Autonomous Vehicle Test Driver

Who We Are

Gatik is in the business of autonomous freight, and that business is already on the road.

Every day, Gatik’s autonomous trucks move freight for Fortune 50 retailers, grocers and consumer brands across Texas, Arizona, Arkansas and Canada, connecting distribution centers and stores and keeping goods moving. At the heart of it all is the Gatik Driver™, our proprietary Level 4 autonomous driving system, powered by scalable, interpretable AI and engineered to deliver safe, reliable, high-frequency freight operations.

Gatik’s momentum is real. With more than $600 million in contracted revenue and $200 million raised in our August 2026 Series D round, Gatik has taken one of the toughest challenges in autonomous technology and turned it into a proven commercial business.

And the market is paying attention. In 2026, Gatik earned a place on Forbes' America's Best Startup Employers list, and the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies. The Gatik Driver™ won an Edison Award for Advancements in Autonomous Driving, and Inc. named our Co-founder and Chief Engineer, Apeksha Kumavat, to its Female Founders 500 list.

There's a lot more road ahead, and some of the brightest, most driven minds in autonomous technology are building the next chapter at Gatik. We're taking on hard engineering problems, pushing the limits of what's possible and building on a commercial foundation that's already proven itself in the real world with some of the biggest companies in the world, like PepsiCo and Loblaw. If you're ambitious, love solving problems that matter and want to see your work make a real difference, you'll find plenty to get excited about here.

About the role

Join  Gatik in  Santa Clara, CA and help support the future of autonomous trucking. In this role, you will operate CDL or box trucks while working alongside advanced vehicle technology that powers Gatik’s middle-mile logistics network.

We’re looking for experienced,  safety-focused drivers who are comfortable with new technology and excited to be part of the next generation of freight transportation.

What You’ll Do

• Drive & Test: Safely operate 26–30 ft box trucks , monitor diagnostic screens, and execute test runs.
• Maintain Vehicle Standards: Proactively manage vehicle upkeep, coordinate vendor repairs, and ensure no truck returns to service with unresolved defects.
• Rigorous DVIRs: Complete accurate pre- and post-trip Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs) to catch and document issues before hit the road.
• Engineering Feedback: Record software and hardware behavior clearly to help refine autonomous technology.
• Proactive Ownership: Escalate risks early, follow through on maintenance requests, and take full responsibility for vehicle readiness.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience : 3+ years of professional driving experience, including 1+ year in 26–30 ft box trucks (Required).
• Licensing: Valid CDL and clean Motor Vehicle Record (Required).
• Safety & Ownership Mindset: Commitment to prioritizing safety and fleet integrity over speed.
• Tech Proficiency: Comfortable with Samsara ELD, timecard tools, Slack, email, and diagnostic apps.
• Communication : Clear report writing, precise DVIR record-keeping, and strong vendor communication skills.
• Physical Ability: Excellent agility and reaction time to move quickly within confined cab seating without disturbing controls.
• Cab Access: Ability to repeatedly mount and dismount 26–30 ft trucks using 3-point contact.
• Requirements: Variable/rotating shift availability; must pass background check and drug screening; open to working through agency partners.

Salary Range - $26/hr - 31/hr depending on experience and certifications

More about Gatik

Founded in 2017, Gatik has grown into a commercial force in autonomous freight, operating trucks daily in live customer networks across the United States and Canada. We're headquartered in Santa Clara, California, but our impact is felt on the roads and in the supply chains that keep essential goods moving for some of the biggest companies in North America.

Our trucks do some of the most demanding work in freight, running high-frequency, time-sensitive routes between distribution centers and stores, where reliability matters every single day. For our customers, that means more capacity, better service and products arriving where they need to be, when they need to be there.

Behind it all is AI-first technology built from the ground up for autonomous trucking, capable of navigating highways and surface streets and tackling the complexity of real-world logistics at scale.

Visit Gatik for more company information and Careers at Gatik for more open roles.

Notable News

For the latest company news, visit the Gatik newsroom.

Recent media coverage:

• TechCrunch: Self-driving truck startup Gatik raises $200M following PepsiCo deal
• Reuters: Gatik secures $200 million in funding as autonomous freight market accelerates
• Bloomberg: Driverless Trucks Can Save Lives on America's Roads
• PepsiCo website: PepsiCo and Gatik announce multi-year agreement to deploy autonomous freight in North America
• Wall Street Journal: Driverless Trucks Are Here - and They’re Delivering Bags of Doritos
• CBS News: Pepsi deploys self-driving delivery trucks
• Bloomberg: Autonomous Trucking Firm Gatik Inks Contracts Worth $600 Million
• Forbes: Hundreds’ Of Gatik Robot Delivery Trucks Headed For U.S. Roads
• CNBC-TV18: No more test runs: Gatik says driverless trucks are now a real, money-making business
• Forbes: Gatik And Loblaw Announce Largest Commercial Deployment Of AV Trucks

Taking care of our team

At Gatik, we connect people of extraordinary talent and experience to an opportunity to create a more resilient supply chain and contribute to our environment’s sustainability. We are diverse in our backgrounds and perspectives yet united by a bold vision and shared commitment to our values. Our culture emphasizes the importance of collaboration, respect and agility.

We at Gatik strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels they have opportunities to succeed and grow because we know that together we can do great things. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse team. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status or any legally protected status.

E-Verify Notice : By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Gatik participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program.