Kodiak AI, Inc. (Nasdaq: KDK), founded in 2018, is a leader in Physical AI, developing driverless technology that powers machines that move. Its Kodiak Driver is a vehicle-agnostic autonomous driving system that combines AI-powered software with modular hardware. Today it operates in long-haul trucking, industrial trucking, and defense. In 2024, Kodiak launched commercial Driver-as-a-Service operations with no one in the cab, and plans to launch driverless long-haul service between Dallas and Houston by the end of 2026.

Kodiak has partnered with many of the biggest names in freight, including Bosch for scaled hardware production, AWS, and leading customers including Atlas Energy Solutions, IKEA, Bridgestone, Werner Enterprises, C.R. England, Roehl Transport, and General Dynamics Land Systems.

We're seeking a Lead Harness Engineer/Manager to lead harness architecture and strategy for our autonomous vehicle platform. This is a hands on role who owns the technical direction for harness design across the full vehicle system — high speed, low voltage, and high power — and sets the standards, processes, and supplier relationships that the harness engineering function runs on. You'll drive cross-functional alignment with electrical, mechanical, integration, and manufacturing teams, and mentor engineers building toward those standards.

In this role, you will:

Own the technical strategy and architecture for wire harness and subassembly design across the vehicle platform, balancing high speed, low voltage, and high power requirements
Set and enforce design standards, review processes, and DFM/DFA practices for harness schematics, diagrams, and system interconnect diagrams
Drive make/buy and supplier strategy for harness manufacturing; own key external manufacturing partner relationships and scale-up readiness
Lead trade studies on harness architecture (topology, routing, connector strategy, EMI/signal integrity tradeoffs) with system-level cost, weight, and reliability impact
Own full program lifecycle governance: technical reviews, DVP&R, outsourced cable manufacturing, qualification testing, and release
Lead or oversee root cause analysis on complex/escalated electrical system issues; drive corrective and preventive action across teams
Define and champion automated harness validation tooling and test strategy
Mentor and provide technical leadership to harness and electrical engineers and directly manage a harness engineering team
Represent harness engineering in cross-functional and executive-level design reviews with Software, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Systems, and external suppliers

What you'll bring:

BS or MS in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience
10+ years of hardware development experience, including automotive, aerospace, or related safety-critical industries, with a track record of technical leadership
Deep expertise in electrical harness design, architecture, and manufacturing at the system level
Proven experience setting design/quality standards and mentoring or leading engineers or teams
Strong troubleshooting skillset with hands-on root cause analysis experience
Expert familiarity with IPC quality standards (IPC/WHMA-A-620, etc.) and their application to program-level quality processes
Experience with implementation and on-vehicle debugging of low-level hardware buses (CAN, Ethernet, LIN)
Demonstrated ability to lead supplier negotiations and manage external manufacturing partnerships
Hands-on. Comfortable in the shop debugging a subsystem and in the room driving architecture decisions
Excellent communicator — experience writing and reviewing clear, concise technical documentation and presenting to leadership
Passion for autonomous vehicles and their potential impact

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