Software Engineer, Mapping

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 an experienced Software Engineer to develop software for mapping, map validation, and map tooling. Your work will be critical to Kodiak’s ability to quickly scale its autonomous freight network and serve more customers.

In this role, you will:

• Design and implement automated mapping algorithms to generate drivable maps with minimal human effort.

• Develop tools to validate and edit maps, ensuring our maps are of sufficiently high quality.

• Write and optimize queries for accessing map data onboard.

• Create pipelines that use our data to evaluate & improve our map quality.

• Build onboard and offboard infrastructure to deploy map changes across the fleet.

• Collaborate with other engineering teams that use the information stored in maps (e.g, localization, planning).

• Shape Kodiak’s strategy for mapping, which is critical to the company’s expansion into new geographies and markets.

What you’ll bring:

• Experience writing algorithms for map creation, validation, and maintenance for autonomous vehicles

• Knowledge of mapping, SLAM, probabilistic filtering, and optimization

• Authored map formats, solved map/software versioning issues, and handled map version upgrades

• Software development experience writing production-level C++ and Python code

• High standards for software quality and rigor, and a testing-oriented mentality

• Good communication skills and a collaborative bent

• Proven ability to iterate quickly and work hands-on

Bonus points if you have:

• Experience with data processing pipelines to develop automated workflows.

• Written highly optimized code for geometric queries on large-scale map data.

• Worked with cloud-based deployment strategies.

• A desire to rethink what really needs to be in a map for autonomous vehicles.

What we offer:

• 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

• 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, One Medical, Gympass, Spring Health

• 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 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$175,000—$210,000 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.