Senior Software Quality Simulation Specialist

Kodiak; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 121,500 - 148,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package including equity

Medical, Dental, and Vision plans

Flexible PTO and parental leave policies

Dog-friendly office with free catered lunch

401(k) plan and related financial benefits

Job summary

A leading autonomous technology firm in Mountain View, CA, is looking for a Simulation Operations Specialist to enhance simulation workflows and contribute to the improvement of autonomous trucking technology. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Computer Science, along with 2+ years experience in the robotics industry. The position also requires skills in Python or C++, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective communication.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in the autonomous vehicle or robotics industry.
• Hands-on experience with simulation workflows or large-scale simulation testing environments.
• Familiarity with structured test planning and execution.

Responsibilities

• Develop test plans and create simulations to test the behavior of autonomous trucks.
• Run daily simulation operations, including scenario execution and reporting.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure simulation scenarios reflect real-world conditions.

Skills

Experience in autonomous vehicle or robotics industry

Python programming

C++ programming

Problem-solving skills

Effective communication skills

Passion for autonomous technology

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science or related field

Tools

Applied Intuition tools

Job description

Overview

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 are seeking a hands-on Simulation Operations Specialist to join the Software Quality team. In this role, you will drive improvements across large-scale simulation sets, enhance simulation workflows and tools, and help advance safe and reliable autonomous trucking technology.

Responsibilities

• Know the robot better than almost anyone else
• Develop test plans and create simulations to test the behavior of our autonomous trucks
• Actively run daily simulation operations, including scenario execution, triage, and reporting
• Improve efficiency in test planning, scenario execution, and results tracking across large-scale simulation suites
• Partner with engineering teams to ensure simulation scenarios accurately reflect real-world conditions
• Work closely with systems engineers on structured test design and execution, ensuring comprehensive coverage of safety-critical and edge-case scenarios
• Share actionable insights from simulation results with autonomy software engineers to accelerate software development and validation
• Collaborate with infrastructure and tools teams to enhance automation, debugging, and scaling of simulations

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in autonomous vehicle or robotics industry
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science or related field
• 2+ years of experience in simulation, QA, or test automation, ideally in robotics or autonomous systems
• 1-2 years experience in python or C++ programming
• Hands-on experience with simulation workflows or large-scale simulation testing environments
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to dive into technical details
• Passion for autonomous technology and improving safety and efficiency through simulation
• Familiarity with structured test planning and execution; experience working with systems engineers preferred
• Experience with Applied Intuition tools is a plus
• Great communicator with experience writing clear, concise, and detailed communication
• Love of robots

What we offer

• Competitive compensation package including equity and annual bonuses
• Excellent Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
• Legal services, identity protection, hospital indemnity insurance, accident insurance, and critical illness insurance
• Flexible PTO, 10 paid holidays, and generous parental leave policies
• Office located in Mountain View, CA
• Office perks: dog-friendly, free catered lunch, fully stocked kitchen, and free EV charging
• Wellbeing benefits including mental health and fitness programs
• 401(k) plan and related financial benefits

Compensation

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 factors including location, experience, training, education, skill level and interview performance. Total compensation includes base pay, equity, bonus and a competitive benefits package.

$135,000 - $135,000 USD

Equal Opportunity

Kodiak is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to build a diverse community and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.