Staff Software Engineer, Controls

Kodiak; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity and biannual bonuses

Medical, Dental, Vision plans

Flexible PTO

Mountain View, CA office

Dog-friendly office

Free catered lunch

EV charging

401(k)

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Kodiak Robotics, Inc. is seeking an experienced Controls Software Engineer for the Motion Planning & Controls team to design and implement feedback, control, and actuation strategies for autonomous trucks.

You will collaborate with hardware, motion planning, and systems engineering to deliver a robust, safety‑critical vehicle control architecture and production‑level C/C++ software.

Qualifications

• MS, PhD, or equivalent experience in robotics/controls.
• Experience developing, testing, and tuning controllers for mobile autonomous systems.
• System identification, modeling, or simulation for dynamic systems.
• Strong theory with practical experience in controls and redundant architectures.
• Focus on end-to-end vehicle safety.
• Production-level C or C++ software experience.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement feedback, control, and actuation strategies.
• Architect, develop and test reliable, redundant, safety-critical software for trucks.
• Characterize the vehicle platform to develop models for motion planning and controls.
• Address redundant actuation, degraded operation, and fail-safe control.
• Collaborate with hardware, motion planning, and systems engineering teams to deliver a robust control architecture.

Skills

Robotics

Controls theory

Mathematics

C/C++ programming

Modeling/simulation

Education

MS/PhD or equivalent experience

Tools

CAN bus

Ethernet

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.

We are looking for an experienced Controls Software Engineer who is passionate about safety-critical systems to join our Motion Planning & Controls team.

In this role, you will:

• Be responsible for designing and implementing our feedback, control, and actuation strategies using both established & novel techniques
• Architect, develop, and test reliable, redundant, and safety-critical software that controls fully-loaded trucks driving on the road
• Characterize the 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, motion planning, and systems engineering) to deliver a robust vehicle control architecture (for example: requirement specifications, test plans, test documentation, and implemented testing at all levels of integration)

What you’ll bring:

• A strong background in robotics, controls, optimization, and mathematics (MS, PhD, or equivalent experience)
• Developed, tested, and tuned controllers for mobile autonomous robots, ideally trucks, cars, or flying vehicles
• Performed system identification, modeling, simulation, or other characterization for systems with complex dynamics
• A strong theoretical foundation paired with practical experience in controls, system modeling, and/or redundant architectures
• A focus on end‑to‑end vehicle safety
• Software development experience writing production-level C or C++

Bonus points if you have:

• Experience with 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
• Comfortable with Python, Matlab/Simulink, or other simulation/analysis tools used in feedback system design

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
• Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability, Life Insurance
• Wellbeing Benefits - Headspace, One Medical, Gympass, Spring Health
• 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 USD - $230,000 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.