Contractual Robotics Software Engineer Jobs in Minnesota

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Who Are We?

The Toro Company is a homegrown, Minnesota-based company that has been in business since 1914. We pride ourselves on providing world-class equipment to help maintain the environment that we love, while putting an emphasis on giving back to the communities that surround us. From residential lawns and gardens, to venues such as St Andrews Links and Target Field, we are a company with a global footprint and a passion for helping people beautify whatever landscape they may be in. With 100 years of operation under our belt and a healthy tenure,come find out what makes The Toro Company the best place to build a career.

What Will You Do?

In order to grow and build a successful career with The Toro Company, you will be responsible for:

• Develop and integrate perception algorithms for autonomous outdoor robotic systems.
• Design solutions for:
  • Object and obstacle detection
  • Localization and state estimation
  • SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping)
  • Visual and LiDAR odometry
  • Terrain and traversability analysis
  • Sensor fusion
  • Free space and boundary detection
• Develop computer vision and machine learning solutions using monocular, stereo, and depth cameras.
• Process and analyze 2D and 3D sensor data, including point clouds and depth imagery.
• Integrate and evaluate sensors including cameras, LiDAR, GNSS, IMUs, radar, and ultrasonic sensors.
• Develop and maintain perception software within a ROS 2-based robotics architecture.
• Design modular perception software that supports future sensor and algorithm upgrades.
• Evaluate emerging perception technologies for performance, reliability, cost, and production readiness.
• Collect and analyze field data to identify failure modes and improve system performance.
• Develop testing tools, metrics, and validation methods using simulation, recorded datasets, and real-world testing.
• Validate perception algorithms through simulation prior to deployment.
• Optimize perception software for embedded platforms such as NVIDIA Jetson.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues involving sensors, localization, perception, planning, and vehicle controls.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including navigation, controls, embedded systems, machine learning, electrical engineering, and systems engineering.
• Participate in field testing and iterate solutions based on real-world performance results.
• Contribute to the architecture and future direction of autonomous perception systems.
• Full job description will be provided to final candidate at point of offer.

What Do You Need?

To be considered for this role, an individual should meet the following minimal requirements:

• Education: bachelor's degree in: Robotics, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Related technical field.
• Experience
  • Level III: Four to seven (4-7) years of experience
  • Level IV: Seven to ten (7-10) years of experience
  • Level V: Ten plus (10+) years of experience

Technical Skills

• Strong software development skills using C++ and/or Python.
• Experience developing software on Linux-based systems.
• Experience in robotics, autonomous systems, computer vision, or related perception technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively utilize AI-assisted development tools and AI agents for:
• Software development, Debugging, Code reviews, Technical research, Documentation, Automation.
• Understanding of: Coordinate frames, Transformations, 3D geometry & Rigid-body motion.

Experience with One or More of the Following

• Computer Vision
• LiDAR or Point Cloud Processing
• State Estimation and Sensor Fusion
• SLAM
• Localization
• Object Detection
• Machine Learning

Additional Requirements

• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work with physical robotic systems and troubleshoot issues spanning software, hardware, sensors, and networking.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary engineering team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree
• Experience with ROS/ROS 2 and modern robotics software development using C++.
• Experience with robotics perception technologies, including computer vision, LiDAR, point-cloud processing, localization, mapping, and sensor fusion.
• Experience with machine learning and perception deployment, including neural network-based solutions and embedded GPU platforms.
• Familiarity with perception and robotics development tools such as OpenCV, PCL, Eigen, PyTorch, TensorRT, CUDA, Docker, Git, and CI/CD practices.
• Experience developing autonomous systems for mobile robots, off-road vehicles, agricultural equipment, or other outdoor robotic platforms.
• Experience validating and optimizing robotics algorithms using simulation, recorded datasets, and real-world testing.

Work Environment

• Travel expected: 10% to other TTC locations.
• #LI-Onsite

What Can We Give You?

At The Toro Company, we are always working to make sure our employees know just how valued they are. In addition to a competitive salary, an affordable and top tier medical/dental/vision plan, 401k, and many other great benefits -The Toro company offers employees a variety of perks, including:

• Dress for your day - We know you're more productive when you're comfortable, which is why TTC employees are encouraged to take advantage of our casual, corporate environment.

• Volunteerism - The Toro Company is proud to provide employees 20 hours of paid time to volunteer in the community.

• Competitive Salary - The pay range takes into account skills, experience, education, and location. It is not common to be hired at or near the top of the range; compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the annual pay range is between $84,300 - $161,300. Cash compensation is one piece of our competitive total rewards package. You may be eligible to participate in an incentive program, which rewards employees based on individual and organizational performance. Eligibility and award amounts are determined by company policy and performance metrics. If you need to, you can access your pay early with the dailypay app.

At The Toro Company, we are committed to fostering a secure and trustworthy recruitment experience for our applicants. Recruitment fraud is a growing concern for job seekers, so please be aware that throughout our recruitment process, you'll never be required to pay any fees or disclose personal financial details when applying to TTC opportunities. All legitimate job opportunities must be applied for directly through our official careers page at jobs.thetorocompany.com or via Workday, our applicant tracking system.

The Toro Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants based on merit and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military service, or other non-merit factors. We are committed to creating a welcoming environment for all employees.