AI Engineer; Full Stack - R&D IT; Onsite

About the Opportunity:

Driscoll’s is building an AI-assisted R&D capability to modernize how data, software, and decision support come together across breeding, genomics, lab, phenotyping, sensory, and agronomy workflows. This role sits within an emerging R&D IT function embedded in Global R&D and works closely with scientists, breeders, product leads, and Global IS to turn ambiguous scientific needs into production-ready tools.

We are seeking a versatile engineer who can build end-to-end systems connecting data, applications, and intelligent models. The ideal candidate is comfortable developing scalable services, APIs, modern AI-enabled workflows, and high-quality user experiences while moving fluidly across the stack:
Postgre

SQL/MySQL, Express/Node.js/Type Script, React, Python, and FastAPI.

This is a hands‑on role for someone who enjoys rapid experimentation, solving complex problems, and owning solutions from concept through deployment. You will work alongside the R&D IT Product Owner and Full-Stack Engineer to build practical, governed solutions that reduce manual effort, improve decision‑making, and embed AI into the flow of work rather than as separate tools.

Driscoll’s Information Services (IS) department is responsible for maintaining and developing digital services and solutions to support and enable the Driscoll’s business, growers, and customers. Global IS operates in a rapidly changing business environment and has embarked on a significant digital transformation journey.

The Global Information Services (IS) function operates through a global structure and is organized in departments by IT expertise. This role is located at our corporate headquarters in Watsonville, CA.

• Build end‑to‑end solutions within the Driscoll’s R&D IT ecosystem, including helping evolve the underlying infrastructure and delivery patterns.
• Design, build, and ship full‑stack applications that support R&D workflows and decision‑making across breeding, lab, genomics, phenotyping, sensory, and agronomy use cases.
• Develop scalable services, APIs, workflow automations, and modern user interfaces using technologies such as React, Type Script, Node.js/Express, Python, FastAPI, and relational databases.
• Integrate internal tools, vendor platforms, and off‑the‑shelf systems through APIs, data flows, authentication/authorization, and workflow automation.
• Build AI‑enabled applications such as grounded assistants, retrieval‑augmented experiences, workflow copilots, evaluation dashboards, and decision‑support interfaces.
• Own the full software lifecycle for what is built: requirements translation, prototyping, development, testing, deployment, monitoring, maintenance, support, and iterative improvement.
• Partner closely with scientists, breeders, analysts, and business stakeholders to translate ambiguous problems into usable, reliable products.
• Help embed AI into real workflows with appropriate traceability, security, auditability, and human oversight.
• Continuously evaluate how modern AI is changing software paradigms, and apply AI tools to improve engineering practices, team productivity, and solution quality.
• Contribute to governed AI delivery by ensuring applications are secure, observable, maintainable, and aligned with approved architecture and data patterns.
• Collaborate with the AI / MLOps Architect on model integration, serving patterns, evaluation flows, observability, and production operations.
• Contribute to architecture discussions, design reviews, backlog shaping, and solution tradeoff decisions.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with technical and non‑technical teams.
• Domestic and international travel required up to 10%.
• Represent Driscoll’s in an ethical and professional manner during all interactions with growers, co‑workers, suppliers, customers, and the business community at large.
• Ensure the security of Driscoll’s confidential and proprietary information and materials.

• 5+ years of experience in software engineering, full‑stack development, or product engineering, including ownership of production systems.
• Expert‑level hands‑on experience across modern full‑stack…