Operations Technician Lead

Kodiak; Kermit (TX); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing provided

14/7 rotation

OT available

Full benefits

Job summary

Kodiak in Kermit, Texas is seeking an Operations Technician Lead who will oversee shift-level operations for the fleet. This hands-on role requires strong leadership skills and technical experience to drive efficiency and quality in daily operations.

The ideal candidate will have over 3 years of experience in fleet or automotive environments and be responsible for planning, mentoring technicians, and ensuring compliance with operational standards. Join Kodiak for a chance to impact the future of autonomous transportation.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in fleet, automotive, or similar technical operations.
• Strong hands-on experience in maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair workflows.
• Experience acting as a lead or senior technician is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own shift-level planning, including task assignment and pre- and post-shift briefs.
• Drive shift flow and efficiency, ensuring work progresses smoothly.
• Serve as the primary escalation point during the shift.

Skills

Maintenance and troubleshooting

Fleet operations

Leadership experience

Attention to detail

Job description

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.

Operations Technician Lead – As the Operations Technician Lead, you will own shift‑level execution for fleet and field technician operations, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, and to a high standard.

You will be responsible for planning and coordinating daily technician work, maintaining strong shift flow, and serving as the primary escalation point during execution. This role is hands‑on and embedded in the operation, working closely with technicians to drive quality, consistency, and efficiency across all work performed.

You will support site leadership by ensuring day‑to‑day execution runs smoothly and that issues are identified and addressed quickly.

What We’re Looking For

Experience

• 3+ years of experience in fleet, automotive, or similar technical operations
• Strong hands‑on experience in maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair workflows
• Experience acting as a lead or senior technician is preferred

Nice to Have

• Experience in trucking, logistics, or automotive environments
• Exposure to autonomous vehicles, robotics, or electric vehicle systems
• Familiarity with work order systems, SOPs, and diagnostics tools

Mindset

• Strong attention to detail with a focus on quality and consistency
• Ability to prioritize work and maintain efficiency in fast‑paced environments
• Hands‑on, execution‑focused leader who stays close to the work
• Clear communicator who can support both technicians and leadership
• High standards for safety and operational discipline

What we offer:

• Housing provided
• 14/7 rotation
• OT available
• Full benefits
• More

What You’ll Do

• Own shift‑level planning, including task assignment and pre‑ and post‑shift briefs
• Drive shift flow and efficiency, ensuring work progresses smoothly and priorities are met
• Serve as the primary escalation point during the shift for technician questions and issues
• Ensure all assigned work is completed accurately and on time
• Assign and prioritize work orders across technicians during the shift
• Ensure all work is completed to standard before shift handoff

Work Quality & SOP Adherence

• Review work orders for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to SOPs
• Act as a quality control point, ensuring all work meets operational and safety standards
• Identify gaps in execution and support improvements to SOPs and workflows
• Provide hands‑on guidance and mentorship to technicians after initial training
• Reinforce best practices and help improve consistency across technician performance
• Execute hands‑on training and validate technician competency on shift

Operational Support

• Participate in interview panels and practical evaluations for technician candidates
• Maintain clear communication with site leadership on shift performance, issues, and risks
• Support continuous improvement efforts by surfacing recurring issues and inefficiencies

Why Join Kodiak?

You will play a key role in ensuring technician operations run smoothly at the shift level. Your work will directly impact execution quality, efficiency, and the overall performance of fleet operations.

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.