Senior Vehicle Integration Engineer

About the company

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. Kodiak 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.

About the role

Positioned at the intersection of hardware, software, and manufacturing, this role ensures our commercial fleet remains reliable, functional, and maintainable. You will bring best-in-class rigor to diagnostics, repairs, and documentation, elevating operational standards. In addition to directly diagnosing and repairing hardware and system issues, you will assist technicians and create repeatable, auditable documentation. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to maintain and enhance fleet standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead and own the continuous improvement of a customer-facing product, identifying and driving key technical initiatives.
• Spearhead the coordination and execution of complex repairs and upgrades, partnering with cross-functional teams (ME, EE, Manufacturing, and Vehicle Operations) to ensure seamless delivery.
• Own the Design-for-Manufacturing and Serviceability feedback loop, influencing product architecture and long-term maintainability.
• Oversee hardware quality inspections, proactively resolving manufacturing and build issues to ensure fleet-wide reliability.
• Lead the broader hardware team in developing vehicle and subsystem BOMs, comprehensive documentation, and robust verification plans.

Requirements

• Strong technical background: BS or MS in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering with 6+ years of experience in the autonomous vehicle, automotive, or a related industry.
• Strong systems analysis and problem-solving skills; understanding and debugging complex systems is exciting for you.
• Hands-on experience: You are equally comfortable with a wrench and a keyboard. Confident with automotive electronics and familiar with communication protocols and tools such as Ethernet and CAN.
• Experience with scripting and data analysis languages such as Python or MATLAB.
• Understanding of Linux-based systems and computer networking.
• Ability to navigate electrical and mechanical CAD software.
• Proven ability to drive testing through development, execution, analysis, corrective actions, and final report-outs, with a track record of bringing sustaining engineering practices to fielded products.

Skills

• A team leader: Whether formally or informally, you have previously played the lead role on several projects. You take ownership and drive teams to deliver exceptional results.
• Great communicator: You write clear, concise, and detailed documentation and are skilled at leading and participating in cross-functional design reviews.

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.
• 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.).