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Staff, Harness Engineering Manager

Kodiak

Job Location:

Mountain View, CA - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 170000 - 235000

Posted: 2 September 2026 (2 hours ago)

Application Deadline: 30 November 2026

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

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.

Were seeking a Lead Harness Engineer/Manager to lead harness architecture and strategy for our autonomous vehicle platform. This is a hands on role who owns the technical direction for harness design across the full vehicle system high speed low voltage and high power and sets the standards processes and supplier relationships that the harness engineering function runs on. Youll drive cross-functional alignment with electrical mechanical integration and manufacturing teams and mentor engineers building toward those standards.

In this role you will:

Own the technical strategy and architecture for wire harness and subassembly design across the vehicle platform balancing high speed low voltage and high power requirements
Set and enforce design standards review processes and DFM/DFA practices for harness schematics diagrams and system interconnect diagrams
Drive make/buy and supplier strategy for harness manufacturing; own key external manufacturing partner relationships and scale-up readiness
Lead trade studies on harness architecture (topology routing connector strategy EMI/signal integrity tradeoffs) with system-level cost weight and reliability impact
Own full program lifecycle governance: technical reviews DVP&R outsourced cable manufacturing qualification testing and release
Lead or oversee root cause analysis on complex/escalated electrical system issues; drive corrective and preventive action across teams
Define and champion automated harness validation tooling and test strategy
Mentor and provide technical leadership to harness and electrical engineers and directly manage a harness engineering team
Represent harness engineering in cross-functional and executive-level design reviews with Software Mechanical Manufacturing Systems and external suppliers

What youll bring:

BS or MS in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience
10 years of hardware development experience including automotive aerospace or related safety-critical industries with a track record of technical leadership
Deep expertise in electrical harness design architecture and manufacturing at the system level
Proven experience setting design/quality standards and mentoring or leading engineers or teams
Strong troubleshooting skillset with hands-on root cause analysis experience
Expert familiarity with IPC quality standards (IPC/WHMA-A-620 etc.) and their application to program-level quality processes
Experience with implementation and on-vehicle debugging of low-level hardware buses (CAN Ethernet LIN)
Demonstrated ability to lead supplier negotiations and manage external manufacturing partnerships
Hands-on. Comfortable in the shop debugging a subsystem and in the room driving architecture decisions
Excellent communicator experience writing and reviewing clear concise technical documentation and presenting to leadership
Passion for autonomous vehicles and their potential impact

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)
MetLife Legal Services Identity & Fraud Protection Hospital Indemnity Insurance Accident Insurance & Critical Illness Insurance
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

$170000 - $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.

We use a third-party AI tool (Endorsed) to assist in the initial screening of applications. As part of the evaluation process we provide Endorsed with job requirements and candidate-submitted applications. Final hiring decisions are made by our human recruitment team and no automated system makes the ultimate decision regarding hiring. Certain features of the platform may qualify it as an Automated Employment Decision Tool (AEDT) under applicable regulations. We began using Endorsed on January 1 2026. You can review the independent bias audit report covering our use of Endorsed here( By submitting your application you acknowledge that your application may be processed by AI systems as part of the screening and selection process. If you have any questions or would like to request a separate review of your application please contact with Separate Review Request in the email subject line.

Required Experience:

Manager

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About Company

Kodiak

Our purpose-built autonomous solution, the Kodiak Driver, is the AV industry’s most advanced driverless technology, seamlessly integrating into any driving platform for reliable movement in any environment. Learn how we’re shaping the future of ground transportation.

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