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Robotics Software Engineer Intern Jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

Palantir

Software Engineer, Internship

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$10K/mo

As a Software Engineer Intern, you'll have an opportunity to grow more quickly than you ever envisioned, as you contribute high-quality code directly to Palantir Gotham, Palantir Foundry, or Palantir ...

Figure

Firmware Intern [Fall 2026]

San Jose, CA

$40 - $45/hr

Its robots are engineered to perform a variety of tasks in the home and commercial markets. Figure ... Support hardware/software integration in the lab Requirements: * Undergraduate student (Senior) or ...

Figure

Firmware Intern [Fall 2026]

San Jose, CA · On-site

$40 - $45/hr

Its robots are engineered to perform a variety of tasks in the home and commercial markets. Figure ... Support hardware/software integration in the lab Requirements: * Undergraduate student (Senior) or ...

Cadence

Software Intern

San Jose, CA · On-site

$31.63 - $58.75/hr

We are looking for a highly motivated software intern to work on the research and development using ... Strong algorithm background, programming skills and implementation for the processing of large ...

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All JobsRobotics Software Engineer Intern JobsRobotics Software Engineer Intern Jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

Robotics Software Engineer Intern information

See Santa Cruz, CA salary details

$15

$29

$44

How much do robotics software engineer intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for robotics software engineer intern in Santa Cruz, CA is $29.35, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $23.85 and $33.32 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Robotics Software Engineer Intern vs Robotics Software Engineer?

AspectRobotics Software Engineer InternRobotics Software Engineer
Required CredentialsEnrolled in or recent graduate of a relevant degree (e.g., Computer Science, Robotics)Bachelor's or Master's in Robotics, Computer Science, or related field; experience preferred
Work EnvironmentInternship programs, often part-time or summer roles, in tech or robotics companiesFull-time professional roles in robotics development teams across industries
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by companies to train and evaluate potential future employees in roboticsUsed by companies to develop and maintain robotics systems and products

The main difference between a Robotics Software Engineer Intern and a Robotics Software Engineer is experience level and job responsibilities. Interns are typically students gaining hands-on experience, while engineers are full-time professionals responsible for designing and implementing robotics software.

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

To thrive as a Robotics Software Engineer Intern, you need a solid grounding in computer science, robotics fundamentals, and programming languages such as C++ or Python, often supported by coursework or related project experience. Familiarity with robotics middleware (like ROS), simulation tools (e.g., Gazebo), and version control systems (like Git) is typically expected. Problem-solving ability, eagerness to learn, and effective teamwork are vital soft skills in this role. These competencies enable interns to contribute meaningfully to development projects and quickly adapt to the fast-evolving field of robotics.

What does a robotics software engineer intern do?

A Robotics Software Engineer Intern assists in designing, developing, and testing software that controls robots and robotic systems. Their tasks often include writing code for robot behaviors, integrating sensors, troubleshooting issues, and collaborating with engineers to optimize robotic performance. Interns may work with simulation tools and real robots, contributing to projects in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, or autonomous vehicles. The internship provides hands-on experience and helps interns build foundational skills in programming, robotics, and teamwork.

What types of projects and technologies can a robotics software engineer intern expect to work with during their internship?

As a Robotics Software Engineer Intern, you can expect to work on hands-on projects involving real-time robot control, perception systems, or simulation environments. Interns often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop and test software for autonomous navigation, sensor integration, or robot behavior algorithms. You'll likely use programming languages such as Python or C++, and may work with robotics middleware like ROS (Robot Operating System). This role provides valuable exposure to both software development and hardware integration, offering insights into the full robotics development lifecycle.

What are the most commonly searched types of Robotics Software Engineer jobs in Santa Cruz, CA?

The most popular types of Robotics Software Engineer jobs in Santa Cruz, CA are:

What cities near Santa Cruz, CA are hiring for Robotics Software Engineer Intern jobs?

Cities near Santa Cruz, CA with the most Robotics Software Engineer Intern job openings:

Robotics Software Engineer Intern jobs near you

Senior Software Engineer

Capstan Medical, Inc.

Santa Cruz, CA • On-site

$141K - $186K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 6 days ago

Job description

Reports to: Head of Software & Controls
Workplace Type: Hybrid (onsite in Santa Cruz 3 days/week)
At Capstan Medical, we're building one of the most exciting and innovative companies in medtech-developing a first-of-its-kind robotic platform for minimally invasive heart valve treatment. Our team combines surgical robotics, catheter-based delivery, and next-generation implants to transform complex procedures into safer, lower-stress solutions for patients and clinicians alike. As a highly collaborative, hands-on team, we move fast, wear multiple hats, and believe the best ideas can come from anyone.
Based in Santa Cruz, our unique workspace blends cutting-edge Bay Area innovation with a lifestyle-driven environment near trails, beaches, and open space-creating the perfect place to do meaningful, career-defining work.
Overview:
Join Us in Revolutionizing Cardiac Care from Beautiful Santa Cruz
Imagine building software for life-saving robotics technology while being minutes from world-class surf breaks and redwood forests. We're developing a groundbreaking robotic platform that gives surgeons superhuman precision in transcatheter valve deployment-and we need an exceptional Software Engineer to design and build the complex software systems that make our robot work.
You'll be writing code that runs on a real-time robotic system-building features, designing services, solving hard problems, and shipping software that clinicians depend on. We need someone who can architect and implement robust software, and who understands operating systems deeply enough to reason about performance, concurrency, and system behavior when it matters.
What You'll Do:
  • Design and build software components for a multi-process robotic system spanning real-time control, system services, and clinical applications
  • Architect and implement services that manage system state, coordinate between processes, and ensure safe operation
  • Write performant, reliable code in Python, C++, or Rust depending on the requirements of the problem
  • Profile, debug, and optimize software to meet real-time performance constraints
  • Implement security features and hardening measures for a medical device platform
  • Collaborate with controls engineers, GUI developers, and systems engineers to deliver integrated functionality
  • Contribute to software architecture decisions and drive technical direction for your areas of ownership
  • Write clear documentation and participate in design reviews
  • Support verification and validation activities to ensure software meets regulatory requirements

Skills:
  • Excellent software engineering fundamentals: you write clean, maintainable, well-tested code
  • Strong proficiency in Python and C++; Rust experience is a plus
  • Deep understanding of operating systems concepts: processes, threads, IPC, scheduling, memory management
  • Solid Linux skills: comfortable in the terminal, understands how the OS works under the hood
  • Experience designing and building complex multi-component software systems
  • Strong debugging skills-you can track down issues across process boundaries and system layers
  • Understanding of concurrency, synchronization, and the challenges of real-time systems
  • Clear communicator who can discuss technical tradeoffs and design decisions

Requirements:
  • BS/MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or equivalent
  • 5+ years of professional software engineering experience
  • Track record of designing and shipping complex software systems
  • Experience working on software that interacts closely with hardware or the operating system
  • Thrives in a fast-paced environment where you own problems end-to-end
  • Ability to work in a hybrid environment, onsite 3 days a week at our Santa Cruz, CA office. In the future, there will be an option to work one day from our satellite office in Los Altos, CA.

Preferred:
  • Broad experience across software technologies-you've worked in different languages, frameworks, and domains, and you pick up new tools quickly when the problem demands it
  • Experience with robotics software or ROS/ROS2
  • Medical device or safety-critical systems background
  • Experience with real-time systems or performance-critical applications
  • Familiarity with software security practices and system hardening
  • Experience with distributed systems or service-oriented architectures
  • Background in controls, motion planning, or mechatronics

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, and disability, or other legally protected status.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. 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.

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