Autonomy Systems Software Engineer

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 technology. In 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 Autonomy Software Systems Engineer who can derive requirements from first principles for safe and mission-critical autonomous behavior across both commercial and defense applications. An ideal candidate will have a background in developing algorithms for autonomy or robotics in aerospace, defense, or automotive domains. This will be used to support our safety claims about safe perception, motion planning, and control for autonomous robots deployed in both commercial freight and defense logistics environments. In this role, you will: Collaborate closely with Autonomy Software teams by using first-principles analysis to develop requirements for safe perception, localization, prediction, motion planning, and/or control algorithms. Identify edge cases that could help us expose weaknesses in our system prior to encountering them in on-road environments. Provide analysis to support complex autonomy system design trade-offs to inform system design decisions affecting safety and performance. Support development of simulation scenarios, structured track testing, on-road road testing, and hardware-in-the-loop testing. What you’ll bring: Deep understanding of kinematics, dynamics, and system modeling Strong programming skills in Python, MATLAB, C++, or C Hands-on work across multiple of the following areas: Sensor fusion and object tracking (e.g., Kalman filtering, particle filters, least squares estimation) Machine learning methods (e.g., neural networks, SVMs, kNN, regression models, decision trees) Classical computer vision (e.g., edge/corner detection, camera calibration, optics) Motion planning (e.g., A*, RRT, potential fields) Control systems (e.g., PID, nonlinear control, model predictive control) Strong foundation in probability and statistics, including appropriate application of distributions (e.g., Gaussian, Poisson, binomial) Working knowledge of autonomy system architectures and system-level design Background in one or more of the following: Bayesian inference (e.g., beta and gamma distributions) Markov models and probabilistic system modeling Simulation development and validation environments System reliability analysis Exposure to safety-critical standards such as ISO 26262, DO-178, or IEC 61508 (e.g., ASIL-D, DAL A, SIL 4) Experience with safety analysis methodologies (e.g., FTA, FMEA, HARA) Understanding of redundancy strategies and fault-tolerant system design Familiarity with SOTIF, UL 4600, and safety case development (e.g., Goal Structuring Notation) Knowledge of real-time, safety-critical systems Experience contributing to verification and validation (V&V) efforts or full testing campaigns Must be US person due to the defense nature of this work 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 salary in our SF/Silicon Valley location, across 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 $200,000—$245,000 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 candidate’s residence, U.S. person status, and/or citizenship status. Should the position require, and Kodiak determines that a candidate’s 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 Kodiak’s sole discretion, or, as an alternative, opt not to proceed with the candidate’s 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](https://endorsed.com/local-law-144). 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 careers@kodiak.ai with "Separate Review Request" in the email subject line.