Role summary
Kodiak is seeking an experienced Hardware Quality Industrialization Engineer to establish and lead their quality function. This founding member will design and build the quality team from the ground up. Responsibilities include developing data-driven quality processes, evaluating suppliers, analyzing field returns for design improvements, driving root cause analysis, owning corrective actions, establishing test strategies, and managing supply verticals (PCBAs, Harnessing). The role requires a strong background in quality engineering, supplier management, statistical quality control, and problem-solving tools, with a minimum of 3 years of experience in Quality, Supplier Quality, or Supplier Industrialization, preferably in Aerospace, Automotive, or Autonomous Vehicles.
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 looking for an experienced Hardware Quality Industrialization Engineer to join our team. Our manufacturing team is growing quickly and we need someone with a strong quality engineering and supplier management background. This person will be the founding member of the quality and will get to design and build the team from the ground up.
In this role, you will:
Work internally within Kodiak with engineering, supply chain, operations and our external manufacturing partners to build data driven, repeatable quality processes
Evaluate new and existing suppliers to ensure their internal processes and controls meet Kodiak standards
Analyze field returns to drive potential design improvements
Drive root cause analysis with both internal stakeholders and external partners. Own all corrective actions and improvements at the manufacturer(s) or internally
Work with our internal test team to establish test parameters, pass/fail limits and overall test strategy
Own our supply vertical(s) based on product type (PCBAs, Harnessing, etc)
Work with external partners to ensure they are meeting our compliance and certification requirements
What you’ll bring:
Minimum of 3+ years in Quality, Supplier Quality or Supplier Industrialization Experience
Experience in Aerospace, Automotive or Autonomous Vehicles
Strong track record of supplier evaluation and management
Ability to manage competing priorities across the company
Strong experience in statistical quality control analysis
Strong experience in problem solving tools (8D, 5 whys, fishbone diagram)
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
$130,000—$170,000 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.
