Backend Team Lead (C++)

Description XTEND, a global leader in advanced human-guided autonomous drone systems, is looking for a Backend Team Lead to join our R&D organization and lead the development of the core software powering our real-time autonomous and mission-critical systems used by defense and security forces worldwide. In this role, you will combine hands-on technical leadership with people management, guiding a team of backend developers while actively contributing to the design and implementation of high-performance C++ systems. You will play a central role in shaping the technical direction of backend development, ensuring scalability, robustness, and production-readiness of mission-critical systems operating in real-world environments. This is a unique opportunity to lead and influence development at the intersection of robotics, autonomy, and high-performance software engineering. Responsibilities Lead, mentor, and grow a team of backend developers, fostering ownership, accountability, and technical excellence Take full ownership of backend delivery, from design through production deployment Act as a hands-on contributor to high-performance C++ development in real-time and mission-critical environments Collaborate closely with diverse (software and hardware) teams across all XTEND to deliver integrated solutions Ensure high performance, reliability, and efficient resource utilization in production systems Conduct code and design reviews, enforce best practices, and maintain high development standards Manage sprint planning, task prioritization, technical roadmap alignment, and delivery timelines within an Agile framework Support recruitment, onboarding, and professional development of backend engineers Requirements 7+ years of hands-on software development experience, including strong expertise in C++ Proven experience leading or mentoring engineers in a technical team environment Strong system design and architectural experience Deep understanding of software engineering fundamentals: OOP, memory management, multithreading, and concurrency Experience developing complex real-time software Strong experience working in Linux environments Experience with Git-based workflows and modern development tools Strong ownership mindset and ability to lead technical initiatives end-to-end Advantages Experience with ROS2 and robotics software stacks Familiarity with DDS-based communication protocols Background in robotics, autonomous systems, or real-time distributed systems Experience with Docker and containerized deployments Experience scaling teams or leading multi-disciplinary projects Apply now to join XTEND and be a key player in transforming the future of human-machine interaction!