Senior Onboard Infrastructure

Kodiak; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 215,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Equity and bonuses

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) plan

Flexible PTO

Dog-friendly office

Free lunch

Job summary

Kodiak Robotics, Inc. is seeking a Software Engineer focused on onboard vehicle systems to design and implement core vehicle integrations for our autonomous trucks.

You will work across domains to connect embedded devices, AI, and compute hardware, test vehicle actuation, and contribute to the real-time operating system powering our trucks. This role emphasizes C++, Linux development and cross-functional collaboration for reliable software.

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.

Responsibilities

• Own the integration between autonomy hardware and vehicle platforms for new products.
• Test vehicle actuation systems and enable the first movements of new vehicles.
• Collaborate to build Kodiak's real-time operating system powering the trucks.
• Design and implement core infrastructure and libraries in modern C++.
• Build reliable compute and network systems for the autonomous stack.
• Gather metrics to analyze and optimize performance of autonomous systems.

Skills

Modern C++

CAN Protocols

Linux Development

Embedded Software

Education

BS or MS in CS or related

Tools

Bazel

RTOS

Bare-metal

Job description

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.

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

California Pay Range

$155,000 — $215,000 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.

We use a third-party AI tool (Endorsed) to assist in the initial screening of applications. As part of the evaluation process, we provide Endorsed with job requirements and candidate‑submitted applications. Final hiring decisions are made by our human recruitment team, and no automated system makes the ultimate decision regarding hiring. Certain features of the platform may qualify it as an Automated Employment Decision Tool (AEDT) under applicable regulations. We began using Endorsed on January 1, 2026. You can review the independent bias audit report covering our use of Endorsed https://endorsed.com/local-law-144. By submitting your application, you acknowledge that your application may be processed by AI systems as part of the screening and selection process.