Staff Software Engineer, Controls

Kodiak•Mountain View, CA

2d•$200,000 - $250,000•Onsite

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. 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)

Requirements

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++

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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)

Benefits

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.
California Pay Range $200,000 - $250,000 USD