Staff Systems Engineer, Fault Management

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 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.

The Systems and Safety Engineering team at Kodiak is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to own the design and execution of Kodiaks next-generation Autonomy Fault Management System. This individual will lead the effort end-to-end : from product and system requirement definition through architecture and implementation to verification and validation and safety case integration. This leader will ensure that the Kodiak Driver handles onboard system faults with the desired correct safe response. This role is central to progressing towards achieving a scalable driverless deployment and will work closely with autonomy hardware software and system safety teams.

This role directly shapes Kodiaks ability to operate sustainably at commercial scale. Fault management is not only a safety systemit is a primary lever of fleet availability utilization and cost per mile. You will own the technical strategies that determine when the system can continue operating safely when it must degrade and when it must exit service

In this role you will :

• Lead the end-to-end development of the next generation of Autonomy Fault Management System leading the collaborative effort across hardware software system safety and operations teams.
• Own the systems and safety engineering execution for fault management across the full V-model lifecycle.
• Lead the development of systems engineering artifacts including requirements traceability V&V plans V&V evidence.
• Define and lead the fault management architecture and concept of operations including detection isolation response safe-state definition and minimum risk conditions.
• Generate technical evidence in support of the adequacy coverage and sufficiency of the Fault Management System as an element of Kodiaks Driverless Safety Case.
• Support quantitative and qualitative analyses used to set detection thresholds prioritize hazards and evaluate risk associated with fault responses and minimum risk maneuvers.
• Lead and influence system architecture trade studies that impact the fault coverage system availability safety risk and operational continuity.
• Develop the strategy for managing system availability degraded operation and operational continuity through the Fault Management System.
• Quantify the commercial and safety impact of false positive and false negative detections.
• Provide analysis to support complex autonomy system design trade-offs to inform system design decisions affecting safety and performance.
• Serve as the technical leader to align cross-functional teams around a unified fault management strategy.

What youll bring :

What we offer :

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

$200000 - $268000 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 candidates residence U.S. person status and / or citizenship status. Should the position require and Kodiak determines that a candidates 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 Kodiaks sole discretion or as an alternative opt not to proceed with the candidates 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( 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 with Separate Review Request in the email subject line.

Required Experience :

Staff IC

Key Skills

Computer Science,Docker,Kubernetes,Python,VMware,C / C++,Go,System Architecture,gRPC,OS Kernels,Perl,Distributed Systems

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1

Monthly Salary Salary : 200000 - 268000