Kodiak · 2 weeks ago
Operations Safety and Compliance Manager
Lancaster, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
5+ years expKodiak Robotics, Inc. is a leader in autonomous ground transportation committed to a safer and more efficient future. The Operations Safety & Compliance Manager will own the execution of safety and regulatory compliance across Kodiak’s operational environments, ensuring safe and compliant scaling of commercial and testing operations.
Autonomous VehiclesLogisticsRoboticsSoftwareTransportation
Responsibilities
Own safety execution across Operations, including OSS, drivers, depots, yards, and on-road activities
Ensure operational teams adhere to established safety standards, policies, and approved safety frameworks
Represent Operations in incident reviews, providing operational context and driving corrective actions
Lead operational incident response from an execution perspective, including classification, response coordination, and post-incident follow-up
Identify recurring operational safety risks and partner with Operations leadership to reduce repeat incidents
Own FMCSA and DOT Motor Carrier compliance execution for Kodiak, maintaining audit readiness at all times. This includes IRP, IFTA, HVUT (2290), UCR, MCS-150, and state-specific filings
Own driver compliance programs, including CDL qualifications, driver qualification files, HOS adherence and HOS logfile certification, medical certifications, and Clearinghouse requirements
Own drug and alcohol testing workflows for operational roles, including pre-employment, post-incident, random, and reasonable suspicion testing
Serve as the primary Operations point of contact for regulatory audits, inspections, and compliance inquiries
Embed safety and compliance requirements into Operations SOPs, QRGs, and training programs
Partner with Training Operations to ensure training reflects real-world operational risks and expectations
Support new sites, customers, and operational expansions with safety and compliance readiness reviews
Leads cross-functional alignment across Operations, Safety, Legal, and HR through clear ownership, sound judgment, and operational credibility
Partner with Operations leadership to define and track safety and compliance metrics that support execution and scale
Own operational compliance tooling workflows in partnership with Ops Systems and Fleet teams
Qualification
Required
5+ years of experience in operations, compliance, fleet management, or regulated operational environments
Prior experience owning safety or compliance execution in transportation, logistics, or industrial operations
Experience supporting audits, inspections, or regulatory reviews
Strong operational mindset with the ability to translate policy into executable processes
Experience working closely with frontline teams, drivers, and operational leaders
Comfortable operating in scaling, fast-changing operational environments
Working knowledge of FMCSA and DOT regulations applicable to commercial operations
Familiarity with driver compliance, vehicle compliance, and incident response workflows
Execution-focused leader who drives accountability through clarity and follow-through
Trusted operator who balances safety, compliance, and operational realities
Builds structure and consistency without adding unnecessary friction
Benefits
Excellent Medical, Dental, and Vision plans through Kaiser Permanente, Cigna, and Guardian (including a medical plan with infertility benefits)
Flexible PTO and generous parental leave policies
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, One Medical, Gympass, Spring Health
Fidelity 401(k)
Commuter, FSA, Dependent Care FSA, HSA
Various incentive programs (referral bonuses, patent bonuses, etc.)
Company
Kodiak
Endlessly adaptable. Always reliable. Through the endless demands of a world in constant motion, Kodiak helps you get the job done.
201-500 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Kodiak has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (16)
2024 (5)
2023 (7)
2022 (3)
2020 (4)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$494.9MKey Investors
Horizon Technology FinanceAliya Capital PartnersU.S. Department of Defense
2025-12-31Post Ipo Debt· $30M
2025-09-25Post Ipo Equity· $145M
2025-09-25IPO
Leadership Team
Don Burnette
Founder & CEO
Andreas Wendel
Chief Technology Officer
Recent News
2026-01-07
2026-01-03
Company data provided by crunchbase