Senior Software Engineer - Controls & Automation
Role summary
Earth is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to develop and implement real-time control systems for their proprietary vessel technology used in natural organic reduction. This hands-on role focuses on building software that directly controls physical processes, managing sensors, decision-making, and hardware coordination. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in Python for control systems, experience building production systems, and a systems-minded approach to reliability and observability. This is a remote-first position with a mission to provide sustainable end-of-life alternatives.
Requirements for role:
- Python for real-time/control systems.
- Experience as a software engineer building production systems (if your experience is primarily embedded/firmware, this role is not a fit).
- Someone who has built components of a control system from scratch (experience limited to PLC programming or configuring off-the-shelf automation systems is not sufficient for this role).
About Earth
At Earth, we’re transforming the end-of-life experience by offering a sustainable alternative to cremation and burial. Our process, natural organic reduction (NOR), gently transforms a body into nutrient-rich soil in ~45 days. Powered by our proprietary vessel technology, we precisely control temperature, moisture, oxygen, and nutrients to recreate natural processes.
Earth is the national leader, backed by major investors, and growing quickly.
The Role
- This is a software engineering role, not an embedded or firmware role
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- We’re seeking a Senior Software Engineer to bring our process controls and scientific models into a real-time software system that operates our vessels.
- You will not be writing low-level firmware or working primarily in C/C++ on microcontrollers. This role focuses on higher-level control systems, orchestration, and real-time decisioning in Python.
- This is not a typical SaaS role. You’ll be building software that directly controls physical systems in the real world.
- This is a senior, hands-on role with significant ownership over how our vessels operate. You’ll collaborate cross-functionally to ensure consistent, scalable, and safe vessel behavior across all of our facilities.
What You’ll Do
- Own the vessel controls architecture across sensors, embedded controllers, and supervisory software (HMI, edge, cloud).
- Implement simple control processes and work toward automation and optimization longer term.
- Build systems that ingest sensor data, make real-time decisions (e.g. temperature, airflow, moisture), and coordinate actions across hardware systems.
- Drive reliability and observability of live vessels through telemetry, safety interlocks, and anomaly detection tools.
- Partner with Science, Product, Firmware, Hardware, and Operations teams.
About You
- This role is not a fit if your experience is primarily in embedded systems, firmware development, or PLC-based automation without building software systems from scratch.
- 5-8 years of software experience, including 2-3 years working with control systems or physical systems.
- Systems-minded engineer comfortable working across software, hardware, and process automation.
- Proficiency in Python for real-time/control systems.
- Experience with industrial protocols or messaging systems (MQTT or similar).
- Strong focus on building simple, reliable, observable systems.
- Motivated by work that has real-world, environmental impact.
Preferred
- Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or similar (or equivalent practical experience)
- Familiarity with modern DevOps (GitLab CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes)
Role Location & Travel Expectations
Occasional travel to U.S. facilities for vessel commissioning projects.
Why Earth
- Mission-driven work
- Competitive salary + equity
- Remote-first environment
- Medical, dental, vision
- 401(k) plan
- Unlimited PTO