Senior Software Engineer, Controls (Simulation) at Kodiak
Mountain View, CA
$190,000–$260,000
Jul 27, 2026
Mountain View, CA
Jul 29, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
A controls-focused software engineering role on the autonomous trucking platform at Kodiak Robotics, based in Mountain View, CA. The engineer will build and refine high-fidelity vehicle dynamics models for articulated trucks — covering steering, braking, trailer coupling, environmental effects, and nonlinear behaviors — and use those models to validate and improve real-world controller performance. The work sits at the intersection of mathematical physics, control theory, and C++ software development.
Senior level · 4+ years · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · Full-time
We read this from the posting text with AI. Skim the description below before ruling yourself out.
How this req sits in the market our data
Roughly 4,200 people in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area plausibly meet what this posting asks for (software developers). range 2,200–5,400
Applicant volume Moderate — A normal amount of company. The rare requirements below are what will separate a shortlisted application from the rest.
What the occupation pays Median $217,796 (middle half $177,469–$231,052).
Estimated from BLS employment for this occupation and area, per-skill prevalence across our listing corpus, and published wage benchmarks — as of Jul 29, 2026. It is a model, not a headcount.
Why we read it this way (6)
The posting names no specific simulation frameworks, modeling tools, or software platforms beyond C++ — the technical requirements are stated in terms of domain knowledge (vehicle dynamics, control theory, mechanical physics) rather than named tools. Skills like 'vehicle dynamics modeling' and 'control theory' are included as the closest concrete technical capabilities described, though they are domain disciplines rather than named software tools.
The 4+ years figure is explicitly tied to 'controls development experience for automotive robots', which is a role-level requirement rather than a per-technology one; it is captured as the overall years minimum.
Automotive simulation experience (especially controls and robotic platforms), autonomous vehicle experience, statistical analysis, and automotive safety standards/processes all appear under the 'Bonus points' section and are treated as preferred.
No compensation figures are disclosed; the posting references only a 'competitive compensation package including equity and annual bonuses'.
The role is office-based in Mountain View, CA; no remote option is mentioned.
Ignored 1 non-technology phrase(s) as skills (responsibilities/concepts, not named tools): vehicle dynamics modeling.
Read the full posting
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