Senior Software Engineer

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Department: Engineering

Senior Software Engineer

Parallel Systems is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design, build, and optimize critical system applications. You will work on high-performance backend systems that empower our rail vehicles to navigate the rail network safely and securely, as well as interface with customer’s train control systems. This role requires deep expertise in systems programming and the ability to build robust, efficient software solutions. 

Responsibilities: 

• Design and implement high-performance, low-latency backend systems for critical train control applications. 
• Develop and maintain system-level software written primarily in Rust. 
• Optimize existing codebases for scalability, performance, and reliability. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to architect fault-tolerant and distributed systems. 
• Ensure software meets security, compliance, and performance standards. 
• Conduct performance profiling, debugging, and system diagnostics for complex issues. 
• Contribute to code reviews, technical discussions, and best practices within the team. 

What Success Looks Like:

• After 30 Days: You’ve ramped up quickly, developed a deep understanding of our backend systems, and are actively contributing to high-impact feature development that improves the performance and reliability of our train systems.
• After 60 Days: You’ve taken initiative in designing a scalable architecture for integrating with customer enterprise systems. You’ve outlined a clear and realistic implementation plan, including milestones for development, testing, and deployment.
• After 90 Days: You have implemented and tested major features in simulation and on real hardware at the test site and have taken the lead on the future path of our back-office systems.

Basic Requirements: 

• 5+ years of experience in backend or systems-level software development. 
• Professional experience in C, C++, Rust, or other systems programming languages. 
• Strong understanding of operating systems, networking, and concurrency models. 
• Experience building highly available, high-performance systems. 
• Proficiency with Linux environments, low-level system interactions, and memory management. 
• Strong debugging and performance optimization skills for complex distributed systems. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience with Rust in production or a strong desire to work with Rust. 
• Experience in safety critical application spaces such as autonomous vehicles, industrial control equipment, or aerospace. 
• Experience in or knowledge of rail control systems is greatly preferred. 
• Familiarity with cloud-based architectures and containerized environments (Docker, Kubernetes).