Software Engineer II (Canton, MA, US, 02021)

Mission of the Role

This position will be located at our Bloomington, MN or Canton, MA office.

The Software Engineer II plays a key role in designing, developing, testing, and supporting software solutions across the full lifecycle of SICK products and platforms. Operating with increased independence, this role drives technical execution across development projects, enhances software performance and reliability, and contributes to the advancement of SICK’s software ecosystem. The Software Engineer II collaborates closely with global, cross‑functional teams and supports strategic technology initiatives - delivering high‑quality, scalable, and secure solutions aligned with SICK’s technology vision.

Key Responsibilities

Software Development

• Independently execute software design, development, and implementation tasks following SICK’s development processes, including compliance with design control, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead enhancements, maintenance, and release activities across the software lifecycle, including major and minor versions, patches, updates, and long-term support.
• Develop prototypes, proofs of concept, and MVPs to validate new ideas and de‑risk project uncertainties.
• Collaborate with internal and external development partners to meet technical, cost, and schedule expectations.
• Provide technical input during requirements refinement and architectural discussions.

Testing & Quality Assurance

• Plan, design, and execute comprehensive test procedures to validate functionality, performance, reliability, and security.
• Conduct and sometimes lead code reviews, ensuring adherence to best practices, coding guidelines, and secure development standards.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and resolve complex software issues, proposing short‑term fixes and long‑term systemic improvements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Quality teams to translate technical requirements into actionable development tasks.
• Contribute to backlog refinement, estimation, and risk identification during project planning.
• Communicate technical decisions, project updates, and risk mitigation strategies clearly to technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

Documentation & Reporting

• Create, maintain, and review technical documentation including design specifications, test plans, change logs, and release notes.
• Support software change management and release documentation processes.

Continuous Improvement & Learning

• Proactively maintain expertise in SICK platforms, technologies, and development tools.
• Evaluate and introduce new technologies, frameworks, and development practices that support innovation and efficiency.
• Mentor Software Engineer I team members through informal coaching, code reviews, and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to process and product improvement initiatives.

Machine Vision, Algorithms & Emerging Technologies

• Design, implement, and optimize classical and machine‑learning‑based algorithms for detection, inspection, automation, classification, tracking, and prediction using SICK 2D/3D cameras and programmable devices.
• Employ advanced techniques—such as deep learning—to enhance system accuracy, robustness, and scalability.
• Partner with internal teams to evaluate machine vision use cases and develop high‑value solutions.
• Maintain knowledge of modern hardware technologies, vision software frameworks, and AI/ML toolchains.
• Perform full engineering responsibilities including estimation, requirement analysis, technical risk assessment, and solution design.

Perform other duties as may be assigned or required by management.

Key Qualifications

• Experience: 2+ years of software development experience.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or equivalent experience is required.
• Position-specific Qualifications:
  • Strong problem‑solving, debugging, algorithmic thinking, and system design abilities.
  • Solid understanding of data structures, design patterns, and modern software engineering principles.
  • Proficiency in programming languages such as C++, Python, or Lua, with the ability to work across multiple languages as needed.
  • Demonstrated experience with multithreading, multiprocessing, inter‑process communication, networking, or distributed systems.
  • Experience with version control (Git), code review workflows, CI/CD, and issue-tracking systems.
  • Familiarity with web fundamentals (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, REST/JSON, HTTP) and ability to develop simple UI tools or prototypes.
  • Ability to evaluate, integrate, and optimize third‑party or open-source software components.
  • Experience monitoring, optimizing, and improving system performance and stability.
  • Experience designing or deploying machine vision / computer vision systems, including image processing or AI/ML-based methods.
  • Exposure to training or operationalizing deep learning models.
  • Comfortable using AI-assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot or Claude Code.
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to share technical information effectively across teams.
• Language: Professional written and spoken fluency in English required.
• Schedule: Generally Monday to Friday, full time; be on-call on some weekends (if required).
• General Working Conditions: Be able to usually work in an office environment; flexible (hybrid) work arrangements available.
• Travel: Be able to travel up to 5% of the time, including internationally; must have a valid passport.
• Work Status: Legally permitted to work in the country you are applying and willing to undergo an employment background check.

Compensation

The base salary is one part of our Total Rewards package and is determined within a range.  The starting base salary range for this position is listed below; the actual starting salary will be based on a variety of factors including experience, skill set, education, performance, licenses/certifications, business needs and other job-related factors, as permitted by law.

• Starting Base Annual Salary Range:  $79,020 - $119,515
• Bonus Eligibility: This role is not eligible for an annual bonus.