Product Operations Specialist

Kodiak
Mountain View, CA
On-siteCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Operations-focused professionals with technical acumen and cross-functional experience will find this product operations role in autonomous vehicle technology.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with experience in process optimization and logistics domains
    — “Operations research, industrial engineering, and/or process optimization
  • Individuals who have worked in both startup and large company environments
    — “Working in both a startup and a larger company environment
  • Detail-oriented professionals with strong analytical and communication skills
    — “Exceptional attention to detail and a track record of driving timely execution in complex environments

Things to consider

  • Full-time presence in Mountain View, CA is required
    — “Must be willing to work full-time in the Mountain View, CA office
  • Candidates may need to meet additional eligibility criteria for sensitive roles
    — “roles that carry more sensitive requirements may be limited to candidates that can satisfy additional scrutiny

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in translating operational needs into product requirements
    — “translating operational needs into actionable product and engineering requirements
  • Showcase proficiency in using data visualization tools like Kibana/Elastic
    — “Highly analytical with a proven ability to use data to drive process improvements and product decisions, e.g., Kibana/Elastic
  • Demonstrate experience with generative AI tools in stakeholder communication
    — “Adeptness in leveraging generative AI tools to streamline workflows and enhance clarity and quality in stakeholder communication
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • design and document processes
  • translate operational needs into product requirements
  • deploy new product features
  • drive operational workflows
Typical background
product operationstechnical program management

Skills & requirements

Required

Process DesignFeedback Loop ManagementFeature DeploymentCross-functional CollaborationOperational ExcellencePerformance MonitoringStakeholder Communication

Preferred

Operations ResearchAutonomyMobilitySupply ChainLogistics

Stack & domain

KibanaElasticCommunicationAttention To DetailProduct OperationsTechnical Program Management

About the role

Original posting from Kodiak via Greenhouse

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 a highly motivated and detail-oriented Product Operations Specialist to join our team in Mountain View, CA. This role bridges the gap between our Product/Engineering teams and our Operations/Field teams. You will own optimizing, and developing mechanisms that enable product operations to scale our operational footprint. This role is based full-time in our Mountain View office.

In this role, you will:

Process Design and Scalability: Partner closely with Program, Engineering, and Ops to design, document, and stand up processes that support operational scalability for our autonomous vehicle technology.

Feedback Loop Management: Own the feedback loop between Field Ops and Product & Engineering, translating operational needs into actionable product and engineering requirements.

Feature Deployment & Validation: Work with cross-functional teams to rapidly test, validate, and deploy new product features in an operationally-intensive environment.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as a liaison between Product, Engineering, Field Operations, and other teams to ensure alignment and smooth feature adoption.

Operational Excellence: Focus on driving attention to detail and timeliness in product deployment and operational workflows.

Performance Monitoring: Define operational KPIs and monitor product performance in the field, communicating insights and risks to stakeholders.

Stakeholder Communication: Provide clear, data-driven updates on product-related operational progress, risks, and mitigation plans to leadership and cross-functional teams.

Adaptability: Ability to get gritty and operate in spaces that are not yet well defined and are subject to rapid and unexpected changes

What you'll bring:

3+ years of experience in Product Operations, Technical Program Management, or a similar role at an operational-intensive technology company.

Highly analytical with a proven ability to use data to drive process improvements and product decisions, e.g., Kibana/Elastic.

Exceptional attention to detail and a track record of driving timely execution in complex environments.

Outstanding people and communication skills, with demonstrated experience working across diverse teams (e.g., Engineering, Field Operations, Product).

Must be willing to work full-time in the Mountain View, CA office.

A non-technical degree is acceptable, but evidence of some technical aptitude or "nerdiness" is a plus.

Adeptness in leveraging generative AI tools to streamline workflows and enhance clarity and quality in stakeholder communication.

Additional experience in the following areas is also a plus

Operations research, industrial engineering, and/or process optimization

Autonomy, mobility, supply chain, or logistics

Working in both a startup and a larger company environment

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

Office perks: free catered lunch, a fully stocked kitchen

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$115,000—$130,000 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.

Source: Kodiak careers (Greenhouse)

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