Head of Hardware TPM

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 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.

Head of Hardware Technical Program Management

About the Role Were looking for a Head of Hardware TPM to lead program management across our hardware organization spanning sensor systems compute electrical/mechanical integration and vehicle-level hardware platforms. Youll own the end-to-end execution rigor that gets hardware from concept through validation to fleet deployment and youll lead a team of 3 TPMs covering these programs. This is a leadership role reporting directly to the Director of Program with high visibility across Engineering Operations and executive leadership.

What Youll Do

• Own the hardware program roadmap: schedules milestones dependencies and risk tracking across concurrent hardware programs (sensors compute harnessing vehicle integration etc.)
• Lead and grow a team of 3 TPMs setting standards for program rigor reporting and cross-functional communication and developing them as they take on increasing scope
• Partner closely with Hardware Engineering Manufacturing Supply Chain Operations and Safety/Compliance to de-risk programs before they become fire drills
• Drive design reviews gate reviews and change management processes (ECOs/ECRs) to keep programs moving without sacrificing quality
• Own escalation paths: identify blockers early drive resolution and know when to pull in leadership
• Create and maintain program-level visibility for executives: status reporting risk registers and roadmap health
• Set the strategic direction for hardware program management processes tooling and metrics org-wide (e.g. PLM systems release processes)
• Represent hardware program status in cross-functional executive and customer-facing settings as needed
• Act as a key partner to hardware engineering leadership on org design resourcing and prioritization tradeoffs

What Were Looking For

• 10 years in technical program management with deep experience in hardware (mechanical electrical or systems-level) robotics automotive aerospace or similar hardware-intensive industries strongly preferred
• 4 years managing TPMs or program managers directly with experience developing senior ICs
• Deep familiarity with hardware development lifecycles: DFM/DFA EVT/DVT/PVT-style validation gates ECO/PLM processes
• Proven track record shipping complex hardware systems on schedule at scale with a bias toward identifying and killing risk early
• Excellent executive communication: able to distill complex multi-workstream programs into clear risk/status narratives for leadership
• Comfortable owning ambiguous high-stakes problems with no clean home
• Bonus: experience with autonomous vehicle systems sensor hardware (lidar/radar/camera) or safety-critical hardware development

Why This Role Matters Hardware programs are the backbone of getting real vehicles into the real world. This role will set the direction for how hardware program management scales as the org grows balancing speed quality and risk across a widening portfolio of programs.

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

$195000 - $260000 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 candidates residence U.S. person status and/or citizenship status. Should the position require and Kodiak determines that a candidates 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 Kodiaks sole discretion or as an alternative opt not to proceed with the candidates 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( with Separate Review Request in the email subject line.

Required Experience:

Director