← All roles

Head of Hardware TPM

Kodiak AI· Program Management
Apply on company site
Mountain View$195k - $260kfull-timePosted 3w ago

About the role

Head of Hardware Technical Program Management leading the hardware TPM organization across sensor systems, compute, electrical/mechanical integration, and vehicle-level hardware platforms. Owns end-to-end execution from concept through validation to fleet deployment and leads a team of 3 TPMs.

Responsibilities

  • 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

Qualifications

  • 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

Skills

Required:Technical program management in hardwarePeople leadership
Last updated Oct 21, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Kodiak AI

Safely driving an autonomous future.

Our purpose-built autonomous solution, the Kodiak Driver, is the AV industry’s most advanced driverless technology, seamlessly integrating into any driving platform for reliable movement in any environment. Learn how we’re shaping the future of ground transportation.

autonomousdriverlessground transportationAI
Company profileWebsite

More open roles at Kodiak AI