Principal Software Engineer (Rust)

The physical and digital worlds are merging. Vehicles, medical devices, industrial systems, critical infrastructure: security hasn't kept pace. AI is accelerating everything, from the capabilities of the systems we depend on to the sophistication of the threats targeting them. A software vulnerability can now have physical consequences. A physical breach can compromise entire digital ecosystems. Billions of devices operate with little to no protection, and traditional approaches can't keep up. Not at this scale, not at this speed, and not across this diversity of systems.

Exein exists to solve this. We build the security layer for a world where physical and digital threats are no longer separate problems, from kernel-level runtime protection on embedded devices to cloud-native platforms that analyze, protect, and prove compliance across entire device fleets. We're not patching the old model. We're building security from the core out.

The Role

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will help shape the technical direction of our cybersecurity platform: a distributed system that secures devices and infrastructure across the physical-digital boundary, from embedded systems to the cloud.

You'll lead the architecture of high-performance backend services and APIs in Rust, setting the standard for security, scalability, and reliability across the platform. Reporting directly to the CTO, you'll work in close contact with product, infrastructure, and security teams to drive key design decisions, mentor engineers, and contribute to the next generation of cybersecurity products for an AI-native world.

This is a foundational role. The decisions you make will directly determine what we can build and how fast we can move.

Responsibilities

• Shape the architecture of core backend services and platform components
• Lead the design and development of high-performance, secure systems in Rust
• Set engineering standards and best practices for scalability, reliability, and security
• Mentor engineers and guide critical design decisions across the team
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product, infrastructure, and security teams
• Build and evolve the infrastructure powering our AI agents, from autonomous threat detection to intelligent remediation workflows
• Influence long-term technical strategy while contributing hands-on to key parts of the system

Requirements

• Proven track record of building and shipping complex systems at scale
• 6+ years of experience with distributed systems in production
• Strong proficiency in Rust, or deep systems programming experience with a clear willingness to adopt Rust
• Experience defining software architecture and making technical strategy decisions that stuck
• Deep understanding of cloud-native architectures: microservices, containers, orchestration
• Solid knowledge of security principles, especially in backend or platform engineering
• Experience mentoring engineers and leading technical decision-making across teams

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with AI/ML systems and how they intersect with security, whether as a tool for detection or as a new attack surface
• Experience with embedded or IoT platforms
• Background in cybersecurity products or threat modeling

Why Join Us

• The problem matters. You'll build systems that secure the physical-digital boundary in a world where AI is reshaping both sides. Not another SaaS dashboard.
• You'll own it. Critical technical decisions, architecture from the ground up, direct influence on product and strategy, reporting to the CTO.
• The team is strong. Highly skilled, low-ego engineers in a fast-moving scale-up where speed and ownership are real, not slogans.
• The challenges are deep. Kernel-level security, distributed systems, embedded-to-cloud infrastructure: this is hard engineering with real constraints.
• You'll grow. Strong autonomy, technical leadership with room to expand your scope as we scale.

Location

Rome (Piazzale Flaminio 19, 00196). Hybrid, mandatory on-site presence required.

Additional Requirements

• Working in an onsite setting