Autonomous Vehicle Planning Engineer

hackajob is collaborating with Kodiak to connect them with exceptional tech professionals for this role.

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're building the next generation of planning capabilities by integrating learned models into autonomous vehicle decision-making. You'll translate neural network outputs to reliable vehicle behaviors. In this role, you will enhance our motion planner by incorporating machine learning models. You will define the interfaces, requirements, and integration strategies necessary to meaningfully improve decision-making in complex, real-world environments.

In addition to this effort, you will contribute broadly to the evolution of our planning stack by developing new features, improving core algorithms, and strengthening the overall architecture. This is a high-impact role for an engineer who enjoys bridging disciplines, shaping emerging capabilities, and advancing state-of-the-art autonomy through thoughtful, rigorous engineering.

What You’ll Do

• Incorporate neural networks into the planning stack, working closely with ML, perception, and systems teams.
• Evaluate how learned inputs influence planner performance, in simulation and on-road.
• Architect fallback, hybrid, or arbitration strategies that maintain safety and reliability when learned models are uncertain or degraded.
• Contribute to the broader planning system by designing and implementing new planning behaviors, search strategies, optimizations, and structural improvements.
• Write high-quality C++ code that meets real-time constraints and supports safety-critical deployment.
• Participate in code reviews, design discussions, and cross-team planning to ensure alignment and technical excellence.
  
  

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What You’ll Bring

• Strong software engineering skills with proficiency in C++. Python proficiency is a plus.
• Experience integrating ML models or learned components into a real-time system.
• A strong background in robotics, planning, optimization, and mathematics (MS, PhD, or equivalent experience).
• Industry experience in robotics or autonomous driving.
• Experience working in large-scale or safety-critical systems with strict performance requirements.
• Experience evaluating or interpreting ML model outputs.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to reason about algorithmic trade-offs and system behavior.
• Excellent communication skills and comfort working across teams.
• A desire to collaborate with other teams outside of planning.
  
  

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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)

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• 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. Total compensation at Kodiak includes base pay, equity, bonus and a competitive benefits package

California Pay Range

$200,000—$260,000 USD

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.

We use a third-party AI tool (Endorsed) to assist in the initial screening of applications. As part of the evaluation process, we provide Endorsed with job requirements and candidate-submitted applications. Final hiring decisions are made by our human recruitment team, and no automated system makes the ultimate decision regarding hiring. Certain features of the platform may qualify it as an Automated Employment Decision Tool (AEDT) under applicable regulations. We began using Endorsed on January 1, 2026. You can review the independent bias audit report covering our use of Endorsed [here](https://endorsed.com/local-law-144). By submitting your application, you acknowledge that your application may be processed by AI systems as part of the screening and selection process. If you have any questions or would like to request a separate review of your application, please contact careers@kodiak.ai with "Separate Review Request" in the email subject line.