Kyle Thornton
About Kyle Thornton
Kyle Thornton is a Senior Software Validation Engineer at Kitty Hawk, where he has worked since 2018. He has extensive experience in software validation, supplier vetting, and project management, having previously held roles at Tesla and National Instruments.
Work at Kitty Hawk
Kyle Thornton has been employed at Kitty Hawk as a Senior Software Validation Engineer since 2018. In this role, he contributes to the advancement of transportation technology. His responsibilities include ensuring the quality and reliability of software systems, which is critical for the company's innovative projects in the transportation sector. His experience in software validation plays a significant role in maintaining high standards within the organization.
Experience at Tesla
Prior to his current position, Kyle Thornton worked at Tesla as a Component Validation Engineer for two years from 2016 to 2018 in Palo Alto, California. During his tenure, he gained experience in vetting suppliers and managing Git branching strategies. He was also involved in planning software releases, which is a skill typically associated with project management roles. His contributions included firmware validation for Tesla's Powerwalls and Powerpacks, ensuring that the products met high-quality standards.
Background in Engineering
Kyle Thornton studied Computer Engineering at the University of Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from 2006 to 2010. This educational background provided him with foundational knowledge and skills in engineering principles, which he has applied throughout his career in various engineering roles.
Previous Experience at National Instruments
Before joining Tesla, Kyle Thornton worked at National Instruments in two roles. He served as an Applications Engineer from 2011 to 2012 and later as a Staff Application Engineering Specialist - Embedded Systems from 2012 to 2016. Both positions were based in Austin, Texas, and allowed him to develop expertise in application engineering and embedded systems, further enhancing his technical skills.