Company

NestAI builds the adaptive operating system for modern battlefield operations. Most AI systems are built once, validated at deployment, and expected to stay sufficient after that. That assumption holds until conditions change, and in defence, they always do. Our team develops adaptive intelligence for unmanned and command systems: AI that continuously learns from operational data and adapts to changing conditions, deployed in environments where there is no internet, no GPS, and failure is not an option. NestOS, our open, modular, and interoperable platform, enables this at scale and keeps capability evolution under sovereign European control.

Founded in 2025 by Peter Sarlin, whose previous company Silo AI became Europe's largest AI acquisition, NestAI has grown to over 200 engineers and scientists and partners with leading European defence forces and industry. We're ambitious about what we're building and honest with each other. The bar is high, and so are the standards we hold ourselves to. But this is also a place built on humility, trust, and looking after each other. If that sounds like the kind of work you want to do, keep reading.

Join us as a Forward Deployed Embedded Engineer

We are looking for an experienced Forward Deployed Embedded Engineer to join our team. This is a role for a strong Python and C++ generalist who is comfortable working close to the hardware and thrives in dynamic, customer-facing environments. You will be embedded directly in our customers' development environments, helping shorten the path from development to fielded capability and ensuring our physical AI runs reliably in the field.

As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you will work at the intersection of our technology and our customers' operational reality. This path is dynamic and highly impactful: you will navigate shifting environments, collaborate with external stakeholders, and solve complex engineering challenges where adaptability is key.

What you will work on

• Embedding directly with customer teams to integrate, adapt, and validate our platform against real operational requirements.
• Writing solid, efficient Python and C++ code and making sensible tradeoffs around memory and power constraints as the deployment context demands.
• Leveraging and championing AI-assisted development tools to accelerate and enhance the coding process.
• Working in a "try and fail" environment where curiosity leads to breakthroughs. You will collaborate closely with the testing team and customer stakeholders to validate and iterate on platform performance.
• Integrating with sensors and microcontrollers as needed, ensuring the software works reliably with the physical systems it is deployed on.

What We're looking for

If your background doesn't match every requirement but the work resonates with you, we'd encourage you to apply. How you think, learn, and take ownership matters more to us than ticking every box. Here is what we are looking for:

• Solid experience (minimum of 3 years) in embedded or systems-level software development
• Strong general proficiency in Python and C++ and comfort working close to the hardware
• Ability to work independently in ambiguous, fast-changing environments and adapt to customer needs
• A strong mindset for AI-assisted programming. You have already adapted AI tools into your daily workflow to increase productivity and code quality.
• A team player who excels in the iterative cooperation required between development, testing, and customer stakeholders
• Experience in robotics, autonomous systems, or industrial automation is a plus; strong general engineering judgment and adaptability matter more than deep low-level optimization expertise here
• Experience with Robot Operating System (ROS)

Why join NestAI

• Work alongside over 200 engineers and scientists, including 60+ PhDs. People who have built AI platforms, autonomous systems, and defence technology across Europe. Most of our people say the best thing about NestAI is the people you get to work with.
• Work with real ownership. You identify what needs building, talk to the right people, and ship. Ownership here is the expectation, not a talking point.
• Work at a pace where Monday's idea can be Friday's deployment. The problems we are solving are urgent, so the culture reflects it.
• Work on systems that must operate with no connectivity, no GPS, and no margin for error. The problems we are solving are technically hard, genuinely novel, and they sit at the intersection of AI and the physical world.
• Work at a company where the platform, the practices, and the standards are all being built right now. The people here get to define how things work and how they scale.

What we offer

We offer practical benefits to support your work and wellbeing:

• The chance to participate in the NestAI Employee Stock Option Program (ESOP)
• Occupational healthcare (currently provided through Deel)
• Possibility to expense €200 annually for sports, culture, commuting, and wellbeing
• Mental wellbeing services via Auntie
• Your choice of Mac or PC and work phone
• Company events and the possibility to expense lunch every other Friday

We are continuously developing our benefits offering as we grow.

Practicalities

This role may require a security clearance, which is standard for defence industry positions in Estonia. You can start working at NestAI before the clearance is finalised. We are happy to answer any questions about the process during the recruitment

Relocation support is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please note, we can't accept applications sent via email.

NestAI is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate all applicants on their skills, experience, and potential, regardless of background, identity, or personal characteristics. We believe the best teams are built from diverse perspectives, and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can do meaningful work.