Senior Electrical Hardware 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 skilled Senior Electrical Hardware Engineer to join our team. The successful candidate will be responsible for product-level system verification and validation of electrical designs that are critical to the operation of our autonomous vehicles. The role will work closely with the hardware engineering team and external certification labs to perform design and DFMEA analysis to ensure our electrical system meets compliance and functional safety requirements. The role will work collaboratively across software, electrical engineering, and integration teams to build safe, reliable systems.

In this role you will:

• Analyze and perform DFMEA analysis and testing from our custom PCBA electronics to the full electrical system architecture
• Conduct comprehensive product-level system validation for autonomous vehicle electronics, focusing on the safety validation of various hardware components.
• Utilize hardware and electrical engineering knowledge to assess and ensure the proper functioning of our electrical system from our safety ECUs, fault management architectures, power generation, and power distribution systems
• Partner with external certification and accreditation labs to ensure our designs meet automotive and functional safety requirements
• Proactively suggest improvements in test methodologies and procedures to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the validation process
• Collaborate with electrical and firmware engineering teams to validate designs
• Lead root cause analysis and resolve issues in electrical systems
• Define stress test routines required to validate functional sections
• Validate thermal and power performance of circuits
• Develop and implement ISO 26262 methodologies to drive hardware design to meet ASIL goals. 
• Interface closely with other teams such as Software, Mechanical, Manufacturing, and with external suppliers

What you'll bring:

• BS or MS, or equivalent experience in Electrical, Mechanical, or Computer Engineering
• 8+ years of hardware development experience, ideally within the automotive, aerospace or a related industry
• 5+ years of experience with PCBAs, Harnesses, Power Distribution Units, Power Supplies, and automotive subcomponents
• Deep understanding of failure analysis 
• Knowledge of mixed analog and digital circuits
• Experience with implementation and on-vehicle debugging of low level hardware buses such as I2C, CAN, SPI, and Ethernet
• Experience with high speed communication such as PCIe and DDR
• Hands on. You are just as comfortable getting your hands dirty analyzing a subsystem in the shop as when using a keyboard.
• Great communicator. You have experience writing clear, concise, and detailed documentation
• Passion. You are passionate about autonomous vehicles and their potential impact on humanity

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 in California is $175,000-$220,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Actual starting pay 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.