Staff Software Engineer, Behavior Planning
Join Kodiak Robotics as a Staff Software Engineer to enhance behavior planning systems for autonomous driving.
Posted by employer 4 months ago
First seen on Joblaze 1 month ago
Last verified on the company career page 14 hours ago
Skills & Technologies
Role intensity
40% coding
AI in the day-to-day
We use a third-party AI tool (Endorsed) to assist in the initial screening of applications.
Requirements
- Visa
- Sponsorship available
Not disclosed in this posting: years of experience.
Benefits
Joblaze summary
The Staff Software Engineer for Behavior Planning at Kodiak Robotics focuses on designing and enhancing behavior and motion planning systems for autonomous vehicles. This role requires expertise in C++ and experience in building production-quality autonomy software, along with strong debugging skills in complex robotics scenarios. It is well-suited for seasoned engineers with a background in robotics or autonomous vehicles who thrive in collaborative environments. Kodiak's commitment to innovation is evident as it leads the way in autonomous ground transportation.
Joblaze insights
- Listed about a month ago — first seen on Joblaze September 3, 2026. Last confirmed on Kodiak Robotics's careers page October 27, 2026.
- Salary band is above the typical range for AI/ML roles (median ~$190,000).
- Starts above 63% of 27 comparable staff ai/ml roles in United States that list C++ we track (median $200,000 across 14 companies). See C++ salary trends
- C++ appears in 12.6% of 285 comparable staff ai/ml roles in United States.
Quick facts
- Is the Staff Software Engineer, Behavior Planning role remote?
- No — this is an on-site role in Mountain View, CA.
- What's the salary range?
- Kodiak Robotics lists $240,000–$265,000 for this role.
- Where is the role based?
- Kodiak Robotics is hiring for this position in Mountain View, CA.
- What's the tech stack?
- Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: C++.
- Does Kodiak Robotics sponsor work visas for this role?
- Yes — the posting indicates visa sponsorship is available for the right candidate.
- What seniority level is this role?
- Kodiak Robotics targets staff-level candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Full-time for this Staff Software Engineer, Behavior Planning role at Kodiak Robotics.
From the original posting
Kodiak AI, Inc. (Nasdaq: KDK), founded in 2018, is a leader in Physical AI, developing driverless technology that powers machines that move. Its Kodiak Driver is a vehicle-agnostic autonomous driving system that combines AI-powered software with modular hardware. Today it operates in long-haul trucking, industrial trucking, and defense. In 2024, Kodiak launched commercial Driver-as-a-Service operations with no one in the cab, and plans to launch driverless long-haul service between Dallas and Houston by the end of 2026.
We are looking for a Staff Software Engineer to help build and improve behavior planning and motion planning systems for autonomous driving. In this role, you will own planning features end to end, from design and implementation through validation, deployment, and analysis.
You will work on real-world autonomy behavior and help the system make safe, comfortable, and effective decisions in complex driving scenarios. This role is ideal for someone with strong planning experience who enjoys building production-quality autonomy software and collaborating across the autonomy stack
In this role, you will
- Design, implement, and improve behavior planning and motion planning features.
- Own planning projects from problem definition through deployment.
- Debug autonomy behavior using logs, simulation, metrics, and real-world data.
- Improve how the autonomy system balances safety, comfort, progress, and operational constraints.
- Collaborate with teams across Prediction, Controls, Perception, ML, Simulation, Systems, and Safety.
- Define success metrics and validation plans for planning features.
- Write production-quality C++ software.
- Participate in technical design reviews, code reviews, and architecture discussions.
- Mentor junior and senior engineers.
What you’ll bring
- Experience in behavior planning, motion planning, decision-making, robotics, autonomous vehicles, or related areas.
- Strong software engineering skills, preferably in C++.
- Experience building autonomy software in industrial, production, or near-production environments.
- Ability to debug complex robotics or autonomy behavior using logs, metrics, and simulation.
- Strong system-level judgment around safety, comfort, and deployment readiness.
- Strong collaboration and communication skills
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)
- 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
Standard company text repeated across Kodiak Robotics's postings is omitted here.
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