Software Engineering Lead

Join EarthOptics as a Software Engineering Lead !

At EarthOptics we are combining cutting-edge genomic analysis, data science, microbiology, and remote sensing to revolutionize agriculture. Our mission is to be the leading soil information company, delivering maps that growers, farmers, ranchers, and other stakeholders use to cost-effectively increase yields and improve soil health and the climate. We are creating a future where traditional sampling methods are obsolete.

We are a growing company with a passion for soil health, innovative technologies, and supporting all within the food value chain. We currently have ~100 individuals spread across 20 states and two countries, and they come from all walks of life, industries, and experiences. We are deeply focused on building the future of AgTech and sustainability and helping the world see soil differently.

Our Software Engineering Lead will join our Software Engineering team as an individual contributor, helping build and maintain software that connects field applications, laboratory automation, hardware, and data systems. This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys moving between production software and physical systems, takes ownership of the technology they support, and is comfortable solving problems across software, electronics, and hardware.

The digs:

Job Type: Full time, Exempt

Work Location: Hybrid — Raleigh, North Carolina. This role requires practical commuting distance to the Raleigh office and typically works onsite 1–3 days per week, with flexibility based on project and hardware-testing needs.

Travel: 10% of the time

Compensation: $115,000-$130,000 annually + equity.

*Your actual base pay will depend on your job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

What you’ll cultivate as a Software Engineering Lead:

Take primary engineering ownership of the Mobile GroundOwl (GO) application following a structured handoff. Maintain a stable, high-quality field application by diagnosing issues, implementing targeted enhancements, managing dependencies, supporting releases, and collaborating with backend engineers on APIs and integrations.

Improve the reliability and maintainability of Mobile GroundOwl through automated testing, observability, documentation, and support tooling. Help ensure dependable operation in low- and no-connectivity field environments where offline data capture, data integrity, synchronization, and recovery are critical.

Design and develop lab automation systems that integrate application software, firmware, sensors, motors, actuators, microcontrollers or single-board computers, and custom electronics. Develop control logic, data-acquisition software, calibration routines, diagnostics, safety interlocks, and operator interfaces.

Contribute software across EarthOptics products and platforms, including customer-facing applications, backend services, integrations, device software, and internal engineering tools. Collaborate with product managers, engineers, lab teams, hardware teams, and operational teams to turn real-world problems into practical, maintainable solutions.

Apply strong engineering practices across prototypes and production systems, including thoughtful design, code review, automated testing, observability, security, and documentation. Use AI-assisted development tools thoughtfully to accelerate implementation, debugging, testing, research, and documentation while retaining responsibility for correctness, security, safety, and code quality.

Within your first 60–120 days, you’ll be expected to:

Complete a structured handoff and establish clear engineering ownership of the Mobile GroundOwl application.

Develop a strong understanding of Mobile GroundOwl’s field workflows and reliability needs, including crash rates, failed synchronization, support escalations, and low-connectivity operation.

Diagnose and address priority field issues while strengthening testing, observability, documentation, and support practices.

Begin contributing to lab automation initiatives, progressing from problem definition and prototyping toward reliable systems that laboratory users can operate and maintain confidently.

Are you our soil-mate? You’ll bloom in this role if you have experience in:

A bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field—or equivalent practical experience.

2+ years of professional software engineering experience, or equivalent experience through internships, co-ops, research, or substantial shipped projects. We care more about demonstrated ownership and learning speed than a precise year count.

Maintaining or shipping a production mobile application. React Native and TypeScript/JavaScript experience is strongly preferred.

Strong Python development and comfort working in C/C++ or another language used for embedded, automation, or systems development.

Working hands-on with sensors, motors, motor drivers, actuators, microcontrollers, data acquisition, and basic electronics troubleshooting.

Rapid prototyping: defining a problem, building a solution, testing it with real hardware, diagnosing failures, and iterating.

Git, code review, automated testing, and dependable software release practices.

Using AI coding assistants effectively while independently validating generated output and maintaining high standards for quality, correctness, security, and safety.

Communicating clearly, documenting your work, operating independently, and collaborating effectively across software, hardware, lab, product, and operations teams.

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor or transfer visas at this time.

Although not required, we’d love to see roots in:

Prior experience in a fast-paced, start-up environment.

Mobile application release management for the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi, USB, serial, CAN, I2C, SPI, or other device communication protocols.

Linux-based edge computing, microcontrollers, real-time systems, or embedded firmware.

Laboratory instrumentation, robotics, industrial controls, motion control, or machine vision.

Cloud APIs, backend services, databases, or telemetry systems.

Reading schematics and designing or modifying straightforward custom electronics and PCBs using KiCad, Altium, or similar tools.

Mechanical prototyping, CAD, 3D printing, test fixtures, or design-for-assembly.

Agriculture, field-deployed technology, or other environments where software must perform reliably outside a traditional office setting.

Aside from “the green”, we can offer you:

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance - 90% funded by EarthOptics for benefit-eligible employees and 5