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Robotics Software Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Robotics Software Engineer

Palo Alto, CA ยท On-site

$100 - $150/hr

Focus on developer experience and system ergonomics, ensuring that the platform scales across robots, tasks, and environments Qualifications * Strong experience building robotics software systems and ...

Robotics Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$180 - $250/hr

Robotics Software Engineer Location: San Francisco Bay Area Employment Type: Full-Time Work Arrangement: On-Site Department: Engineering About the Opportunity An early-stage robotics company is ...

Robotics Software Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$120K - $195K/yr

Build internal tools, scripts, and workflows that improve developer velocity, testing efficiency ... Robotics Software Fundamentals : Experience working with one or more core robotics domains such as ...

Robotics Software Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$120K - $195K/yr

Build internal tools, scripts, and workflows that improve developer velocity, testing efficiency ... Robotics Software Fundamentals : Experience working with one or more core robotics domains such as ...

Robotics Software Engineer

Palo Alto, CA ยท On-site

$100 - $140/hr

Location Palo Alto Employment Type Full time Location Type On-site Department Software Engineering We look for Robotics Software Engineers with a proven record of building high-performance middleware ...

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Robotics Software Developer information

See California salary details

$47.4K

$110.4K

$163.8K

How much do robotics software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for robotics software developer in California is $110,380.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,800.00 and $128,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a robotics software developer do?

A Robotics Software Developer designs, develops, and maintains the software that controls robotic systems. They write code that enables robots to sense their environment, make decisions, and perform tasks autonomously or semi-autonomously. These developers often work with embedded systems, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to improve robot performance. Their work is essential for applications ranging from manufacturing automation to healthcare and service robots.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a robotics software developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Robotics Software Developer, you need strong programming skills in languages such as C++, Python, or ROS, along with a background in computer science, engineering, or robotics. Familiarity with robotics simulation platforms (e.g., Gazebo), version control systems (e.g., Git), and experience with sensor integration and real-time operating systems are typically required. Problem-solving, teamwork, and effective communication are essential soft skills to excel in multidisciplinary environments. These abilities ensure reliable development, integration, and deployment of robotic systems that meet both technical and user requirements.

What are some common challenges faced by robotics software developers in integrating hardware and software components?

Robotics Software Developers often encounter challenges related to ensuring seamless communication between software algorithms and diverse hardware components like sensors, actuators, and controllers. Differences in hardware specifications, real-time constraints, and debugging low-level hardware interactions can add complexity to development. Collaborating closely with hardware engineers is essential to address issues quickly and optimize system performance. Staying up to date with new frameworks and tools, such as ROS (Robot Operating System), also helps streamline integration and testing.

What is the difference between Robotics Software Developer vs Mechatronics Engineer?

AspectRobotics Software DeveloperMechatronics Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science, Robotics, or related field; programming certificationsBachelor's in Mechatronics, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering
Work EnvironmentSoftware development teams, labs, robotics companiesDesign, integrate mechanical and electronic systems, manufacturing settings
Industry UsageRobotics firms, automation companies, research labsManufacturing, automation, product design
Common Search/ComparisonYesNo

Robotics Software Developers focus on programming and developing software for robotic systems, while Mechatronics Engineers work on designing and integrating mechanical, electronic, and software components. Both roles often collaborate but differ mainly in their core responsibilities and skill sets.

What job categories do people searching Robotics Software Developer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Robotics Software Developer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Robotics Software Developer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Robotics Software Developer job openings:

Infographic showing various Robotics Software Developer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,380 per year, or $53.1 per hour.

Robotics Software Engineer

Mind Robotics Inc.

Palo Alto, CA โ€ข On-site

$100 - $150/hr

Other

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

The Role

At Mind Robotics, weโ€™re building generalized physical AIโ€”robotic systems capable of dexterous, adaptive, and reasoning-intensive work in real-world industrial environments. Delivering this in production requires robust, high-performance robotics software that can reliably operate in complex, real-world settings.

Weโ€™re looking for a Robotics Software Engineer to build the runtime systems, middleware, and developer infrastructure that power our robotic platformsโ€”from low-level execution to operator-facing tools.

Responsibilities
  • Design, develop, and maintain runtime systems that enable reliable, low-latency operation of robotic platforms

  • Ensure robustness of robotics systems across real-world deployment scenarios

  • Implement and optimize robotics middleware for inter-process communication, data serialization, and message passing

  • Integrate with frameworks like DDS, Zenoh, or build custom solutions as needed

  • Build systems for task scheduling, resource management, and lifecycle management of robotic applications

  • Enable scalable and modular execution of complex robotic behaviors

  • Ensure that robotics systems meet strict latency and reliability requirements

  • Optimize for resource-constrained and embedded environments

  • Develop tools to monitor system health, debug failures, and analyze performance

  • Design and maintain deployment workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and containerization (e.g., Docker)

  • Build abstractions, APIs, and tools that enable application engineers to develop robotic behaviors efficiently

  • Contribute to operatorโ€‘facing tools (e.g., UI for monitoring, control, and data annotation workflows)

  • Focus on developer experience and system ergonomics, ensuring that the platform scales across robots, tasks, and environments

Qualifications
  • Strong experience building robotics software systems and middleware

  • Experience designing and building runtime systems, execution frameworks, or middleware layers

  • Strong understanding of distributed systems and communication patterns in robotics

  • Experience working with realโ€‘time constraints and performance-critical systems

  • Strong proficiency in Python programming

  • Familiarity with robotics middleware frameworks (e.g., DDS, Zenoh, ROS2)

  • Experience with containerization, CI/CD, and codebase management at scale

  • Ability to design clean abstractions and APIs for internal users

  • Experience building tools or interfaces for operators or engineers

Nice to Have
  • Background in building operator tools or robotics UIs

  • Experience supporting ML-driven robotic systems

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