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Staff Software Engineer, Controls

Kodiak AI· Controls
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Mountain View, CA$190k - $230kfull-timePosted 10mo ago

About the role

Experienced controls software engineer for safety-critical vehicle control systems in autonomous driving, focusing on feedback, control, actuation strategies, and integration with hardware and software teams to deliver robust vehicle control architecture.

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)

Qualifications

  • 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++

Skills

Required:Robotics, controls, optimization, and mathematicsController design and tuningSystem identification and modelingEnd-to-end vehicle safetyC/C++ software development

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.)
Last updated Oct 21, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Kodiak AI

Safely driving an autonomous future.

Our purpose-built autonomous solution, the Kodiak Driver, is the AV industry’s most advanced driverless technology, seamlessly integrating into any driving platform for reliable movement in any environment. Learn how we’re shaping the future of ground transportation.

autonomousdriverlessground transportationAI
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