Software Engineer — Software Platform & Middleware (Early Career)

Build the Software Platform Powering Next-Generation Mobility Apex.AI is developing the software foundation for autonomous systems, intelligent machines, and software-defined vehicles. We are looking for an early-career Software Engineer to help advance our core software platform technologies, including Apex.Grace and Apex.Ida. This role is ideal for recent university graduates or engineers with 1–2 years of experience who are passionate about modern C++, distributed systems, middleware, developer platforms, and systems software engineering. You will work alongside experienced engineers on high-performance middleware, runtime systems, developer tooling, and software infrastructure used in safety-critical and real-time environments. This is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience building production-quality software for automotive, robotics, aerospace, and industrial automation applications. We are looking for engineers who enjoy solving complex technical problems, learning deeply about software systems, and building tools and platforms that other developers rely on every day. This role is based in our Munich office. What You’ll Do • Contribute to the development and maintenance of core software components for Apex.AI products, particularly Apex.Grace and Apex.Ida • Help build software platform capabilities, middleware features, developer tooling, and runtime infrastructure • Support improvements in performance, reliability, scalability, and maintainability across the platform stack • Assist in debugging and resolving complex software and system-level issues • Develop automated tests, CI workflows, and engineering tooling • Collaborate closely with platform, product, and applications teams to deliver production-quality software • Participate in code reviews, technical discussions, and software design activities • Learn and apply engineering best practices for modern C++ and systems software development • Contribute ideas and improvements to developer workflows and platform usability What You Bring • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Robotics, or a related technical field • Strong foundation in software engineering and computer science fundamentals • Experience with modern C++ through coursework, internships, personal projects, or early professional work • Familiarity with Python or scripting languages • Experience developing software on Linux-based systems • Interest in distributed systems, middleware, runtime systems, or embedded software • Strong debugging, analytical, and problem-solving skills • Familiarity with Git and modern software development workflows • Strong written and verbal communication skills • Curiosity, ownership mentality, and eagerness to learn new technologies Nice to Have • Exposure to middleware or communication technologies such as ROS/ROS 2, DDS, shared memory IPC, or networking APIs • Familiarity with TCP/IP, sockets programming, or Linux system programming • Experience with CI/CD workflows and automated testing • Exposure to robotics, autonomous systems, or embedded software projects • Familiarity with build systems such as CMake or Bazel • Understanding of distributed systems concepts or real-time systems • Interest in automotive software, intelligent machines, or software-defined vehicles • Internship or academic experience involving systems programming or developer platforms Why Apex.AI • Build foundational platform technology used in real-world autonomous and intelligent systems • Learn from highly experienced engineers working on technically challenging problems • Gain hands-on experience with middleware, runtime systems, and developer infrastructure • Engineering-driven culture with meaningful ownership,