Kodiak Robotics Inc. was founded in 2018 and has become a leader in autonomous ground transportation committed to a safer and more efficient future for all. The company has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) powered technology stack purpose-built for commercial trucking and the public sector. The company delivers freight daily for its customers across the southern United States using its autonomous 2024 Kodiak became the first known company to publicly announce delivering a driverless semi-truck to a customer. Kodiak is also leveraging its commercial self-driving software to develop test and deploy autonomous capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense.
We are looking for an experienced Software Engineer to join our Behavior & Motion Planning team and lead the development of core planning capabilities that directly shape how the Kodiak Driver behaves on the road.
This is a senior technical role for engineers who thrive on ambiguous high-leverage problems at the intersection of robotics optimization and real-time systems. You will own complex planning challenges end-to-end: framing the problem aligning stakeholders designing the technical approach driving implementation and validating on-road impact. Your work will influence not only individual algorithms but also the architecture interfaces and evaluation strategies that enable the planning stack to scale.
You will work across Planning Perception Simulation Systems and related teams to create cross-functional solutions to some of the hardest problems in autonomous trucking. You should be excited to combine deep technical judgment with hands-on execution using data from real-world operation to improve safety driving quality and system performance.
In this role you will
Lead the design and deployment of behavior and motion-planning capabilities for complex real-world driving scenarios
Own ambiguous technical problems from concept through production rollout and iterative refinement
Shape the architecture interfaces and requirements across planning-related systems
Translate high-level driving goals into robust algorithms cost functions and performance-critical production code
Drive improvements in planning quality prediction integration latency and overall system reliability
Build and influence evaluation frameworks tooling and workflows that turn real-world logs into measurable autonomy improvements
Provide technical leadership across cross-functional efforts and raise engineering quality through strong design and code reviews
Mentor other engineers and help guide technical direction within the team
What youll bring
Deep background in robotics motion planning optimization controls or related fields
MS PhD or equivalent experience in a technically rigorous domain
6 years of experience building production software including substantial experience in C
Proven track record of owning and delivering complex technical projects with real-world impact
Strong systems thinking and the ability to work effectively across software boundaries and organizational interfaces
Excellent technical judgment communication and collaboration skills
Ability to balance long-term design quality with fast pragmatic iteration in a production environment
Bonus points if you have
Experience shipping autonomy or robotics software on real vehicles or robotic platforms
Strong knowledge of motion planning trajectory optimization prediction optimal control or related areas in the autonomous systems
Experience working on real-time performance-critical systems
Experience building evaluation debugging and data-analysis tools for autonomy or robotics stacks
Track record of mentoring engineers and leading technical direction across projects
What we offer:
Competitive compensation package including equity and annual bonuses
Excellent Medical Dental and Vision plans through Kaiser Permanente Cigna and MetLife (including a medical plan with infertility benefits)
Flexible PTO 10 paid holidays and generous parental leave policies
Our office is centrally located in Mountain View CA
Office perks: dog-friendly free catered lunch a fully stocked kitchen and free EV charging
Long Term Disability Short Term Disability Life Insurance
Wellbeing Benefits - Headspace through Cigna Calm through Kaiser One Medical Gympass Spring Health through Cigna Rula (mental health navigation)
Fidelity 401(k)
Commuter FSA Dependent Care FSA HSA
Various incentive programs (referral bonuses patent bonuses etc.)
The pay range listed below reflects the base salaryin our SF/Silicon Valley locationacross several internal levels. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors including: work location experience relevant training education skill level and performance during interview. Total compensation at Kodiak includes base pay equity bonus and a competitive benefits package
California Pay Range
$185000 - $235000 USD
At Kodiak we strive to build a diverse community working towards our common company goals in a safe and collaborative environment where harassment of any kind is strictly prohibited. Kodiak is committed to equal opportunity employment regardless of race ethnicity religion gender identity sexual orientation age disability or veteran status or any other basis protected by applicable law.
In alignment with its business operations Kodiak adheres to all relevant statutes regulations and administrative prerequisites. Accordingly roles that carry more sensitive requirements may be limited to candidates that can satisfy additional scrutiny and eligibility for such positions may hinge on verification of a candidates residence U.S. person status and/or citizenship status. Should the position require and Kodiak determines that a candidates residence U.S. person status and/or citizenship status necessitate an export license bar the candidate from the position or otherwise fall under national security-related restrictions Kodiak will consider the candidate for alternative positions unaffected by such restrictions under terms and conditions set forth at Kodiaks sole discretion or as an alternative opt not to proceed with the candidates application. If applicable Kodiak may provide visa sponsorship for eligible candidates.
Kodiak Robotics Inc. was founded in 2018 and has become a leader in autonomous ground transportation committed to a safer and more efficient future for all. The company has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) powered technology stack purpose-built for commercial trucking and the public sector....
Kodiak Robotics Inc. was founded in 2018 and has become a leader in autonomous ground transportation committed to a safer and more efficient future for all. The company has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) powered technology stack purpose-built for commercial trucking and the public sector. The company delivers freight daily for its customers across the southern United States using its autonomous 2024 Kodiak became the first known company to publicly announce delivering a driverless semi-truck to a customer. Kodiak is also leveraging its commercial self-driving software to develop test and deploy autonomous capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense.
We are looking for an experienced Software Engineer to join our Behavior & Motion Planning team and lead the development of core planning capabilities that directly shape how the Kodiak Driver behaves on the road.
This is a senior technical role for engineers who thrive on ambiguous high-leverage problems at the intersection of robotics optimization and real-time systems. You will own complex planning challenges end-to-end: framing the problem aligning stakeholders designing the technical approach driving implementation and validating on-road impact. Your work will influence not only individual algorithms but also the architecture interfaces and evaluation strategies that enable the planning stack to scale.
You will work across Planning Perception Simulation Systems and related teams to create cross-functional solutions to some of the hardest problems in autonomous trucking. You should be excited to combine deep technical judgment with hands-on execution using data from real-world operation to improve safety driving quality and system performance.
In this role you will
Lead the design and deployment of behavior and motion-planning capabilities for complex real-world driving scenarios
Own ambiguous technical problems from concept through production rollout and iterative refinement
Shape the architecture interfaces and requirements across planning-related systems
Translate high-level driving goals into robust algorithms cost functions and performance-critical production code
Drive improvements in planning quality prediction integration latency and overall system reliability
Build and influence evaluation frameworks tooling and workflows that turn real-world logs into measurable autonomy improvements
Provide technical leadership across cross-functional efforts and raise engineering quality through strong design and code reviews
Mentor other engineers and help guide technical direction within the team
What youll bring
Deep background in robotics motion planning optimization controls or related fields
MS PhD or equivalent experience in a technically rigorous domain
6 years of experience building production software including substantial experience in C
Proven track record of owning and delivering complex technical projects with real-world impact
Strong systems thinking and the ability to work effectively across software boundaries and organizational interfaces
Excellent technical judgment communication and collaboration skills
Ability to balance long-term design quality with fast pragmatic iteration in a production environment
Bonus points if you have
Experience shipping autonomy or robotics software on real vehicles or robotic platforms
Strong knowledge of motion planning trajectory optimization prediction optimal control or related areas in the autonomous systems
Experience working on real-time performance-critical systems
Experience building evaluation debugging and data-analysis tools for autonomy or robotics stacks
Track record of mentoring engineers and leading technical direction across projects
What we offer:
Competitive compensation package including equity and annual bonuses
Excellent Medical Dental and Vision plans through Kaiser Permanente Cigna and MetLife (including a medical plan with infertility benefits)
Flexible PTO 10 paid holidays and generous parental leave policies
Our office is centrally located in Mountain View CA
Office perks: dog-friendly free catered lunch a fully stocked kitchen and free EV charging
Long Term Disability Short Term Disability Life Insurance
Wellbeing Benefits - Headspace through Cigna Calm through Kaiser One Medical Gympass Spring Health through Cigna Rula (mental health navigation)
Fidelity 401(k)
Commuter FSA Dependent Care FSA HSA
Various incentive programs (referral bonuses patent bonuses etc.)
The pay range listed below reflects the base salaryin our SF/Silicon Valley locationacross several internal levels. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors including: work location experience relevant training education skill level and performance during interview. Total compensation at Kodiak includes base pay equity bonus and a competitive benefits package
California Pay Range
$185000 - $235000 USD
At Kodiak we strive to build a diverse community working towards our common company goals in a safe and collaborative environment where harassment of any kind is strictly prohibited. Kodiak is committed to equal opportunity employment regardless of race ethnicity religion gender identity sexual orientation age disability or veteran status or any other basis protected by applicable law.
In alignment with its business operations Kodiak adheres to all relevant statutes regulations and administrative prerequisites. Accordingly roles that carry more sensitive requirements may be limited to candidates that can satisfy additional scrutiny and eligibility for such positions may hinge on verification of a candidates residence U.S. person status and/or citizenship status. Should the position require and Kodiak determines that a candidates residence U.S. person status and/or citizenship status necessitate an export license bar the candidate from the position or otherwise fall under national security-related restrictions Kodiak will consider the candidate for alternative positions unaffected by such restrictions under terms and conditions set forth at Kodiaks sole discretion or as an alternative opt not to proceed with the candidates application. If applicable Kodiak may provide visa sponsorship for eligible candidates.
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