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Program Manager, Defense

Mountain View, CA

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.

We are seeking an experienced and mission-driven Program Manager to lead the execution of complex engineering programs in support of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). This role is central to delivering autonomous vehicle capabilities tailored for military applications—bridging technical execution with defense acquisition, operations, and stakeholder engagement.

We’re looking for someone who thrives in fast-paced, dual-use environments and who brings both strong technical acumen and experience navigating government customers and programs. You'll work closely with engineering, business development, and operations teams to drive forward autonomy capabilities that deliver meaningful outcomes to U.S. military partners.

In this role you will:

  • Lead planning, coordination, and delivery of end-to-end Defense-focused autonomy programs across Kodiak’s software, hardware, and systems teams.
  • Translate DoD mission needs, and product requirements into program objectives, and technical roadmaps.
  • Work closely with engineering leads, product managers, and external government stakeholders to define milestones, manage dependencies, and deliver high-confidence program execution.
  • Build and maintain detailed program schedules with a strong focus on government reporting, risk management, and integrated testing milestones.
  • Support government customer engagements, including documentation, reviews, and demonstration planning.
  • Drive alignment between defense program timelines and commercial engineering roadmaps to maximize reuse and efficiency.
  • Facilitate cross-functional communication across internal and external teams, including software, hardware, safety, operations, and government partners.
  • Develop and track program metrics and delivery milestones, including performance reporting for Defense customers and internal leadership.
  • Champion program management best practices across the team, with an eye toward scalable processes, efficiency, and accountability.

What you'll bring:

  • 10+ years of experience as a Program Manager or similar role in a fast-paced, complex engineering environment supporting a dual-use or Defense effort. 
  • Strong technical background, ideally with hands-on experience in software development, robotics, or systems engineering.
  • Proven track record of successfully managing and delivering large-scale, cross-functional technical projects from concept to deployment.
  • Exceptional communication, organizational, and leadership skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse teams.
  • Proficiency with project management methodologies and tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Confluence).
  • Demonstrated ability to break down complex problems into actionable plans and drive results at a defense company or for a government customer. 
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

Bonus points for:

  • Experience in the autonomous vehicle, robotics, or at dual-use companies.
  • Proficiency with the government contracting process. 
  • Master’s degree or relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, CSM, SAFe).
  • Experience bringing safety critical systems to production level, and working knowledge of DoD safety verification standards and processes.
  • Familiarity with agile development methodologies.
  • Security Clearance (active or Eligible)

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.)
Actual salary ranges will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the role location. Please note that the compensation details listed above are base salary only and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits.
 
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, regulations, and administrative prerequisites. Accordingly, roles that carry more sensitive requirements may be limited to candidates that can satisfy additional scrutiny and eligibility for such positions may hinge on verification of a candidate’s residence, U.S. person status, and/or citizenship status. Should the position require, and Kodiak determines that a candidate’s residence, U.S. person status, and/or citizenship status necessitate an export license, bar the candidate from the position, or otherwise fall under national security-related restrictions, Kodiak will consider the candidate for alternative positions unaffected by such restrictions, under terms and conditions set forth at Kodiak’s sole discretion, or, as an alternative, opt not to proceed with the candidate’s application. If applicable, Kodiak may provide visa sponsorship for eligible candidates.

 

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