Overland AI

Technical Lead - Distributed Systems

Seattle, WA · Contract

Sponsorship not specified$200k-$260kDetected 126 days ago

PythonGoC++Distributed SystemsAlgorithmsWebSocketsMachine LearningRoboticsVoIPZero TrustResearchLeadershipCommunicationMentoring

About the role

Our OverDrive autonomy stack enables ground vehicles to navigate and operate off-road in any terrain without GPS or direct operator control.
Overland AI has secured funding from prominent defense tech investors including 8VC and Point 72, and built trusted partnerships with DARPA, the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command.

In this role, you will build the technical backbone of multi-robot interactions and human-machine teaming via command-and-control (C2) interfaces.
Design distributed data solutions that operate seamlessly across both traditional cloud-based server infrastructure and edge network topologies.
Leverage autonomy to build systems that reliably bridge Denied, Degraded, Intermittent, and Limited (DDIL) networking scenarios.
Collaborate with cross-functional robotics engineering teams on development of world models and distributed mapping solutions Champion the adoption of best practices while pragmatically weighing technical tradeoffs and velocity.
Mentor and lead teammates in implementing designs according to operational requirements.

Proven experience architecting and implementing real-time, low-latency distributed communications for mesh topologies on unreliable networks.
Experience with communications protocols (HTTP, Websocket, MQTT, and message brokers), with strong judgement on appropriate technology selection.
Deep expertise in conflict resolution algorithms and distributed data consensus protocols Demonstrated ability to diagnose and resolve complex reliability and performance issues in distributed systems.
Track record of successful deployments to both edge hardware and cloud platforms.
Demonstrated leadership experience mentoring and guiding engineering teams.
Experience collaborating with API client development teams across multiple platforms (web applications, mobile frameworks, and agent clients) Familiarity with military or tactical communication systems.
Experience with video and telemetry streaming with WebRTC or other real-time protocols.
Employment is contingent on the ability to comply with U.S. export control laws.
Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or related discipline and 5+ years relevant professional experience
OR 8+ years of relevant professional experience.

Benefits Overland AI believes in creating a work environment that you look forward to embracing every day.
The salary range for this position is $200K to $260K annually Equity compensation Best-in-class healthcare, dental and vision plans.
Flexible PTO 401k with company match Parental leave Overland AI is an
The company leverages over a decade of advanced research in robotics and machine learning, as well as a field-test forward ethos, to deliver combined capabilities for unit commanders.
Work with program and product managers to understand customer requirements and architect flexible solutions.

About Overland AI Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Overland AI is transforming land operations for modern defense.
Our intuitive OverWatch C2 interface provides commanders with precise coordination capabilities essential for mission success.
Backed by eight-figure contracts across the Department of Defense, we are strengthening national security by iterating closely with end users engaged in tactical operations.
Role Summary We are seeking a Technical Lead - Distributed Systems to lead its efforts designing and implementing the data fabric that connects robots with each other and their operators.
Your goal is to ensure the reliable and secure storage and distribution of mission data and real-time telemetry, enabling collaborative robot behaviors and the coordination of mission-level off-robot mapping and planning.

This listing is sourced directly from Overland AI's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.