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Robotics Software Developer Jobs in Sunnyvale, CA

Intuitive

Robotics Software Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

The ideal candidate is a self-driven software engineer with strong problem-solving skills, deep expertise C++ and robotics algorithms. Essential Job Duties * Quickly learn an existing software ...

Intuitive

Robotics Software Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

The ideal candidate is a self-driven software engineer with strong problem-solving skills, deep expertise C++ and robotics algorithms. Essential Job Duties * Quickly learn an existing software ...

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All JobsRobotics Software Developer JobsRobotics Software Developer Jobs in Sunnyvale, CA

Robotics Software Developer information

See Sunnyvale, CA salary details

$56.3K

$131.3K

$194.8K

How much do robotics software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for robotics software developer in Sunnyvale, CA is $131,267.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $105,600.00 and $152,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, petroleum engineering, and aerospace engineering can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and in high-demand industries. Executive-level engineering roles or those with significant leadership responsibilities may also reach this compensation level.

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 engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior robotics software developers with extensive experience, specialized skills in AI, machine learning, and real-time systems, and often working in high-demand industries or companies can earn $300,000 or more annually. Achieving this level typically requires advanced degrees, certifications, and a strong track record of project success.

How much do robotic programmers make?

Robotic programmers, or robotics software developers, typically earn a median annual salary of around $80,000 to $120,000, depending on experience, location, and industry. Skilled programmers with expertise in programming languages like C++ and Python, as well as knowledge of robotic systems and tools, tend to earn higher salaries.

Can a software engineer work in robotics?

Yes, a software engineer can work in robotics by developing control algorithms, embedded systems, and software for robotic hardware. Skills in programming languages like C++ and Python, as well as knowledge of robotics frameworks such as ROS, are often required. Many robotics roles also require understanding of sensors, actuators, and real-time systems.
What are popular job titles related to Robotics Software Developer jobs in Sunnyvale, CA? For Robotics Software Developer jobs in Sunnyvale, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Robotics Software Developer jobs in Sunnyvale, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Robotics Software Developer jobs in Sunnyvale, CA are:
What cities near Sunnyvale, CA are hiring for Robotics Software Developer jobs? Cities near Sunnyvale, CA with the most Robotics Software Developer job openings:
Robotics Software Developer jobs near you
Robotics Software Test Engineer

Robotics Software Test Engineer

Chef Robotics

San Francisco, CA

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Chef Robotics is accelerating the deployment of intelligent machines in the physical world, starting with food production — the sector facing the largest labor shortage in the U.S., with 1.14M unfilled jobs today and 3.1M projected by 2030. These roles can't be offshored, making robotics essential to keeping production onshore and strengthening America's manufacturing base.

Our AI-powered robots automate food prep and assembly in commercial kitchens and food manufacturing, and have already produced over 110 million meals in production — generating the world's largest proprietary dataset for deformable food manipulation. Backed by investors including Kleiner Perkins, Construct, Bloomberg Beta, and Promus Ventures, and built by a team from Cruise, Zoox, Google, Tesla, and Amazon Robotics, Chef is rapidly scaling with multiple multi-year contracts and a mission to put an intelligent robot in every commercial kitchen.


About the Role

Chef Robotics is building autonomous robots that work alongside humans in commercial food preparation environments — and a software regression in production isn't just a bug, it's a missed meal, a stopped line, or a customer incident. As a Robotics Software Test Engineer, you own the quality bar for our entire robot software stack: perception, autonomy, platform, and the integrations between them.

This is a builder role, not a manual QA role. You'll design and implement the test infrastructure, CI/CD gates, and hardware-in-the-loop validation systems that let a small team ship fast without breaking things in the field. You'll work directly with perception and robotics engineers — embedded in the team, not downstream of it — and your test frameworks will be first-class engineering artifacts.

We are a small, high-ownership team. We work onsite five days a week and move with startup urgency.
In this role, you will:
  • Design and implement automated test plans, test cases, and fixtures across the full robot software stack — from unit tests to system-level integration tests
  • Build and own hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test infrastructure that validates perception, robotics, and platform software against real or simulated hardware
  • Strengthen and extend CI/CD pipelines to catch regressions early and gate releases with high confidence
  • Define quality metrics and release readiness criteria; track test coverage, failure trends, and fleet health to give the team clear signal
  • Investigate and root-cause production failures across software, hardware, and system boundaries; build regression tests to prevent recurrence
  • Develop simulation-based test environments to validate perception and robotics changes before deploying to physical robots
  • Participate in design and code reviews with a lens on testability, observability, and failure modes
  • Instrument the robot software stack for better debuggability and post-hoc failure analysis
What You Bring:
  • 3+ years of experience in software test engineering, reliability engineering, or a closely related role
  • Strong Python skills
  • Hands-on experience designing and building test infrastructure — not just writing tests, but building the systems that run them
  • Experience with CI/CD systems and integrating automated testing into release pipelines
  • Strong debugging instincts — able to trace failures across software layers, hardware interfaces, and timing boundaries
  • Solid understanding of testing methodologies across unit, integration, system, and hardware-in-the-loop layers
  • Comfort working in Linux-based development and production environments
  • Self-starter who can prioritize independently in an ambiguous, fast-moving environment
Nice-to-have:
  • Experience testing robotics software stacks (ROS, perception pipelines, control systems)
  • Familiarity with simulation environments (Gazebo, Isaac Sim) for test scenario generation
  • Experience with Docker or containerized test environments
  • Background in data logging, observability pipelines, or fleet monitoring systems
  • Knowledge of networking protocols relevant to robotics (TCP/UDP, PTP, gRPC)
  • Experience with hardware bring-up, sensor calibration, or embedded systems testing
  • Prior work in fast-paced robotics or hardware startups
Chef is an early-stage startup where equity is a major part of the compensation package. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
 
In addition to salary and early-stage equity, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, commuter benefits, flexible paid time off (PTO), catered lunch, and 401(k) matching.

Chef Robotics is solving one of the hardest problems in AI and robotics — and we ship. Our robots are in production today, generating real data that trains the next generation of food AI. Backed by Kleiner Perkins, Construct, Bloomberg Beta, and Promus Ventures, and built by a team from Cruise, Zoox, Google, Tesla, and Amazon Robotics, we're scaling fast with multiple multi-year enterprise contracts. If you want to build physical AI with real-world deployments and real impact, Chef is the place.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.