Staff Software Engineer, Mission Planning

Kodiak; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

Flexible PTO

Dog-friendly office

Free catered lunch

Free EV charging

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Kodiak is seeking a Staff Software Engineer to join our Planning team to enhance the functionality of our driverless technology. The role includes designing mission planning systems, mentoring engineers, and developing robust predictive models for autonomous vehicle operation.

With over 6 years of experience in robotics software and a strong command of C++, you'll tackle complex challenges in real-world driving scenarios. We offer competitive compensation and excellent benefits, all within a collaborative work environment.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience developing production-level robotics software.
• Strong facility with modern C++ and expertise in motion planning.
• Experience delivering complex autonomous systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mission planning and prediction systems.
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to engineers.
• Develop robust models to predict the behavior of other actors.

Skills

C++

Motion planning

Trajectory optimization

Graph theory

Robotics software

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.

Kodiak is recruiting a Staff Software Engineer to join our Planning team and advance the Kodiak Driver’s ability to safely and gracefully handle complex real-world driving scenarios.

In this role, you will:

• Design and develop mission planning and prediction systems for driverless operation on public roads
• Develop the architecture and long-term roadmap for planning and prediction
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior and senior engineers, raising the bar for engineering excellence across the engineering organization
• Integrate engineered driving logic and machine-learning models
• Develop robust models to predict the behavior of other actors, improving both safety and driving performance
• Partner cross-functionally with Perception, Controls, Systems, and Simulation teams to define interfaces, requirements, and system behavior
• Solve difficult real-world problems involving lane changing, merging, speed modulation, mission updates, multi-trajectory prediction, and more!

What you’ll bring:

• 6+ years of experience developing production-level robotics software
• Strong facility with modern C++
• Expertise in motion planning, trajectory optimization, graph theory, and related domains
• Delivery of complex autonomous systems
• Leadership through ambiguous, unsolved challenges

Bonus points if you have:

• Experience deploying software on driverless autonomous vehicles
• Experience improving system performance (latency, throughput, reliability) in production environments
• Familiarity with simulation frameworks and data-driven development workflows
• A track record of mentoring engineers

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.)

Pay range: $200,000 — $250,000 USD (Base salary in our SF/Silicon Valley location).

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.