone who has taken a product from zero to one on a small team, enjoys working across software and hardware, and can explain technical tradeoffs as clearly to a government customer as to an engineer. This role is ideal for a full-stack engineer who wants real ownership, cares about the people using the product, and is excited to build the bridge between physical devices and the cloud.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Own Terra’s software product technically, writing production code across our TypeScript stack and making the architecture decisions that shape the platform at scale.
- Work closely with our hardware and firmware engineers to define how sensors connect, register, and get installed, so an install technician can set up hundreds of devices in a day without having to involve our engineering teams.
- Carry the roadmap from idea to shipped, including support for industry standard building-system protocols, new alerting channels (email, sms, etc.), reporting, and eventually the ability to not only monitor but actuate building systems.
- Keep Terra’s software production-ready for the DoD and other government agents, owning reliability, monitoring, security, and the technical work behind our government authorization on AWS GovCloud.
- Set engineering practices for testing, code review, releases, and effective use of AI tools, then help shape the hiring plan and lead the engineers who join after you.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
- 5+ years of software engineering experience, including time on a small team that took a product from zero to one and an architecture you designed from the ground up.
- Experience designing multi-tenant systems, including the tradeoffs involved and which decisions you’d make again. This shouldn’t be the first multi-tenant architecture you’ve built.
- Full-stack range with real depth on the backend: comfortable on the frontend, with stronger opinions about services, data, and architecture. TypeScript and Postgres experience is ideal, but strong fundamentals matter more than a matching résumé.
- Comfort owning deployment without a dedicated DevOps team, including containers, Kubernetes, CI/CD, and Terraform. You don’t need to be a Kubernetes expert, but you can step in when it matters.
- The ability to explain technical tradeoffs in plain language to non-technical leaders, government customers, and hardware engineers.
- A track record of building for real users, including making engineering tradeoffs in favor of the person using the product.
- Fluency with AI-assisted development, using it to move faster, not as a substitute for understanding the code you ship.
- A builder’s mentality and comfort with ownership in an early-stage environment. Experience building software for connected hardware (consumer devices, smart home, IoT) as well as working with telemetry or event-driven systems like MQTT or Kafka is a plus.
WHAT VALINOR OFFERS
- Competitive salary, equity packages, and benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance - fully covered for employees, 401(k), among others.
- Unlimited PTO and two-week company holiday at the end of every calendar year.
- We are a pro-mental health and pro-family company - we actually encourage employees to spend time with themselves and their families. Valinor also provides fertility benefits to those just beginning that journey.
- Fun work environment - we like to laugh and take care of each other, but we also deeply respect the mission in front of us.
This role requires the candidate be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Active clearance preferred, but not required.
Valinor is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Valinor team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals, who together are disrupting industry norms by creating new paths towards the future of defense and government technology. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you are someone passionate about working on problems that have a real-world impact, we'd love to hear from you!