Autonomous Vehicle Test Driver Santa Clara, CA

Gatik; Santa Clara, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Gatik in Santa Clara, CA and help support the future of autonomous trucking. In this role, you will operate CDL or box trucks while working alongside advanced vehicle technology that powers Gatik’s middle-mile logistics network.

We’re looking for experienced safety-focused drivers who are comfortable with new technology and excited to be part of the next generation of freight transportation.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional driving experience.
• 1+ year in 26–30 ft box trucks (Required).
• Valid CDL and clean Motor Vehicle Record (Required).
• Safety and ownership mindset prioritized over speed.
• Pass background check and drug screening (Required).
• Must be available for variable/rotating shifts.
• Open to working through agency partners.

Responsibilities

• Drive & Test: Safely operate 26–30 ft box trucks, monitor diagnostics, and run test routes.
• Maintain Vehicle Standards: Proactively manage upkeep and coordinate repairs; ensure no defective trucks.
• Rigorous DVIRs: Complete pre- and post-trip DVIRs accurately.
• Engineering Feedback: Report software/hardware behavior to refine autonomous tech.
• Proactive Ownership: Escalate risks, follow maintenance requests, and ensure vehicle readiness.

Skills

Driving experience

Box truck experience

Safety mindset

Communication

Physical agility

DVIR reporting

Tools

Samsara ELD

Slack

Timecard tools

Diagnostic apps

Job description

Gatik, the leader in autonomous middle-mile logistics, is revolutionizing the B2B supply chain with its autonomous transportation-as-a-service (ATaaS) solution and prioritizing safe, consistent deliveries while streamlining freight movement by reducing congestion. The company focuses on short-haul, B2B logistics for Fortune 500 retailers and in 2021 launched the world’s first fully driverless commercial transportation service with Walmart. Gatik's Class 3-7 autonomous trucks are commercially deployed across major markets, including Texas, Arkansas, and Ontario, Canada, driving innovation in freight transportation.

The company's proprietary Level 4 autonomous technology, Gatik Carrier™, is custom-built to transport freight safely and efficiently between pick-up and drop-off locations on the middle mile. With robust capabilities in both highway and urban environments, Gatik Carrier™ serves as an all-encompassing solution that integrates advanced software and hardware powering the fleet, facilitating effortless integration into customers' logistics operations.

About the role

Join Gatik in Santa Clara, CA and help support the future of autonomous trucking. In this role, you will operate CDL or box trucks while working alongside advanced vehicle technology that powers Gatik’s middle-mile logistics network.

We’re looking for experienced safety-focused drivers who are comfortable with new technology and excited to be part of the next generation of freight transportation.

What You’ll Do

• Drive & Test: Safely operate 26–30 ft box trucks, monitor diagnostic screens, and execute test runs.
• Maintain Vehicle Standards: Proactively manage vehicle upkeep, coordinate vendor repairs, and ensure no truck returns to service with unresolved defects.
• Rigorous DVIRs: Complete accurate pre- and post-trip Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs) to catch and document issues before hit the road.
• Engineering Feedback: Record software and hardware behavior clearly to help refine autonomous technology.
• Proactive Ownership: Escalate risks early, follow through on maintenance requests, and take full responsibility for vehicle readiness.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience:3+ yearsof professional driving experience, including1+ year in 26–30 ft box trucks(Required).
• Licensing:Valid CDL and clean Motor Vehicle Record (Required).
• Safety & Ownership Mindset:Commitment to prioritizing safety and fleet integrity over speed.
• Tech Proficiency:Comfortable with Samsara ELD, timecard tools, Slack, email, and diagnostic apps.
• Communication: Clear report writing, precise DVIR record-keeping, and strong vendor communication skills.
• Physical Ability:Excellent agility and reaction time to move quickly within confined cab seating without disturbing controls.
• Cab Access:Ability to repeatedly mount and dismount 26–30 ft trucks using 3-point contact.
• Requirements:Variable/rotating shift availability; must pass background check and drug screening; open to working through agency partners.

More about Gatik

Founded in 2017 by experts in autonomous vehicle technology, Gatik has rapidly expanded its presence to Santa Clara, Dallas-Fort Worth, Arkansas, and Toronto. As the first and only company to achieve fully driverless middle-mile commercial deliveries, Gatik holds a unique and defensible position in the AV industry, with a clear trajectory toward sustainable growth and profitability.

We have delivered complete, proprietary AV technology - an integration of software and hardware - to enable earlier successes for our clients in constrained Level 4 autonomy. By choosing the middle mile – with defined point-to-point delivery, we have simplified some of the more complex AV challenges, enabling us to achieve full autonomy ahead of competitors. Given extensive knowledge of Gatik’s well-defined, fixed route ODDs and hybrid architecture, we are able to hyper-optimize our models with exponentially less data, establish gate-keeping mechanisms to maintain explainability, and ensure continued safety of the system for unmanned operations.

At Gatik, we connect people of extraordinary talent and experience to an opportunity to create a more resilient supply chain and contribute to our environment’s sustainability. We are diverse in our backgrounds and perspectives yet united by a bold vision and shared commitment to our values. Our culture emphasizes the importance of collaboration, respect and agility.

We at Gatik strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels they have opportunities to succeed and grow because we know that together we can do great things. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse team. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status or any legally protected status.