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Staff Perception Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

Position Summary:

As a Perception Engineer with the Bear Flag Robotics team at John Deere's Intelligent Solutions Group in Santa Clara, CA, you’ll be at the forefront of pioneering autonomous farming technology that is reshaping modern agriculture. Bringing your expertise in robotics, AI, and machine learning, you’ll design, develop, and refine advanced autonomous systems, seamlessly integrating them with John Deere's cutting-edge machinery. This role offers you the opportunity to drive meaningful innovations that enhance efficiency, precision, and sustainability across farming practices globally. We are looking for a highly skilled, experienced, and energetic person to play a key role in improving and supporting our groundbreaking robotic and vision-based autonomous systems for agriculture. As part of a small team within a much larger organization, you will have the opportunity to influence the development and implementation of our world changing products. 

Visa sponsorship is not eligible for this position. 

Position Responsibilities: 

The role will include work in the following areas:

  • Contributing to the architectural design, technical specification, and implementation (or integration) of perception software within an autonomous system, ensuring scalability, testability, maintainability, and performance. 
  • Tackling complex technical challenges and providing creative solutions that run the gamut of perception from the more classical and geometric (calibration, 3d geometry, structure from motion) to machine learning (deep learning for detection, classification, and end-to-end control).
  • Helping develop and extend the data and labeling pipeline and infrastructure supporting machine learning.
  • Assisting with the technology and process to qualify and deploy perception systems for safety-critical criteria to perform in the real world.

Required Skills:

  • 5+ years experience in software engineering, algorithm development, and problem solving with computer vision/perception in a deployed, production environment.
  • Experience with modern machine learning (training, evaluation, data collection and labeling, etc).
  • Excellent communication skills, comfortable and able to articulate and advocate for complex technical topics to those with different backgrounds.
  • Comfortable working in a dynamic environment, willing and able to “roll-up your sleeves”, lead by example, and “wear many hats” as needed.
  • Proficiency in C++, Python, OpenCV, PyTorch, and related tools.
  • Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
  • Attention to detail and ability to work independently.
  • Passion to solve difficult problems in a multidisciplinary team environment.

What Makes You Stand Out:

  • Experience working with autonomous robotics systems that use perception and machine learning.
  • Experience with productionizing and shipping systems for scale and/or safety-critical applications.
  • Experience in optimizing algorithms and/or machine learning models for specific hardware platforms.
  • Experience with different sensor modalities such as cameras, LiDAR, and radar.
  • Experience with intrinsic and extrinsic camera calibration techniques and conversion from 2D to 3D and vice versa.
  • Experience with PCL libraries and point cloud processing optimization.
  • Up-to-date knowledge of current research in perception, machine learning, deep learning and robotics.
  • Hands-on work on managing and orchestrating GPU-based computing on large data sets.
  • Knowledge of robotics libraries such as ROS.

 

At John Deere, you are empowered to create a career that will take you to where you want to go while working in an inclusive team environment. Here, you'll enjoy the freedom to explore new projects, the support to think outside the box and the advanced tools and technology that foster innovation and achievement. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive reward package to help you get started on your new career path, including:

  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Highly competitive base pay and performance bonuses
  • Savings & Retirement benefits (401K and Defined Benefit Pension)
  • Healthcare benefits with a generous company contribution in the Health Savings Account
  • Adoption assistance
  • Employee Assistance Programs
  • Tuition assistance
  • Fitness subsidies and on-site gyms at specific Deere locations
  • Charitable contribution match
  • Employee Purchase Plan & numerous discount programs for personal use

Follow this link to learn more about our Total Rewards Package https://bit.ly/3XCd8fL 

The US annual base salary range for this position is $156,509-$275,000, along with eligibility for John Deere’s bonus and benefit programs. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.

The information contained herein is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of individuals performing the job. The qualifications detailed in this job description are not considered the minimum requirements necessary to perform the job, but rather as guidelines.

The terms of the applicable benefit plans, and all company actions administering or interpreting these plans, continue to control. Deere & Company reserves the right to suspend, amend, modify, or terminate the Plan(s) in any manner at any time, including the right to modify or eliminate any cost-sharing between the company and participants. Changes, which can be made at any time, are made by action of the company's board of directors, or to the extent authorized by resolution of its board of directors, or by the Deere & Company Compensation Committee. In the event of a conflict between the language of the official Plan Documents and this document, the language of the official Plan Documents will control.

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The John Deere Health Benefit Plans for Salaried Employees and The John Deere Benefit Plan for Wage Employees comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

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