Product Strategy & Operations Associate

Kodiak is an autonomous ground transportation company developing AI-powered technology for commercial trucking and the public sector. The Product Strategy & Operations Associate will work across Product, Engineering, and Operations to solve strategic problems, build scalable processes, manage operational feedback, and support the deployment and performance monitoring of autonomous vehicle products.

What you'll do:

• Scope ambiguous, cross-functional problems into clear analyses and recommendations, then drive them through to decisions with Product, Engineering, and Operations leadership
• Partner closely with Program, Engineering, and Ops to design, document, and stand up processes that support operational scalability for our autonomous vehicle technology
• Own the feedback loop between Field Ops and Product & Engineering, translating operational needs into prioritized, actionable product and engineering requirements
• Work with cross-functional teams to rapidly test, validate, and deploy new product features in an operationally-intensive environment
• Define operational KPIs, build the analyses that track product performance in the field, and communicate insights and risks to stakeholders
• Provide clear, data-driven updates on product-related operational progress, risks, and mitigation plans to leadership and cross-functional teams
• Drive attention to detail and timeliness in product deployment and operational workflows
• Get gritty and operate in spaces that are not yet well defined and are subject to rapid and unexpected changes

What they're looking for:

• At least 1 year of post-undergraduate experience in strategy consulting, business operations, or a similar analytical role, e.g., Business Analyst (McKinsey), Associate (BCG), or Associate Consultant (Bain), or an equivalent Strategy & Operations / BizOps role at a technology company
• A degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, or a related quantitative field, or equivalent demonstrated rigor in systems thinking and process optimization
• Strong structured problem-solving skills: you can break down an ambiguous question, build the analysis, and land a recommendation
• Highly analytical with a proven ability to use data to drive process improvements and product decisions; comfort working in tools like SQL, Excel/Sheets, or Kibana/Elastic is a plus
• 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) and presenting to senior stakeholders
• A genuine interest in product development and a desire to work alongside Product and Engineering rather than advise from the outside
• Adeptness in leveraging generative AI tools to streamline workflows and enhance clarity and quality in stakeholder communication
• Must be willing to work full-time in the Mountain View, CA office, and travel up to 25% of the time to customer and deployment locations
• Additional experience in the following areas is also a plus: + Autonomy, mobility, supply chain, logistics, or hardware/manufacturing operations
• Additional experience in the following areas is also a plus: + Consulting or internship work on product, technology, or operations engagements
• Additional experience in the following areas is also a plus: + Working in both a startup and a larger company environment

Benefits:

• If applicable, Kodiak may provide visa sponsorship for eligible candidates.
• 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