Freelance Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Secaucus, NJ

Alta Ares is an air defense Neoprime. We build AI-guided interceptors to counter drones and cruise missiles, along with the software platform that powers them.

Our customers are NATO-aligned militaries and defense institutions, and our systems are regularly deployed during live exercises and operational demonstrations across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Founded in 2024, we have grown to 90 people, raised over $60M, and increased revenue 40× this year. We are now entering a new phase of international expansion, industrial scaling, fundraising, and product development.

This VIE is Alta Ares' software engineering presence in the United States — a critical market where the company is actively developing its commercial and technical footprint. Based in New York City alongside the GM North America, you will contribute directly to Alta Ares' core software development while serving as the technical bridge between the US market and the Engineering team in Paris.

You will work on real product features — not internal tooling or peripheral tasks. You will contribute to the AI, computer vision, and embedded software stack that underpins Alta Ares' ISR and C-UAS platforms, while gaining exposure to the US defence tech ecosystem and working alongside some of the most ambitious engineers in European deeptech.

1. Software Development & Product Contribution

• Contribute to the development of Alta Ares' core software stack: real-time AI inference, computer vision pipelines, sensor fusion, and/or GCS software

• Write clean, well-tested, production-grade code in Python and/or C++ across backend, embedded, or AI/ML layers depending on your profile

• Participate in code reviews, architectural discussions, and sprint planning with the Engineering team in Paris

• Develop and maintain unit tests, integration tests, and CI/CD pipelines

• Contribute to the improvement of internal development tooling and engineering practices

2. US Market Technical Support

• Provide technical support for client demonstrations, proof-of-concept deployments, and field activities in the US

• Assist the GM North America in preparing technical materials: capability decks, architecture briefs, and demo environments

• Adapt or configure software builds for US client requirements and operational environments

• Participate in technical meetings with US defence clients, partners, and primes as the engineering representative on the ground

3. Paris–NYC Engineering Coordination

• Serve as the technical bridge between the NYC office and the Engineering team in Paris

• Ensure smooth knowledge transfer, sprint alignment, and technical documentation across time zones

• Contribute to the adaptation of Alta Ares' products to US-specific requirements: interface standards, operational protocols, and potential ITAR compliance considerations

• Relay US market and client technical feedback into the product roadmap discussions with CTO and Engineering leads

• 0–3 years of experience — open to recent engineering graduates and early-career software engineers

• Currently holding or recently completing a degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related technical field from a top-tier institution

• Solid foundations in Python and/or C++ — you write clean, readable, maintainable code

• Genuine interest in AI, computer vision, real-time systems, or embedded software

• Prior exposure to defence, aerospace, robotics, or deeptech is a strong plus

• English fluency — mandatory: working language in NYC and with US clients

• French fluency — mandatory: Engineering team, codebase, and technical documentation are in French and English

• Proactive, autonomous, and comfortable operating in a lean, fast-moving startup environment

• Curious and collaborative: you ask good questions, learn fast, and work effectively across time zones

VIE Eligibility: French or EU nationality — mandatory. Aged 18 to 28 at mission start. No prior VIE with the same company