Kodiak AI, Inc. (Nasdaq: KDK), founded in 2018, is a leader in Physical AI, developing driverless technology that powers machines that move. Its Kodiak Driver is a vehicle-agnostic autonomous driving system that combines AI-powered software with modular hardware. Today it operates in long-haul trucking, industrial trucking, and defense. In 2024, Kodiak launched commercial Driver-as-a-Service operations with no one in the cab, and plans to launch driverless long-haul service between Dallas and Houston by the end of 2026.
Kodiak has partnered with many of the biggest names in freight, including Bosch for scaled hardware production, AWS, and leading customers including Atlas Energy Solutions, IKEA, Bridgestone, Werner Enterprises, C.R. England, Roehl Transport, and General Dynamics Land Systems.
We're looking for a Software Engineer focused on onboard vehicle systems to take a key role in designing and implementing our core vehicle integrations. You'll work across domains to bring together embedded devices, AI, and compute hardware into a highly reliable system, and you'll test and deploy autonomous trucks for real customers.
In this role, you will:
- Own the integration between autonomy hardware and vehicle platforms for new products
- Work across domains to test vehicle actuation systems, be the first to make a new vehicle move
- Collaborate with experts across the company to build the Kodiak real-time operating system that powers our trucks
- Design and implement core infrastructure and libraries in modern C++
- Build highly reliable compute and network systems
- Gather metrics to analyze and optimize the performance of Kodiak's autonomous systems
Qualifications:
- BS or MS in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent experience
- 5+ years building software connected to hardware
- Proficiency in modern C++
- Experience with automotive communication protocols such as CAN
- Comfort developing and debugging complex software on Linux
Nice to have:
- Knowledge of control systems and how to evaluate them for safety and performance
- Experience with Bazel on large, cross-platform projects
- Experience building on bare-metal or RTOS platforms
- Familiarity with functional safety standards such as ISO 26262
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
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent experience
- 5+ years building software connected to hardware
- Proficiency in modern C++
- Experience with automotive communication protocols such as CAN
- Experience developing and debugging complex software on Linux
- Knowledge of control systems and evaluating them for safety and performance
- Experience with Bazel on large, cross-platform projects
- Experience building on bare-metal or RTOS platforms
- Familiarity with functional safety standards such as ISO 26262
Kodiak Robotics Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Kodiak Robotics and has not been reviewed or approved by Kodiak Robotics.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered market-competitive for core engineering roles, with role postings indicating strong senior bands and offers aligned to autonomy peers. Salary ranges visible on listings reinforce competitiveness for experienced technical hires.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity grants are commonly included with standard multi‑year vesting, and listings frequently note salary plus bonus and equity as part of offers. This makes ownership a regular component of total rewards for technical hires.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage includes medical, dental, and vision alongside life and short‑/long‑term disability, with FSA/HSA options available. Wellness partners such as mental‑health and primary‑care services are highlighted alongside core plans.
Kodiak Robotics Insights
What We Do
Kodiak Robotics is an autonomous technology company redefining the long-haul trucking industry. We believe self-driving trucks will be the first economically viable application of autonomous vehicle technology. We founded Kodiak in the spring of 2018 to make that belief a reality. Safety is our top priority. We are taking a safe and responsible approach to developing and testing our technology. We are proud to work with some of the best in the business. We’ve built a world class team of technologists from leading autonomous driving programs who know the industry inside and out. Our combined experience and commitment to the vision will allow us to put self-driving technology on the road in the safest and most effective way.
