Senior Mechanical Engineer - FEA Analysis & Test

Kodiak; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Biannual bonuses

Medical coverage

Flexible PTO

Parental leave

Dog-friendly office

Free catered lunch

EV charging

401(k) Fidelity

Commuter benefits

HSA / FSA

Job summary

Kodiak Robotics, Inc. is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer focused on FEA/CAE to advance autonomous hardware. Based in Mountain View, CA, you will perform assembly-level FEA simulations, identify failure modes, and guide robust designs for our autonomous systems.

You will create analysis reports, supervise testing, develop fixtures, and collaborate with cross-functional teams. Strong CAD and data-acquisition experience are essential for correlating test data with models.

Qualifications

• Strong technical background: BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering with 3+ years of FEA experience in automotive/aerospace or related fields.
• Proficient FEA with ANSYS and SolidWorks; solid mechanics and structural dynamics knowledge.
• Bonus: thermal and/or CFD simulation skills.
• Strong CAD experience: SolidWorks, NX, Catia, Creo.
• Experience with data acquisition systems (accelerometers, thermocouples, strain gauges).

Responsibilities

• Perform assembly-level mechanical FEA simulations in ANSYS (non-linear static and dynamic analyses: modal, shock, random vibration).
• Identify failure modes and provide design guidance.
• Create reports and present results to cross-functional teams.
• Conduct or supervise testing and correlate data to FEA models.
• Write test procedures and develop fixtures for testing.
• Support root-cause analysis and manage testing facilities & vendors.
• Travel occasionally for testing activities.

Skills

FEA analysis

ANSYS

SolidWorks

NX

Catia

Creo

Structural dynamics

CFD

Data acquisition

Accelerometers

Thermocouples

Strain gauges

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

MS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ANSYS

SolidWorks

NX

Catia

Creo

Job description

Senior Mechanical Engineer - FEA Analysis & Test

Mountain View, CA

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.

Kodiak Robotics is developing autonomous vehicles. Our team is highly experienced and comes from the leading technology companies in the space.

We are looking for a mechanical analysis & test engineer (FEA/CAE) to join us and develop autonomous hardware.

In this role, you will:

• Perform assembly-level mechanical FEA simulations in ANSYS
• Simulation types include non-linear static and dynamic analyses such as modal, shock, and random vibration
• Identify potential failure modes and provide actionable design guidance
• Create reports of analysis results and present to cross-functional teams
• Conduct or supervise testing and correlate data to FEA models
• Write test procedures for both internal and external use
• Develop custom fixtures for testing and support maintenance of test equipment
• Support root-cause analysis of issues found in the field
• Manage relationships with testing facilities, suppliers, and other external partners
• Travel: Occasional travel required to conduct or supervise testing

Qualifications:

• Strong technical background. BS or MS, or equivalent experience, in Mechanical Engineering with 3+ years of experience analyzing mechanical systems with FEA in the automotive, aerospace or related industry.
• Strong FEA experience with packages such as Ansys and/or SolidWorks with strong fundamentals in solid mechanics, structural dynamics and materials science.
• Bonus Experience: thermal and/or CFD simulation skills
• Strong CAD experience with packages such as SolidWorks, NX, Catia, and/or Creo.
• Experience with data acquisition systems with accelerometers, thermocouples, and strain gauges.

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
• Our office is centrally located in Mountain View, CA
• Office perks: dog-friendly, free catered lunch, a fully stocked kitchen, and free EV charging
• Fidelity 401(k)
• Commuter, FSA, Dependent Care FSA, HSA

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

$150,000 - $185,000 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.