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 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!