Software Engineer, Sensor Calibration

Kodiak Robotics, Inc. was founded in 2018 and has become the trusted world leader in autonomous ground transportation committed to a safer and more efficient future for all. The company is developing an industry-leading artificial intelligence (AI) powered technology stack purpose-built for driverless military and long-haul trucking applications. Kodiak’s unique modular hardware approach integrates sensors into a streamlined sensor-pod structure that optimizes for perception, scalability, and maintainability. The company autonomously delivers freight daily for its commercial customers across the Sun Belt states and for Atlas Energy in the Permian Basin. Kodiak also leverages its commercial self-driving software to develop, test and deploy autonomous capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense.

We are looking for a highly skilled Software Engineer to develop software for calibration estimation and monitoring across a nationwide fleet of self-driving trucks. Your code will be critical to the accuracy of the Kodiak Vision perception system and safe driverless performance in every scenario.

In this role, you will:

• Be responsible for designing and implementing Kodiak’s methods for sensor calibration in well-tested C++ code, deployment across the fleet, and evaluation of performance over time.
• Develop software for automatic calibration of camera, lidar, radar, and ultrasound sensors based on state-of-the art techniques.
• Define, implement, and optimize key sensor calibration metrics as they relate to perception performance. Minimize truck calibration error across the fleet.
• Define out-of-tolerance specifications based on driving requirements and develop methods to identify out-of-tolerance calibration at vehicle commissioning, start-up, and in real-time during driverless missions.
• Implement continuous automatic correction techniques and methods to recognize and report unrecoverable errors.
• Build tools for reporting calibration errors and results and track these over time.
• Operationalize calibration software by working with the integration team to deploy into the build and commissioning process.
• Continuously improve the calibration process to minimize cost, vehicle downtime, and calibration time.
• Collaborate closely with other experts on the team in sensors, perception, prediction, planning, and systems engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong technical background. BS, MS or PhD with academic or industry experience in calibration or optimization. Skilled in C++. Strong problem-solving skills.
• You write well-designed, maintainable code C++.
• Solid foundation in the mathematics of optimization, projective geometry, space transformations, probability, and statistics. Familiar with modern calibration techniques. Comfortable reviewing the literature and implementing methods from papers and texts. Strong data modeling skills.
• Experience working with sensor data (camera, lidar, radar, ultrasound). Deep expertise in one or many of the sensor modalities is a plus. Familiar with sensor intrinsic and extrinsic models for each modality, underlying factors motivating model selection, and sources of error.
• Ability to define experiments, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions in order to root cause problems observed in the field. Excel at turning root causes into design and implementations to resolve them permanently.
• You take ownership and work with the team to deliver exceptional results. You are interested in the performance of the entire system across engineering disciplines, eager to teach colleagues, and enjoy learning from others.
• Ability to build and iterate quickly. You enjoy working fast and smart, and you are comfortable in defining and building lasting components from scratch.
• You are experienced working with production systems, hardware devices, and calibration software depended upon for mission success.
• Great communicator. You have experience writing clear, concise, and detailed documentation.

What we can 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
• 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 annual salary range for this full-time position is $150,000-$230,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Actual salary ranges will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the role location or, if the role can be performed remote, the specific salary range for your preferred location, during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed above are base salary only and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits.

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 U.S. national security statutes, regulations, and administrative prerequisites. These statutes may impose limitations on Kodiak's capacity to engage specific individuals in particular roles based on various national security-related criteria. Kodiak will provide sponsorship for eligible candidate's. Consequently, the eligibility for this position may hinge on Kodiak's verification of a candidate's residence, U.S. person status, and/or citizenship status. In accordance with these statutes , Kodiak may find it necessary to secure a U.S. government export license before disseminating its technologies to specific individuals. Should Kodiak determine that a candidate's residence, U.S. person status, and/or citizenship status necessitate a license, prohibit the candidate from assuming this position, or otherwise fall under national security-related restrictions, Kodiak explicitly retains the right to either assess the candidate for an alternative position 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.