The company

Kinetic Automation is pioneering effortless modern vehicle repair. Kinetic uses proprietary AI and autonomous robotics technology to automate vehicle maintenance and simplify repair administration for collision shops, dealerships, and insurance carriers. Kinetic’s service hubs and intake centers ensure accurate calibration, rapid turnaround, and predictable costs for the rapidly growing ADAS and EV ecosystem. The company has financial backing from top-tier investors, including Menlo Ventures, Lux Capital, and Construct Capital. For more information, visit www.kinetic.auto.

The role

This is a rare hybrid role that sits at the intersection of three jobs: technician, driver, and operations manager. As Field Deployment Technician, you'll be responsible for ensuring Kinetic's proprietary, AI-powered robotic hardware is safely transported to our service hubs and customer sites across the United States — then assembling, installing, testing, and handing off a fully-operational system. You’ll work closely with Engineering to learn and document the process so that system deployments get faster and smoother every time.

The ideal candidate not only is comfortable with long road trips 1-2x/month, but also has technical skills that span working with electronics, mechanical assembly, and system testing/troubleshooting.

This is a company-critical position with an eventual path to a Director-level role. Every hub we open and every customer we activate depends on getting our technology to the right place, at the right time, in good, working order – and you’ll be in charge of that. We're looking for someone who can do the hard work required to meet both technical and logistical expectations with dependability and precision. This role also involves overseeing and managing another technician, with whom you’ll work closely to plan, coordinate, deliver, and set up systems on a tight schedule.

Responsibilities

• Planning: Partner with internal teams to develop the plans that allow Kinetic to consistently meet our deployment schedules
• Inventory Management: Receive shipments of dozens of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) component SKUs, then organize and carefully store inventory 
• Loading: Pack, secure, and load COTS hardware with care to protect sensitive robotics and electronics during transit
• Driving: Plan routes and drive Kinetic's robotic hardware in a truck from Costa Mesa to destinations across the US — routes ranging from a few hundred to several thousand miles
• Unloading, installation, and setup: Unpack, assemble, install, and configure the Kinetic robotic hardware system at its destination, following detailed, technical work instructions
• Testing: Run functional tests and verify system performance before handing off to the Hub operations team
• Troubleshooting: Identify and resolve issues that arise during transport, setup, or testing — knowing when to follow the playbook and when to adapt
• Process development: Design and author comprehensive work instructions and repeatable processes that improve installation speed, efficiency, reliability and repeatability with each deployment

Required qualifications

• Valid driver's license with a clean driving record, along with both a desire and ability to spend up to 2-3 weeks on the road each month transporting system hardware
• Hands-on technician or handy work — comfortable working with mechanical and electrical systems, tools, and hardware
• Ability to follow detailed instructions safely and precisely
• Strong independent judgment and an ability to operate with clear objectives but minimal day-to-day supervision
• Track record of hitting deadlines and schedules in field installation/operations roles
• Physical ability to load, unload, and handle equipment up to 50 pounds

Desired background and attributes

• Veteran of US Armed Forces or a major US Department of Defense contractor, with experience in logistics, procurement, and/or transport related to complex hardware systems
• Commercial driving experience
• Patience and composure to endure long drives and tight schedules
• Rigor and structured thinking about building repeatable processes — and improving them constantly

Benefits

• Competitive salary, bonus opportunity, and incentive stock options (ISOs)
• Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Health savings account (HSA) available with company contribution
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities

Join us!

Join the Kinetic team and drive the adoption of ADAS calibration solutions that enhance vehicle safety and reduce administrative friction for customers. If you are passionate about making a positive impact in the automotive industry, we want to hear from you! We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and regular career-growth opportunities. If you meet the qualifications for this position and would like to join our team, please submit your resume for consideration.