Forward Deployed Engineer

About Bonsai Robotics

Bonsai Robotics develops affordable, vision-based autonomy that makes off-road equipment smarter, safer, and more productive. We are redefining outdoor autonomy with Bonsai Intelligence, a connected platform that’s inspired by biology to see, think, and act with precision like a human. We bring together advanced perception, embodied AI, integrations with equipment manufacturers, and our compact, modular Amiga vehicles to deliver reliable automation to the world’s most demanding field operations—reducing costs and increasing operational efficiencies.

About the role

We are looking for a talented Forward Deployed Engineer with experience in robotics software and agricultural technology to join our innovative team. In this role, you will be our first line of defense for customer facing issues. You’ll help develop SOPs, solve software bugs, and guide our customers' experience. You’ll work with state of the art AI and Robotics teams and platforms building the future of off-road robotics for real world applications.

What you'll do

• Support and provide customer guidance to resolve urgent customer issues
• Communicate clearly and effectively with non technical farm operators
• Resolve and ship software fixes and updates to unblock customers using ROS2, C++, and Python
• Document complex bugs and customer issues, and escalate to the appropriate engineering team when necessary
• Evaluate logs and data from customer incidents and triage bugs and feature requests
• Bring innovative solutions and collaboratively tackle a wide range of robotics challenges
• Brainstorm and design solutions to software and hardware features to best support customer needs
• Write and maintain the operational SOPs, runbooks, and troubleshooting guides. Train Field Ops, customer operators, and dealer technicians to use them
• Bring and open mind and an eagerness to learn and develop technical skills
• Travel to customer sites as needed for hard problems and high-stakes deployments

Qualifications

• You hold a BS in related field
• You have experience with real production robots in the hands of real customers
• You are familiar with software development best practices
• You are comfortable reading and modifying Python and C++
• You have experience debugging problems outside of your area of expertise
• You are comfortable working in a Linux environment

Bonus

• You have relevant experience across applied robotics and software engineering positions
• You have experience with agricultural robotics
• You have experience with wiring and electrical diagrams
• You have understanding or experience with RTK/GNSS
• You have experience with CAN and serial communication frameworks

Life at Bonsai Robotics

At Bonsai, we're building the future of robotics and we know that means investing in our people. We're committed to creating a workplace where you can do your best work, grow your skills, and feel genuinely part of something bigger.

Hybrid Flexibility (for selective roles)

We operate on a hybrid model because we believe the best collaboration happens both in person and from where you work best. You'll have the flexibility to split your time between our office and home, so you can stay connected to the team while maintaining the balance that works for you.

Work-life Balance

The best employees are those who create balance in their lives, which is why we prioritize balance and well-being for everyone at Bonsai. We foster a supportive environment where teammates look out for each other.

Covered Lunch

On in-office days, we've got lunch covered. It's a small thing that makes a big difference, with more time to connect with teammates and less to worry about.

Wellness and Benefits

Your health matters. We offer comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), mental health support, and wellness programs designed to help you thrive both physically and mentally.

Collaborative Culture

At Bonsai, you're not just part of a team, you're part of a community. We celebrate wins together, support each other through challenges, and genuinely enjoy the people we work with. From team events to cross-functional collaboration, we're building something together.

Mission-driven Work

Every day, you're contributing to advancements in robotics that matter. If you're excited about innovation and impact, you'll find it here.

Bonsai Robotics is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or nationality, ancestry, age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status or any other category protected by law.

Pay range

San Jose, CA: 150,000 - 170,000 USD per year