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Defense Technical Program Manager

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.

Kodiak is growing its defense portfolio and needs a TPM who can hold multiple programs together simultaneously. You won’t own just one program type—you’ll drive delivery across a diverse set of contracts that range from tactical vehicle autonomy integration (e.g., ROGUE-Fires/NMESIS with the Marine Corps) to autonomous fleet deployment programs for other DoD customers. Each program has different customers, different hardware, and different operational demands.

This is a cross-functional leadership role for someone who thinks in systems and thrives on coordination complexity. You’ll work across hardware, software, safety, and ops sub-teams—aligning schedules, managing dependencies, and driving each program to delivery while maintaining the rigor defense customers expect.

What you’ll do:

  • Own end-to-end execution across multiple concurrent defense programs—from requirements and hardware design through integration, field testing, and customer delivery or demonstration.
  • Serve as the integrating force across sub-program TPMs and engineering teams (hardware, controls, safety, autonomy, ops), ensuring cross-workstream dependencies are visible and resolved.
  • Build and maintain integrated program schedules that span procurement, fabrication, integration, field testing, and milestone events across programs with different timelines and customers.
  • Lead demo and delivery readiness: define criteria, track open items across all workstreams, and drive closure so the team shows up prepared.
  • Drive hardware design reviews and iteration cycles; translate customer requirements into scope, BOMs, build plans, and verification matrices.
  • Lead operational planning for field deployments—site standup, vehicle commissioning, logistics, and sustainment support.
  • Communicate program status, risks, and decisions to internal leadership and external government customers; travel to field sites as needed for demos and customer events.

What you’ll bring:

  • 5+ years in technical program management for hardware-intensive, multi-disciplinary programs in robotics, autonomous vehicles, defense, aerospace, or other safety-critical domains.
  • Proven ability to coordinate across concurrent workstreams or multiple programs simultaneously—holding the integrated schedule and surfacing cross-team dependencies.
  • Operational planning experience: you’ve stood up assets or teams in new environments and managed field logistics.
  • Strong communicator able to translate between engineering teams and government customers.
  • Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science or a related field.
  • US Person (required for ITAR and government program access).  

Nice to have: 

  • Direct experience with DoD programs, government customers, DIU, prime contractors, or defense OEMs.
  • Background in fleet management, autonomous vehicle operations, or on-installation logistics.
  • Familiarity with MIL-SPEC standards, defense qualification frameworks, or government acquisition (OTA, IDIQ).
  • Exposure to tactical vehicle platforms, ruggedized electronics, or ITAR-controlled hardware development.
  • Background in functional safety (ISO 26262, MIL-STD-882) or controls systems.

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
  • Flexible PTO, 10 paid holidays, 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 through Cigna, Calm through Kaiser, One Medical, Gympass, Spring Health through Cigna, Rula (mental health navigation)
  • 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

$180,000 - $220,000 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, 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.
 
We use a third-party AI tool (Endorsed) to assist in the initial screening of applications. As part of the evaluation process, we provide Endorsed with job requirements and candidate-submitted applications. Final hiring decisions are made by our human recruitment team, and no automated system makes the ultimate decision regarding hiring. Certain features of the platform may qualify it as an Automated Employment Decision Tool (AEDT) under applicable regulations. We began using Endorsed on January 1, 2026. You can review the independent bias audit report covering our use of Endorsed [here](https://endorsed.com/local-law-144). By submitting your application, you acknowledge that your application may be processed by AI systems as part of the screening and selection process. If you have any questions or would like to request a separate review of your application, please contact careers@kodiak.ai with "Separate Review Request" in the email subject line.

 

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