Autonomous Vehicle Test Driver

Autonomous Vehicle Test Driver

Santa Clara, CA

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.

More About Gatik

Founded in 2017 by experts in autonomous vehicle technology, Gatik has rapidly expanded its presence to Santa Clara, Dallas-Fort Worth, Arkansas, and Toronto. As the first and only company to achieve fully driverless middle-mile commercial deliveries, Gatik holds a unique and defensible position in the AV industry, with a clear trajectory toward sustainable growth and profitability.

We have delivered complete, proprietary AV technology - an integration of software and hardware - to enable earlier successes for our clients in constrained Level 4 autonomy. By choosing the middle mile – with defined point-to-point delivery, we have simplified some of the more complex AV challenges, enabling us to achieve full autonomy ahead of competitors. Given extensive knowledge of Gatik's well-defined, fixed route ODDs and hybrid architecture, we are able to hyper-optimize our models with exponentially less data, establish gate-keeping mechanisms to maintain explainability, and ensure continued safety of the system for unmanned operations.

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

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.