applied→
Software Engineer (C++) at applied in Ann Arbor, MI
Job Description
Software Engineer - Physical AI
Location: Ann Arbor
About Applied Intuition
Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.
We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments.
About the role
Applied Intuition is rapidly scaling its defense product ecosystem in Ann Arbor! We're looking for talented software engineers at all levels who are ready to work on some of the hardest challenges in simulation, tooling, and autonomy infrastructure for physical AI.
You'll be a core contributor to Axion, our flagship defense data and tooling platform, building the systems that unify developers and operators in a shared digital environment — accelerating testing, integration, and deployment across all domains. This is not a maintenance role. You'll design, implement, and own software that runs at the edge of what's technically possible, in environments where the stakes are real.
The team sits at the intersection of Applied Intuition's commercial technology velocity and defense-grade requirements, giving you access to a rapidly evolving product suite and direct real-world impact. You'll work in small, high-ownership teams where your code ships, your decisions matter, and your contribution to national security is tangible.
At Applied Intuition, you will:
Design and implement high-performance software in C++ for Axion, Applied Intuition's defense tooling and data platform
Build and extend simulation environments and virtual worlds that enable autonomous systems to be tested and validated before real-world deployment
Develop scalable infrastructure that supports multi-domain autonomous operations — from unmanned ground and aerial platforms to broader joint-force integration scenarios
Partner with autonomy researchers, product teams, and defense customers to translate mission requirements into robust, mission-ready software solutions
Own end-to-end execution of engineering workstreams; from architecture through deployment
Contribute to the San Diego site's rapid buildout, helping shape team culture, technical standards, and engineering practices as we scale
Interface with DoD programs and defense customers to ensure solutions meet real-world operational demands
We're looking for someone who has:
Professional software engineering experience, with strong C++ at the core
Experience with Unreal Engine or other real-time simulation/game engine environments (e.g., Unity, Gazebo, or custom simulation stacks)
Solid software engineering fundamentals: systems programming, concurrency, performance optimization, and real-time rendering or simulation pipelines
Genuine interest in simulation, autonomy, robotics, or physical AI — you want to understand how your software connects to machines operating in the real world
Exposure to or curiosity about multi-domain defense systems — you don't need a defense pedigree, but you're excited to develop one
Strong CS/CE/EE (or similar) foundation; you think rigorously about correctness and performance
Python proficiency for tooling, scripting, and integration work
Comfort with ambiguity; you drive clarity and progress in fast-moving, high-stakes environments
Excellent communication skills; you can explain hard technical tradeoffs to both engineers and non-technical stakeholders
Nice to have:
Prior work in simulation for autonomy, robotics, gaming, or defense applications
Familiarity with sensor simulation, synthetic data generation, or physics-based environments
Experience with distributed systems or real-time data pipelines in constrained environments
Security Requirements:
Must be a U.S. Citizen
Must hold or be eligible for a U.S. Secret security clearance
For more information about U.S. security clearances: click here.
Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.
Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.
Please reference the job posting's subtitle for where this position will be located. For pay transparency purposes, the base salary range for this full-time position in the location listed is: $100,000 – $200,000 USD annually.
Don't meet every single requirement? If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.
Don’t meet every single requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.