Software Engineer, Controls (MATLAB)

Socket.dev; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay + equity

Annual bonuses

Medical/Dental/Vision

Flexible PTO

Mountain View office

Dog-friendly office

Free catered lunch

EV charging on-site

401(k)

Job summary

Kodiak Robotics, Inc. is seeking a Controls Software Engineer to join the Motion Planning & Controls team. You will design and implement feedback, control, and actuation strategies for safety-critical motion of autonomous trucks on the road.

You will collaborate with hardware, embedded systems, and systems engineering to develop models for precise motion planning, simulation, and controls, and you will create requirements, implement features, plan tests, and document results.

Qualifications

• Experience with production MATLAB/Simulink development.
• Experience generating code from MATLAB/Simulink to embedded C/C++.
• Experience tuning controllers for mobile autonomous platforms.
• System identification, modeling, simulation of dynamic systems.
• Strong theoretical foundation in controls and safety-centric design.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement feedback, control, and actuation strategies for safety-critical motion.
• Develop and test software for autonomous trucks on the road.
• Collaborate with hardware, embedded systems and systems engineering teams.
• Create requirements, implement features, plan tests, and document results.

Skills

MATLAB

Simulink

C/C++

Robotics control

System identification

Control theory

Autonomous vehicles

Safety-critical

Tools

CAN

HIL testing

Embedded systems

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. In 2025, Kodiak listed publicly on the NASDAQ.

We are looking for a Controls Software Engineer who is passionate about safety-critical motion control to join our Motion Planning & Controls team.

In this role, you will:

• Participate in designing and implementing our feedback, control, and actuation strategies using both established & novel techniques
• Develop, and test reliable, redundant, and safety-critical software that controls fully-loaded trucks driving on the road
• Engage with vehicle platform (e.g., steering, braking, throttle/engine management, dynamics) to develop models that can be used for precise motion planning, simulation, and controls
• Work on fundamental problems in redundant actuation, degraded operation, and fail-safe control
• Collaborate with other teams at Kodiak (e.g. hardware, embedded systems, and systems engineering) to deliver a robust vehicle control architecture
• Create requirement specifications, implement features, plan testing, and document results

What you’ll bring:

• Software development experience writing production-level MATLAB & Simulink
• Experience with automatic code generation from MATLAB / Simulink to embedded C / C++
• Development, testing, and tuning of controllers for mobile autonomous robots, ideally trucks, cars, or flying vehicles
• System identification, modeling, simulation, and characterization of systems with complex dynamics
• A strong theoretical foundation paired with practical experience in controls, system modeling, and redundant architectures
• A focus on end-to-end vehicle safety
• 2-4 years of professional, post University experience

Bonus points if you have:

• Familiarity in development of production C++
• Understanding of hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing
• Understanding of software design and implementation in safety-critical domains (e.g. automotive, aerospace, medical, etc)
• Written low-level drivers for software/hardware interfacing using protocols such as CAN or ethernet
• Written efficient code running on resource-constrained embedded systems with a real-time operating system
• Experience with formal verification methods, writing requirements, and systems engineering processes
• Drafted safety goals and requirements with traceability, following the ISO26262 process

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

$190,000 — $260,000 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 [here](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. If you have any questions or would like to request a separate review of your application, please contact [e-mail] with "Separate Review Request" in the email subject line.