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Staff Software Engineer, Learned & Hybrid Behavior Planning

Kodiak AI· Motion Planning
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Mountain View, CA$240k - $265kFull-timePosted 4mo ago

About the role

Staff Software Engineer focusing on integrating learned models into the behavior planning stack for autonomous driving, bridging Planning and Machine Learning to production-ready autonomy components.

Responsibilities

  • Lead Planning-side integration of learned models into the behavior planning stack.
  • Collaborate closely with ML teams on model improvements, requirements, evaluation, and deployment.
  • Work on learned planning components as well as other ML-driven planning signals, such as behavior classification, actor intent understanding, and data-driven decision-making.
  • Design integration strategies that balance learned components with existing heuristic planning systems.
  • Define validation, fallback, monitoring, and safety criteria for learned planning components.
  • Debug and analyze model behavior using simulation, logs, metrics, and real-world autonomy data.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams across Perception, ML, Planning, Simulation, Systems, and Safety.
  • Lead technical designs and mentor other engineers.

Qualifications

  • Strong experience in autonomous vehicles, robotics, or a related autonomy domain.
  • Deep technical background in behavior planning, decision-making, or motion planning.
  • Strong software engineering skills with proficiency in C++. Python proficiency is a plus.
  • Experience working with heuristic or classical planning systems.
  • Experience integrating or developing learned behavior policies, behavior classification, trajectory prediction, or actor intent models.
  • Ability to reason about safety, system behavior, evaluation, and deployment risk.
  • Excellent cross-functional communication and technical leadership skills.
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.

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