Senior Mechanical Engineer - FEA Analysis & Test

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.

Kodiak Robotics is developing autonomous vehicles. Our team is highly experienced and comes from the leading technology companies in the space.

We are looking for a mechanical analysis & test engineer (FEA/CAE) to join us and develop autonomous hardware.

In this role, you will:

Perform assembly-level mechanical FEA simulations in ANSYS

Simulation types include non-linear static and dynamic analyses such as modal, shock, and random vibration

Identify potential failure modes and provide actionable design guidance

Create reports of analysis results and present to cross-functional teams

Conduct or supervise testing and correlate data to FEA models

Write test procedures for both internal and external use

Develop custom fixtures for testing and support maintenance of test equipment

Support root-cause analysis of issues found in the field 

Manage relationships with testing facilities, suppliers, and other external partners

Travel: Occasional travel required to conduct or supervise testing

Qualifications:

Strong technical background . BS or MS, or equivalent experience, in Mechanical Engineering with 3+ years of experience analyzing mechanical systems with FEA in the automotive, aerospace or related industry. 

Strong FEA experience with packages such as Ansys and/or SolidWorks with strong fundamentals in solid mechanics, structural dynamics and materials science.

Bonus Experience : thermal and/or CFD simulation skills

Strong CAD experience with packages such as SolidWorks, NX, Catia, and/or Creo.

Experience with data acquisition systems with accelerometers, thermocouples, and strain gauges. 

What we 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

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, One Medical, Gympass, Spring Health

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 $150,000 — $185,000 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, reg …