---
title: 'Backend Software Engineer at CHAOS Industries'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/backend-software-engineer-chaos-industries-san-francisco-california-fpr055cp39y5'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-11'
---

# Backend Software Engineer at CHAOS Industries

- **Company:** CHAOS Industries
- **Location:** San Francisco California, United States
- **Posted:** 2026-08-20
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chaosindustries/jobs/5217529007

## Job description

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage—domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats.

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, and London. For more information, please visit [www.chaosinc.com](https://www.chaosinc.com).

## The Role

You’ll join a small, highly collaborative team building the secure cloud platform behind some of the world’s most advanced radar systems. Working alongside software, hardware, and systems engineers, you’ll design and operate the backend services and cloud infrastructure that ingest, process, and deliver mission-critical sensor data at scale. The systems you build must be reliable, resilient, secure, and performant—enabling operators to depend on them in the environments where they matter most. This is a high-ownership role where you’ll influence architecture, build production systems, and help define the engineering foundations of a rapidly evolving platform. We’re looking for engineers who enjoy solving hard infrastructure problems, scaling distributed systems, and building software that performs under demanding real-world conditions.

## What You’ll Build

- Cloud Platform – Design, build, and operate secure, scalable Azure infrastructure that powers distributed radar systems and backend services.
- Backend Services – Develop high-performance services that ingest, process, and distribute real-time sensor data with low latency, high reliability, and security at scale.
- Infrastructure & Automation – Define infrastructure as code, automate deployments, and continuously improve the platform through modern DevOps practices.
- Reliability & Operations – Own observability, monitoring, resiliency, and operational readiness, ensuring production systems remain secure, scalable, and dependable in demanding environments.
- Platform Architecture – Help shape the technical direction of the platform, making architectural decisions that support new capabilities, increasing scale, and long-term maintainability.
- Cross-Functional Integration – Partner closely with software, hardware, and systems engineers to deliver secure, reliable end-to-end capabilities from sensor to cloud.

## What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for exceptional backend and cloud engineers who are excited by solving hard technical problems and building systems that matter. You don’t need experience with every technology we use—we value strong engineering fundamentals, curiosity, and the ability to learn quickly. You’ll thrive in this role if you:

- Enjoy building scalable backend systems and taking ownership of production services.
- Enjoy solving complex cloud infrastructure and distributed systems challenges.
- Are eager to learn new technologies and adapt to new technical domains.
- Care deeply about reliability, security, scalability, and operational excellence.
- Communicate well and enjoy collaborating across software, hardware, and systems engineering teams.
- Are motivated by building technology with meaningful real-world impact.

Experience in one or more of the following is a plus:

- Python and modern backend development.
- Azure or another major cloud platform.
- Infrastructure as Code (Terraform), Kubernetes, containers, and CI/CD.
- Real-time data pipelines or distributed systems.
- Frontend development using modern web technologies (TypeScript/React) or a willingness to work across the stack when needed.

Requirements:

- Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen or permanent resident), as required for access to controlled technology.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Why CHAOS?

- Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
- Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more
- Our Perks: Free daily lunch, ‘No meeting Fridays’, unlimited PTO, casual dress code
- Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
- Team Growth: 250 employees and counting across 5 global offices

$130k-220k

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.

Recruiting Agencies: CHAOS Industries does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach. Unsolicited submissions will not be reviewed or compensated.

#LI-onsite

## About CHAOS Industries

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: CHAOS Industries develops multi-application defense technologies, including radar, detection, and electronic warfare systems powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), to deliver domain dominance for warfighters and critical infrastructure.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series D, Unicorn)
- **Headquarters**: Los Angeles, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2022
- **Founders**: John T. (CEO), Bo Marr (Co-founder & CTO), Brett Cummings (Co-founder & President)

## Core Business
- Primary industry: Defense and Space Manufacturing
- Target customers: U.S. Department of Defense (Army, Air Force, Navy), allied governments, border protection agencies, commercial air operators
- Mission: Redefining modern defense by giving warfighters and operators the ultimate advantage through faster sensing, detection, and effects.

## Products & Services
- **Hydra Platform**: A multi-application software-defined platform providing land-based, sea-based, and air-based detection, communications, and electronic effects. It is the core operating system for CHAOS’s product portfolio.
- **VANQUISH**: A distributed early-warning radar system designed for air defense and counter-UAS (CUAS) missions. It provides long-range detection (up to 250 km) at a low cost per square kilometer ($100/km²).
- **Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™)**: The proprietary technology that enables time-synchronized networking of sensors and effectors, improving sensing, detection, and engagement capabilities across a wide area.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: $4.5 billion (as of November 2025, per Series D announcement)
- **Total Funding**: $1.002 billion across four rounds
  - Series A (March 2023): $70M led by 8VC
  - Series B (November 2024): $145M led by Accel
  - Series C (May 2025): $275M led by New Enterprise Associates and Accel
  - Series D (November 2025): $510M led by Valor Equity Partners, with continued backing from 8VC and Accel
- **Annual Revenue**: $75M (estimated)
- **Notable Investors**: Valor Equity Partners, Accel, 8VC, New Enterprise Associates, AFWERX, Overmatch Ventures
- **Key Partners**: U.S. Army (added to G‑TEAD Marketplace in December 2025)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Headcount grew 100% YoY (to 143 employees)
  - Active job postings increased 534.8% YoY
  - Acquired Ziva Corporation (November 2025) and CHAOS INDUSTRIES UK LIMITED
  - Added to the U.S. Army’s G‑TEAD Marketplace for accelerated acquisition
  - Expanded presence to Washington DC, San Francisco, San Diego, London, and Amman

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proprietary CDN™ Technology**: A unique time-synchronized networking approach that enables a distributed, software-defined sensor grid, replacing monolithic Cold War-era radar systems.
- **Speed to Market**: The company’s products are being added to government acquisition marketplaces (e.g., G‑TEAD) within months of launch, demonstrating rapid fielding capability.
- **Talent Density**: Strong hiring from top defense tech companies (Anduril, Palantir, Epirus, RTX, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman) and a high proportion of technical staff (36% of workforce).
- **Government Traction**: Direct integration with the U.S. Army and Air Force acquisition pathways, plus a dedicated federal lobbying team.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scaling Production**: Moving from R&D to mass production of radar and effector systems, with a focus on cost reduction ($100/km² protection).
- **International Expansion**: Building business development teams in Europe (London) and the Middle East (Amman) to capture allied defense markets.
- **Product Portfolio Diversification**: Expanding beyond radar into electronic warfare, communications, and effector systems through the Hydra platform and acquisitions.
- **Talent Acquisition**: Aggressively hiring across engineering, business development, and operations to support rapid growth.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-Driven Work**: Employees work on “the world’s most urgent problems”—restoring American air superiority and protecting critical infrastructure.
- **Rapid Growth Trajectory**: The company has grown from a startup to a $4.5B unicorn in three years, offering significant career advancement opportunities.
- **Engineering Culture**: 36% of the workforce is in technical roles, with a focus on cutting-edge radar, signal processing, and machine learning. Key leadership includes a VP of Machine Learning.
- **Location Flexibility**: Offices in Los Angeles (HQ), Washington DC, San Francisco, San Diego, London, and Amman. Roles span multiple locations.
- **Compensation**: Employee reviews rate compensation at 4.5/5.0.
- **Veteran-Friendly**: The company actively recruits veterans.
- **Recent Departures Note**: Some senior leaders (VP ML Infra, Operations Partner) have left in early 2026, suggesting a high-intensity environment.

## Sources
1. [chaosinc.com](https://www.chaosinc.com/)
2. [Greenhouse Careers](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chaosindustries)
3. [CB Insights](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/chaos-industries)
4. [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/chaosindustries)
5. [chaosinc.com/team](https://www.chaosinc.com/team)

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