---
title: 'Staff Software Engineer, Learned & Hybrid Behavior Planning at Kodiak'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/staff-software-engineer-learned-hybrid-behavior-planning-kodiak-mountain-view-17mm23bapqp5'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-19'
---

# Staff Software Engineer, Learned & Hybrid Behavior Planning at Kodiak

- **Company:** Kodiak
- **Location:** Mountain View, CA
- **Compensation:** $240k–$265k
- **Posted:** 2026-06-23
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-19
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kodiak/jobs/4294898009

## Job description

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 a Staff Software Engineer to help shape how learned models are integrated into behavior planning for autonomous driving. In this role, you will sit at the intersection of Planning and Machine Learning, working closely with ML engineers and autonomy teams to bring learned components into a production autonomy stack.

This is a high-impact role for someone who understands both the practical constraints of real-world planning systems and the opportunities enabled by modern learned models. You will help shape how ML improves autonomy behavior while ensuring that new capabilities are safe, measurable, debuggable, and deployable.

## What You’ll Do

- 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.

## What We’re Looking For

- 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.

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 $240,000—$265,000 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.

## About Kodiak

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Kodiak develops AI-powered autonomous ground mobility solutions, primarily for long-haul trucking and defense applications, with the goal of building the world’s safest driver.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Founded in 2018; funding stage not explicitly disclosed but has raised significant capital from top-tier investors)
- **Headquarters**: Mountain View, California, United States
- **Founded**: April 2018
- **Founders**: Don Burnette (CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Autonomous Vehicles (AV), AI, Trucking & Logistics, Defense & National Security, Industrial Automation
- **Target customers**: B2B – Commercial trucking fleets, logistics companies, and the U.S. Department of Defense (for autonomous ground systems)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To become the trusted world leader in autonomous ground transportation, committed to a safer and more efficient future for all through the commercialization of driverless trucking at scale.

## Products & Services
- **[The Kodiak Driver]**: A purpose-built, AI-powered autonomous driving system (hardware and software) that enables driverless movement of trucks and other vehicles. It combines AI perception, modular hardware, and offboard services into a single, integrated platform designed for safety, efficiency, and reliability in long-haul trucking.
- **[Kodiak Defense Solutions]**: An adaptation of the Kodiak Driver for national security applications, providing autonomous capabilities for military ground vehicles.
- **[Industrial Autonomy Solutions]**: Solutions tailored for heavy industry and harsh environments, focusing on operational efficiency and safety.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed.
- **Key Metric**: Has safely delivered over 7,000 commercial loads and driven over 2.6 million autonomous miles. In 2024, became the first company to publicly announce delivering a driverless semi-truck to a customer.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Uber (Talent source and acquisition of co-founder's previous startup Ottomotto); key partners include the U.S. Department of Defense and members of its Trucking Industry Advisory Council. Alumni have come from Waymo, Cruise, Nuro, and Uber.
- **Growth Signals**: Actively expanding from trucking into defense and industrial sectors. Aggressive hiring with 59 active job postings (as of mid-2026) and a 28.3% year-over-year increase in job postings. They are on the critical path to launching driverless operations on public highways.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proven Track Record**: First to publicly deliver a driverless semi-truck to a customer and has a strong safety record with 2.6 million autonomous miles and 7,000+ loads delivered.
- **Purpose-Built Technology**: The Kodiak Driver is specifically designed for the unique challenges of long-haul trucking (e.g., highway driving, fuel efficiency, safety) rather than adapted from robotaxi technology.
- **Dual-Use Technology**: Leveraging its commercial self-driving software for defense applications (U.S. Department of Defense), creating a unique revenue stream and technological validation.
- **Strong Talent Pipeline**: Deep domain expertise with team members from top AV companies like Waymo, Cruise, Nuro, and Uber.

## Strategic Focus
- **Driverless Highway Launch**: The primary near-term goal is to launch driverless operations on public highways by the end of 2026 (as stated in job postings). This is the company's north star.
- **Expanding Operational Design Domain (ODD)**: After the initial driverless launch, the focus will be on expanding the conditions and geographies in which the Kodiak Driver can operate.
- **Diversification into Defense**: A significant strategic priority is deploying autonomous technology for national security, which provides a stable, non-commercial revenue stream and validates the technology's robustness.
- **Commercialization at Scale**: Moving from pilot programs and customer deliveries to full commercial deployment with major trucking fleets.

## Why Work Here
- **High-Impact Mission**: Work on technology that aims to save lives (reducing truck crashes caused by human error), improve sustainability, and transform the freight and defense industries.
- **Culture of Safety and Innovation**: The company is deeply committed to safety (ISO 26262, ISO 21448) but also values agility, efficiency, and "principled debate." They seek the truth, even when inconvenient.
- **Autonomy and Ownership**: Interns and engineers are given independence to design solutions and own their projects, working "shoulder-to-shoulder with the best."
- **Hybrid Work Environment**: Based in Mountain View, CA with a "hybrid work environment" and a newly renovated, dog-friendly office with free EV charging, catered lunch, and a fully stocked kitchen.
- **Competitive Compensation & Benefits**: Includes competitive base pay, equity, annual bonuses, flexible PTO, 401k, excellent medical/dental/vision, infertility benefits, and generous parental leave.
- **Talent Density**: Work alongside veterans from Waymo, Cruise, Nuro, Uber, and Google’s self-driving car project.

## Sources
1. [Kodiak AI Company Page](https://kodiak.ai/company)
2. [Kodiak AI Homepage](https://kodiak.ai/)
3. [Kodiak AI Careers Page](https://kodiak.ai/careers)
4. [LinkedIn - Kodiak](https://www.linkedin.com/company/kodiakai)
5. [Greenhouse - Kodiak Jobs](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kodiak/jobs/4194480009)

## Other roles at Kodiak

- [Operations Supervisor, Testing](https://feeny.ai/job/operations-supervisor-testing-kodiak-lancaster-yzmtq6xcf8yn) — Lancaster, TX
- [Senior Field Truck Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-field-truck-technician-kodiak-kermit-4fnr5t9gkn72) — Kermit, TX
- [Class A Safety Driver](https://feeny.ai/job/class-a-safety-driver-kodiak-lancaster-9rw7qj7htsvq) — Lancaster, TX
- [Winter 2027 Intern, Security](https://feeny.ai/job/winter-2027-intern-security-kodiak-mountain-view-ypctgxhm3vm2) — Mountain View, CA
- [Senior Onboard Infrastructure](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-onboard-infrastructure-kodiak-mountain-view-8ka5vnp2n699) — Mountain View, CA
- [Hardware Technical Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/hardware-technical-program-manager-kodiak-mountain-view-ne6r504zg7w7) — Mountain View, CA
- [Staff Vehicle Manufacturing Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-vehicle-manufacturing-engineer-kodiak-mountain-view-p0sb0wqr6674) — Mountain View, CA
- [Head of Hardware TPM](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-hardware-tpm-kodiak-mountain-view-60khjywfn7fa) — Mountain View, CA
- [Senior Autonomy Software Engineer, Mapping](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-autonomy-software-engineer-mapping-kodiak-mountain-view-chhsj3cwq6wn) — Mountain View, CA
- [Operations Lead, Command Center](https://feeny.ai/job/operations-lead-command-center-kodiak-lancaster-wfyjma3w2k71) — Lancaster, TX