Senior Frontend Engineer

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective — providing operators with a decisive edge in contested environments. We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems — not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe, today. ABOUT THE Team Minerva Frontline is STARK's command and control software — the brain that connects operators to autonomous systems across multiple domains in real time. The Frontline team is based across Europe & the UK, working with our hardware teams to build mission-critical C2 capabilities for use in active operational environments. We move fast, ship real software, and operate under constraints most engineers never encounter — low-bandwidth networks, air-gapped devices, high-stakes decision loops. We are a tight-knit team of zero-ego, mission-driven developers. There is no room for abstraction for its own sake. Everything we build ends up in the hands of real operators in the field. If you want to build software which will make a tangible difference to the security of Europe, we want to hear from you. YOUR MISSION STARK is looking for a Senior Software Engineer (Frontend Systems) to expand our mission management software. We are not looking for someone who just works on Jira tickets. We need a frontend systems thinker who balances rapid delivery with the deep system understanding required to answer: 'What is the right solution for the overall system, and what is the frontend's role in it?' You will build and evolve the frontend as a robust, high-performance architecture. You have the high-agency to navigate the physical constraints of our hardware, challenge the backend with hard questions, and translate complex data streams into a clear, calm UI for operators under extreme cognitive load. While you actively provide impulses for our overall system evolution, your core focus remains hands-on engineering. We consistently rely on agentic AI workflows. While these agents accelerate development, they also introduce entirely new classes of technical challenges. Your role is to set strict architectural guardrails, rigorously orchestrate these agents, and collaborate with the team to solve the novel integration and quality problems that arise in this new engineering paradigm. RESPONSIBILITIES System Thinking through the Frontend Lens: You don't need to write path-planning algorithms, but you must understand how they constrain the UI. You engineer highly optimized frontend solutions that handle high-frequency telemetry and asynchronous data streams while strictly minimizing computational load to preserve critical battery life on field devices.Mission-Critical UI & UX: You translate complex data into immediate situational awareness. You understand UX as cognitive load management for operators under stress. You implement interfaces that are deterministic, error-tolerant, and relentlessly focused on providing clarity out of chaos.Strategic Sparring Partner: You align rapid delivery with long-term system health. Instead of just accepting what the backend provides, you proactively challenge APIs and data structures if they threaten frontend performance or the operator's experience.Mastering Agentic Workflows: You don't just prompt; you engineer alongside AI. You set strict architectural guardrails, rigorously validate outputs, and proactively solve the novel integration and quality challenges that arise in this new paradigm.Engineering for Extreme Constraints: Build high-performance, framework-less user interfaces (Vanilla TS, Web Components) that function flawlessly under extreme real-world conditions (low bandwidth, air-gapped networks).Collaborative Excellence: You are a team multiplier. You raise the level of the entire team by sharing knowledge, providing valuable impulses for our system design, and facilitating open, fact-based discussions with zero ego. WHAT YOU BRING Required AI-Engineering Competence: Practical experience integrating agent-based coding tools into your workflow. You understand how to structure architecture for AI, rigorously validate its output, and solve the novel integration challenges these tools create.System-Level Frontend Seniority: Deep, practical expertise in Vanilla TypeScript/JavaScript and the native web platform (DOM API, Event Loop, Memory Management). You view the frontend not as a collection of pages, but as a complex, stateful system interacting with the physical world.Constraint-Driven Engineering: The ability to engineer solutions that anticipate and mitigate hardware realities—specifically managing latency, handling data bursts, and optimizing for constrained compute and battery life.Mission-Oriented Execution: You balance the drive for rapid delivery with a critical mindset. You proactively question requirements and always evaluate technical decisions from the operator's perspective on the ground.Strong Team Player & Zero-Ego: You have the maturity to moderate technical decisions, compromise, and always put the mission above your own ego.Mobility: Ability to travel as needed. Nice to Have Practical experience building comprehensive design systems (ideally using native Web Components).Experience with real-time data streaming architectures (WebSockets, WebRTC) or handling high-frequency telemetry.Experience in geographic mapping, GIS, or complex Canvas/WebGL rendering in the browser.Experience working with unmanned systems, ideally in command-and-control, mission management, or operator-facing software. SECURITY CLEARANCE Due to the nature of our work in the defence sector, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance required for this position. Details will be provided during the recruitment process. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Send your CV in English to apply. We will be in touch shortly.