Applied AI Engineer – Generative AI

Kodiak • San Francisco, CA

93d • $150,000 - $250,000

About The Position

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 redefining what AI can do in autonomy, and generative models play a critical role in making AI more adaptive, predictive, and resilient. We are looking for engineers to develop AI that anticipates uncertainty, enhances decision-making, and refines its own understanding of the world. This role is open to all levels—from those eager to contribute to cutting-edge research to experts driving innovation at scale.

Requirements

• BS, MS, or PhD in AI, Computer Science, or a related field, or at least 2-3 years of industry experience
• Experience with diffusion models, autoregressive learning, or generative AI methods
• Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks like PyTorch or TensorFlow
• Strong understanding of uncertainty modeling and self-supervised learning
• Passion for building AI that continuously adapts and learns.

Responsibilities

• Develop generative models that enhance adaptability and improve AI robustness
• Research and implement diffusion-based, autoregressive, and variational techniques for real-world AI applications
• Apply generative methods to anticipate challenges and reinforce decision-making
• Build self-improving AI pipelines that continuously refine model understanding
• Optimize models for efficient, scalable, and interpretable AI decision-making

Benefits

• 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
• 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.)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Master's degree