Senior Vehicle Integration Engineer - Defense

Full Timesenior

Mountain View, CAPosted 7 days ago

Role Overview

Kodiak is hiring a Senior Vehicle Integration Engineer - Defense. This is a full-time role in Mountain View. posted last week. Full responsibilities, required qualifications, and the apply link are listed in the description below.

Resume Keywords to Include

Make sure these keywords appear in your resume to improve ATS scoring

PythonMATLABSpringLinuxORTriageCompensationBenefits

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 Senior Vehicle Integration Engineer with deep experience in new platform development and system-level integration. This role is at the forefront of bringing next-generation autonomous vehicle platforms to life — from early-stage concept through integration, validation, and deployment. You will work closely with hardware, systems, and manufacturing teams to drive new platform development, with a focus on integration quality, test rigor, and technical execution.

In this role, you will:

Lead system-level integration of sensors, compute, actuation, and vehicle systems for new platform development programs
Drive the full integration lifecycle: architecture definition, build planning, bring-up, validation, and sign-off
Develop and execute structured test plans to validate new platform functionality, performance, and reliability
Coordinate and lead cross-functional build and integration events with Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, and Systems teams
Provide Design-For-Manufacturing and Design-For-Test feedback to ensure new platforms are built for quality and scale
Develop and maintain comprehensive platform documentation including drawings, schematics, BOMs, build instructions, and test reports
Identify, triage, and resolve integration issues through systematic debugging and root cause analysis
Partner with systems and hardware engineering teams to define integration requirements and acceptance criteria for new platforms

What you'll bring:

Strong technical background. BS or MS in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
6+ years of experience in the autonomous vehicle, automotive, or a related industry
Demonstrated experience leading new platform or new product integration programs from early development through validation
Strong systems thinking and problem-solving skills; you are energized by complex, multi-disciplinary integration challenges
Hands-on. 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
CAD experience with packages such as SolidWorks
A team leader. Whether formally or informally, you have played the lead role on multiple integration or development programs. You take ownership and drive teams to deliver results
Great communicator. You write clear, concise, and detailed technical documentation, and are skilled at leading and participating in cross-functional design and integration reviews
Proven ability to drive testing through development, execution, analysis, corrective actions, and final report-outs across all stages of product development
U.S. person required

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

$180,000—$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.

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

Kodiak

On-site

68 other open roles at Kodiak on TryApplyNow.

View all 69 roles at Kodiak

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for the Senior Vehicle Integration Engineer - Defense position at Kodiak?

Use the Apply button above to submit your application directly to Kodiak. Most applications take less than 5 minutes if your resume and contact details are ready, and you'll be routed to the employer's official application system to finish.

Where is the Senior Vehicle Integration Engineer - Defense position at Kodiak located?

This position is based in Mountain View. Kodiak has not indicated remote or hybrid options for this role, so candidates should plan for on-site work.

What does a Senior Vehicle Integration Engineer - Defense at Kodiak earn?

Kodiak has not disclosed a salary range in this posting. Many employers share specifics later in the interview process; you can also ask during a recruiter screen if compensation transparency is important to you.

When was the Senior Vehicle Integration Engineer - Defense role at Kodiak posted?

This role was posted on July 2, 2026 (7 days ago). It's still listed as actively hiring; we re-confirm openings against the source system multiple times per day and remove closed roles.

How much experience does the Senior Vehicle Integration Engineer - Defense role at Kodiak require?

This is a senior-level position. Most senior roles call for 5+ years of directly relevant experience. Kodiak lists their specific requirements in the description below, so review the must-have qualifications closely before applying.