Software Engineer (Early Careers)
About this role
Helsing needs talented early-career engineers to build sovereign AI and mission-critical software capabilities that protect democracies under unorthodox technical constraints. Engineers in this role will develop AI-based capabilities and enabling infrastructure that allow semi-autonomous platforms to navigate, perceive, and localise in real time across constantly changing environments. This craft-first hiring path exists to bypass artificial barriers like traditional resume screening, evaluating candidates directly on their proof of work instead of pedigree.
Successful candidates will thrive on figuring out unfamiliar systems, reasoning through complex problems independently without relying on LLMs, and collaborating closely with peers through code reviews and pair programming. People who value ethical considerations as an inherent part of software engineering and want to tackle unique technical challenges will find a fitting home in these Deployed AI and Software Engineering teams.
What you will do
- Develop AI-based capabilities and enabling infrastructure for semi-autonomous platforms operating in real time.
- Collaborate with team members through code reviews, pair programming, and technical discussions.
- Solve complex algorithmic and systems-level challenges independently using your own technical reasoning.
- Articulate complex architectural decisions and trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Deconstruct unfamiliar systems and investigate technical problems deeply to understand how they function.
What you need
- Communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
- Demonstrate engineering depth and craft through solid architectural choices, high-quality code, and systems-level thinking.
- Possess first-principles problem-solving abilities to deconstruct complex technical challenges autonomously.
- Write and reason about code independently without relying on LLMs.
- View ethical considerations as an inherent part of software engineering.
Nice to have
- Experience with Python and Rust
- Familiarity with backend interface tools like REST, GraphQL, gRPC/Protocol Buffers, and Arrow
- Knowledge of container-based, cloud-native and edge application architectures
- Experience with hardware interfaces such as Arduino
- Knowledge of robotics including control systems
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
How does the BSA2A application process work for early-career engineers?
You apply by submitting a short, prerecorded video walkthrough of a technically compelling project you have built. Selected candidates then move into an accelerated technical assessment consisting of a project deep dive and a live coding session.
Can I use Large Language Models (LLMs) during the technical interviews?
Helsing operates in environments where LLM use is not always permitted. Consequently, interviews are designed to let engineers succeed on the strength of their own independent thinking and coding abilities.
Who will evaluate my initial video submission?
Every video is evaluated directly by a Helsing engineer rather than an algorithm or automated keyword filter. This craft-first evaluation focuses entirely on your proof of work.