Program Manager, Test Operations

Kodiak • Lancaster, TX

2d

About The Position

The Program Manager, Test Operations owns the system that turns test requests from hardware and software programs into an executable schedule across Kodiak's sites, trucks, and contracted test tracks. The role manages intake, triage, and prioritization of engineering test requests, translating program priorities into queue order and providing the Test Operations team with a ready-to-execute schedule.

The position also manages day-to-day test track operations and owns the track operations spend line. Working independently at the intersection of Program Management, Engineering, and Test Operations, the Program Manager resolves operational conflicts with those teams and escalates with clear tradeoffs when demand exceeds capacity.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in test operations, fleet, flight, or vehicle test coordination, or a similar high-tempo scheduling environment.
• Experience owning a work-intake and scheduling system end to end, including fluency with Linear or Jira, SLAs, dashboards, and light automation.
• Budget experience forecasting and defending a spend line, rather than only tracking it.
• Vendor or facility management experience.
• Credibility with senior engineers and ability to make and communicate priority decisions under pressure.
• Ability to communicate professionally when demand exceeds capacity.
• Strong organization and follow-through.
• Ability to build processes that scale beyond one person.

Nice To Haves

• Background in AV, test operations, aerospace, or automotive proving grounds.
• Experience building operational metrics and reporting from scratch.

Responsibilities

• Own the test request workflow in Linear from intake through Ready to Schedule, including daily triage, request-quality enforcement, and queue curation.
• Define request templates and a pre-filter standard in collaboration with TPMs.
• Run the weekly cross-site scheduling meeting and translate program priorities into queue order.
• Define and enforce lead-time standards, including an expedited path for true emergencies.
• Resolve operational conflicts with program and site teams, escalating with clear tradeoff recommendations.
• Book time across Kodiak's contracted test tracks and manage day-to-day vendor and facility operations.
• Coordinate with site supervisors to match trucks, drivers, and track slots to the scheduled queue.
• Own the track operations spend line by forecasting against the test plan, approving spend within delegated authority, and reporting variance monthly.
• Publish weekly funnel metrics, including time-to-schedule, aging, and throughput, in standard Ops and MBR reporting.
• Execute monthly backlog scrubs, SLA breach reviews, and ticket data-quality audits.
• Improve intake, scheduling, and reporting processes as test demand scales.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package including equity and annual bonus.
• Medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Accrued PTO and generous parental leave policies.
• Long-term disability, short-term disability, and life insurance.
• Wellbeing benefits including Headspace, One Medical, Gympass, and Spring Health.
• Fidelity 401(k).
• Commuter benefits, FSA, dependent care FSA, and HSA.
• Incentive programs, including referral bonuses and patent bonuses.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed