Principal Robotics Software Engineer

Role Description

We are seeking a Principal Robotics Software Engineer to provide technical leadership and architectural vision on Blue River Technology's Robotics Team. In this role, you will lead the design, development, and execution of complex software systems for our autonomous platforms. Serving as a key technical authority, you will work across multiple Blue River and John Deere engineering groups to change vehicle safety behavior, control the vehicle, and access valuable data signals. You will guide architectural decisions, mentor engineers, and partner with hardware, perception, and product leaders to turn ambitious autonomy into robust, safety-critical production software.

Job Responsibilities

• Vehicle Control & Cross-Group Collaboration: Work across multiple Deere engineering groups to change vehicle safety behavior, control the vehicle, and unlock valuable data signals that improve machine intelligence, autonomy, and customer outcomes.
• Technical Leadership & Vision: Drive the technical vision and software architecture across multi-quarter robotics initiatives, establishing design patterns and engineering best practices for the team.
• System Architecture & Strategy: Architect, design, and maintain high-performance, fault-tolerant software systems for robotics (e.g., motion planning, controls, state estimation, spatial awareness, or fleet management).
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Partner closely with Robotics, Perception, Machine Learning, Hardware, Systems Engineering, and Product teams to define software requirements, hardware-software interfaces, and system-level validation plans.
• Code & System Quality: Champion software quality through rigorous coding standards, automated testing, continuous integration, and real-world software deployment protocols to ensure high reliability in production environments.
• Mentorship & Growth: Guide, coach, and elevate senior, mid-level, and junior engineers through technical design reviews, clean code practices, and system-level troubleshooting.
• Innovation & Technical Direction: Stay ahead of industry trends in robotics, AI/ML, dynamic controls, and real-time computing to continually evolve the robotics platform.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with at least 4+ years in a Principal or Staff-level capacity within robotics, autonomous vehicles, aerospace, or heavy machinery automation.
• Expert-level proficiency in modern C++ and Python within Linux-based development environments.
• Deep hands-on experience with core robotics frameworks (e.g., ROS / ROS 2, CyberRT) and key domains such as motion planning, kinematics, trajectory generation, localization, perception, or control theory.
• Demonstrated experience with multi-threaded C++ applications, basic IPC, and writing software that interfaces with physical hardware or sensors (e.g., LIDAR, cameras, IMUs, GPS).
• Exceptional ability to zoom out to high-level system architecture and zoom in to debug complex hardware-software integration edge cases.
• Strong capability to balance long-term architectural beauty with short-term shipping velocity.
• Ability to build alignment across multi-disciplinary engineering, product, and leadership teams through technical excellence and clear communication.
• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Robotics, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS), low-latency system optimization, memory management, and real-time networking stacks (e.g., CAN, Ethernet).
• Experience with physics simulation environments (e.g., Isaac Sim, Gazebo, Webots).
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) setups and complex multi-sensor fusion pipelines.
• Familiarity with safety-critical system design or functional safety standards (e.g., ISO 26262, IEC 61508).

Benefits

• Base pay range: $174,000 – $305,000/year, depending on experience, qualifications, education, location, and skills.
• Eligible for an annual performance bonus.
• Competitive benefit package.

Company Description

Blue River Technology is based in Santa Clara, CA. We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We support each employee in living a full life, enabling a thriving career, and accomplishing a meaningful, challenging mission while collaborating with incredible people.