Functional Safety Engineer, Hardware
$130k - $190k USD
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 Functional Safety Hardware Engineer to join us and drive the development and management of our autonomous vehicle safety cases as we bring the Kodiak Autonomy System to market. We first published our Safety Report in 2019 and have based our development on systems engineering, the ISO26262 process and SOTIF principles.
In this role, you will:
- Perform hardware safety analyses (e.g. dependent failure modes and effects analysis (DFMEAs) to comply with ISO 26262. Hardware to be analyzed includes primarily electrical and embedded components as well as systems with supplier-designed components.
- Perform fault tree analysis (FTAs) and assess reliability.
- Participate in developing technical safety requirements to be used in the Kodiak Autonomy System in various approved Operational Design Domains.
- Allocate technical safety requirements to the hardware components.
- Participate in hardware safety unit design and implementation.
- Develop test plans, test procedures, verification reports at the hardware unit and hardware integration levels. Support system level testing from a hardware safety perspective.
- Support hardware-software interface development and derive safety measures.
- Support supplier management activities.
- Collaborate with Kodiak internal and external stakeholders to review and assess work products for compliance with ISO 26262.
- 10% travel to test sites possible
What you’ll bring:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in hardware, electrical, mechanical or other related engineering and/or a Bachelor’s degree with professional experience in a high tech environment
- Experience with Part 4, 5, 8 and 9 of ISO 26262. Special emphasis on implementation of Part 5 for autonomous vehicles
- Experience with developing work products for safety critical systems, especially DFMEAs for electrical and embedded components.
- Experience with system and hardware level verification and validation of autonomous vehicles
- Experience with functional safety standards such as ISO26262, SOTIF, and UL4600.
- Good communication skills with a collaborative approach
- Ability to structure project tasks and drive evidence development among teams
- Knowledge of hardware configuration management and hardware quality assurance
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
California Pay Range
$130,000—$190,000 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.