Frontend Tech Lead

Who we are

Picogrid is a leading venture-backed defense technology company founded to bridge the decades-long gap between modern technology and the critical demands of national security. Today, we're building the essential infrastructure to unify sensors, autonomy, and operators with our technology deployed in active operations around the world. Our mission is to deliver an operational advantage to secure the United States and its allies.

We’re looking for a hands-on Frontend Tech Lead to own the front end of Orion for base defense and fleet management built on top of Legion. This is a high-impact, high-autonomy role where you’ll shape a real-time geospatial UI that integrates live video, maps, and controls for complex defense systems. You’ll be the primary technical owner for Orion’s frontend, working closely with product, design, and customers to turn ambiguous needs into a shipping product. The role is front-end–heavy (React / TypeScript), but you should be comfortable working across the stack when needed.

• Own the Orion frontend end-to-end, leading architecture, implementation, and evolution of the React/TypeScript codebase.

• Ensure the codebase remains modular, maintainable, and scalable across various mission profiles.

• Set technical direction, coding standards, and best practices for front-end development.

• Mentor other engineers and help build/lead the team around Orion as we grow.

• Design and build real-time, geospatial interfaces capable of rendering thousands of entities with sub-second latencies.

• Optimize UIs for performance in low-bandwidth/constrained environments (e.g., military networks).

• Act as de facto product owner for parts of Orion, defining requirements, scope, and trade-offs with PMs.

• Collaborate with design to build, maintain, and iterate on a design system, ensuring consistent, high-quality UI across the product.

• Make pragmatic decisions that prioritize customer value and business impact.

• Collaborate closely with PMs, designers, and engineers across other teams.

• Participate in occasional customer conversations/site visits (1–2 times per year) to understand real-world workflows.

• Strong experience building production front-end applications with React and TypeScript (or equivalent modern web stack).

• Demonstrated ability to own complex features/products end-to-end in production.

• Solid intuition for UX/UI.

• Comfortable operating in ambiguity, taking fuzzy problems and driving toward concrete solutions.

• Strong ownership mindset focused on shipping customer value and delivering robust, usable solutions.

• Experience with real-time, data-heavy, or geospatial applications (e.g., maps, tracking, control systems, fleet management).

• Experience with Deck.gl, Mapbox / MapLibre

• Full-stack or generalist experience, comfortable contributing to the backend when needed.

• Experience mentoring or leading engineers, or interest in growing into team leadership.

• High-agency, "go-getter" who enjoys high-ownership roles and shaping product/architecture in a fast-moving startup environment.

• Collaborative and motivated by working on mission-critical, real-world problems.

• Background in defense, aerospace, robotics, or other complex hardware/software systems, including mission control–style UIs.

• Experience working in startups or other fast-paced environments

• Track record of leadership demonstrated through management, public service, community organizing, or similar experience

• Base salary range: $185,000 - $220,000 per year. Base salary is just one part of your total compensation package at Picogrid.

• Significant stock options with a high potential upside as an early-stage company

• 401(k) with employer matching

• Full health coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance)

• Relocation assistance provided

• Unlimited PTO (two-week minimum) and 11 paid holidays per year

• Paid parental leave for both parents

• Lunch provided when working in-office and fully stocked kitchenette

• Free EV charging at the HQ

• Unique office in El Segundo, CA stocked with quality coffee, snacks, and craft beer

Export Control Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.