Senior AI Acceleration Engineer

Kodiak Robotics, Inc. was founded in 2018 and has become the trusted world leader in autonomous ground transportation committed to a safer and more efficient future for all. The company is developing an industry-leading artificial intelligence (AI) powered technology stack purpose-built for driverless military and long-haul trucking applications. Kodiak’s unique modular hardware approach integrates sensors into a streamlined sensor-pod structure that optimizes for perception, scalability, and maintainability. The company autonomously delivers freight daily for its commercial customers across the Sun Belt states and for Atlas Energy in the Permian Basin. Kodiak also leverages its commercial self-driving software to develop, test and deploy autonomous capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense.

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior AI Acceleration Engineer to join our AI/ML team. In this role, you will be responsible for optimizing and accelerating machine learning models for deployment on embedded hardware platforms.

In this role, you will:

• Optimize and accelerate ML models for embedded hardware using techniques such as quantization, pruning, knowledge distillation, model compression, and hardware-specific optimizations
• Develop high-performance custom kernels using CUDA, OpenCL, or other low-level programming tools to accelerate computations and implement efficient algorithms
• Leverage and customize inference optimization frameworks like TensorRT, TVM, or ONNX Runtime to maximize performance on target platforms
• Profile and analyze model performance, identify bottlenecks, and implement solutions to improve computational efficiency and reduce latency
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including hardware engineers and software developers, to co-design software and hardware solutions that maximize overall system performance.

Qualifications:

• BS, MS, or PhD with academic or at least 2-3 years of industry experience in optimizing and accelerating machine learning models for embedded systems
• You are a skilled software engineer with experience in Python, C++, CUDA programming, and strong problem-solving skills
• You are passionate about pushing the boundaries of ML performance on hardware and have ideally worked on embedded platforms or autonomous systems before
• You also have a strong knowledge of low-level kernel development and experience with ML optimization techniques such as quantization, pruning, model compression, and knowledge distillation

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation package including equity and biannual bonuses
• Excellent Medical, Dental, and Vision plans through Kaiser Permanente, Anthem, and Guardian (including a medical plan with infertility benefits)Flexible PTO and generous parental leave policies
• 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, One Medical, Gympass, Spring Health
• Fidelity 401(k)Commuter, FSA, Dependent Care FSA, HSA
• Various incentive programs (referral bonuses, patent bonuses, etc.)

The annual salary range for this full-time position is $150,000-$250,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Actual salary ranges will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the role location or, if the role can be performed remote, the specific salary range for your preferred location, during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed above are base salary only and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits.

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 U.S. national security statutes, regulations, and administrative prerequisites. These statutes may impose limitations on Kodiak's capacity to engage specific individuals in particular roles based on various national security-related criteria. Kodiak will provide sponsorship for eligible candidate's. Consequently, the eligibility for this position may hinge on Kodiak's verification of a candidate's residence, U.S. person status, and/or citizenship status. In accordance with these statutes , Kodiak may find it necessary to secure a U.S. government export license before disseminating its technologies to specific individuals. Should Kodiak determine that a candidate's residence, U.S. person status, and/or citizenship status necessitate a license, prohibit the candidate from assuming this position, or otherwise fall under national security-related restrictions, Kodiak explicitly retains the right to either assess the candidate for an alternative position 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.