Robotics Engineer I
About The Position
There are over 7 billion people on this planet. And by 2050, there will be 2 billion more... many moving into urban centers at an unprecedented rate. Making sure there is enough food, fiber and infrastructure for our rapidly growing world is what we're all about at John Deere. And it's why we're investing in our people and our technology like never before! Here the world's brightest minds are tackling the world's biggest challenges. If you believe one person can make the world a better place, we'll put you to work. RIGHT NOW. John Deere is an equal opportunity employer, including disabled & veterans. As a Robotics Engineer on the Orchard Autonomy team located in Santa Clara, CA you will develop and deploy robust robotics software that powers our autonomous agricultural vehicles in orchard environments. Additionally, you will:
Requirements
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to debug complex, real-time systems
- Eagerness to learn and grow. You will be mentored by senior engineers and expected to ramp up quickly on new technologies and domains
- Self-motivated and proactive; you identify improvements and take initiative without waiting for direction
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate in a cross-functional team
- Familiarity with software testing practices (unit testing, integration testing)
Nice To Haves
- Experience developing robotics software (C++, Python) with ROS/ROS2 or similar
- Experience with Linux-based development and version control (Git)
- Experience with autonomous vehicle or mobile robotics systems (perception, planning, localization, or controls)
- Experience with sensor integration (GPS, IMU, LiDAR, cameras) and sensor fusion techniques
- Familiarity with path planning algorithms, state machines, or behavior trees for autonomous systems
- Experience with Docker, CI/CD pipelines, and deployment workflows
- Exposure to safety-critical software development practices or functional safety standards
- Experience with outdoor robotics, field robotics applications, or agricultural equipment
- Familiarity with machine learning model integration or perception system outputs
- Experience working in agile development environments with distributed teams
Responsibilities
- Design and implement core autonomy systems including path planning, perception integration, and safety-critical behaviors
- Integrate software with vehicle hardware and validate performance through rapid iteration and field testing on real tractors
- Build reliable, production-quality ROS-based software for vehicle control, sensing, and operator interfaces
- Drive engineering excellence by improving code quality, testing frameworks, and documentation standards
Benefits
- Flexible work arrangements
- Highly competitive base pay and performance bonuses
- Savings & Retirement benefits (401K and Defined Contribution)
- Healthcare benefits with a generous company contribution in the Health Savings Account
- Adoption assistance
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Tuition assistance
- Fitness subsidies and on-site gyms at specific Deere locations
- Charitable contribution match
- Employee Purchase Plan & numerous discount programs for personal use
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
