Sr. Technical Program Manager, Battery Pack and Cell

About Rivian
Rivianis on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.

As a company, we constantly challenge what's possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

Role Summary
As a Sr. Technical Program Manager, Battery Pack and Cell within Rivian's ESS (Energy Storage Systems) organization, you will serve as a technical driver and cross-functional orchestrator. This role bridges the gap between cell electrochemical development and high-voltage pack system integration.

In this role, you will drive the high-voltage battery pack program through the Development Process. You will dive deep into technical details—including mechanical, thermal, electrical, software, and safety systems—to manage tradeoffs, enforce design rigor, and drive the program from initial concept to serial production, coordinating cross-functional engineering teams and ensuring adherence to engineering quality standards like DFMEA, DVP&R, and functional safety. Along with the pack, you manage cell engineering budgets, equipment, validation timelines, and supplier relationships, ensuring critical milestones are met

Responsibilities

Program Delivery & Lifecycle Execution

Own the high-voltage battery pack and cell program through the development process, managing program gates across all phases—from Architecture & Concept Feasibility to Serial Production and Launch.

Develop and integrate Cell and Pack engineering timelines into the overall vehicle program, ensuring all development milestones, design releases, prototype builds (Mule, Pre-Production, Pilot), and testing checkpoints are met.

Define battery checkpoint deliverables in detail and plan resources to achieve milestone targets.

Design & Engineering Excellence

Ensure Cell Programs Deliver to Requirements

Collaborate with Rivian Vehicle Program, ESS Systems, and other stakeholders to define formal cell requirements

Ensure requirements are communicated/flowed down to internal Cell engineering or external vendor

Manage iterations of cell chemistry, form factor and electrochemical performance qualification, assessing trade-offs against program requirements

Early lead in advanced development. Work with the design team to identify key technologies to pursue and present opportunities and risks to leadership. Own the technology roadmap.

Support overall pack/module layout design in collaboration with cross-functional teams (Mechanical, Thermal, Electrical, Systems, Manufacturing, Service, Cell).

Coordinate Design and Release Engineers (DREs) to ensure production release plans are executed; manage cost/weight/part/design data releases into the formal system to prevent late releases.

Ensure all engineering documentation is coordinated to milestones, including Requirements, DFMEAs, DVP&R, and Functional Safety.

Issue tracking and corrective action implementations using JIRA, Confluence, Enovia and other applicable tools

Collaborate with Inventory Control and Launch to make sure the correct parts are ready for the build.

Cross-Functional & Vendor Management

Orchestrate alignment between Engineering (Cell, ESS, BMS, T&V, Design), Supply Chain, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Vehicle Integration, and Finance.

Develop and manage relationships with cell/pack suppliers; establish regular Product Development Team (PDT) meetings to review progress and ensure vendors remain on track.

Manage open issues lists (OIL) with vendors and collaborate with Inventory Control and Launch to ensure part readiness for all build phases.

Support supplier industrialization through factory line audits and tracking key manufacturing quality and supply capabilities.

Financial & Resource Stewardship

Define and track program KPIs: BOM cost, investment, mass/weight, volumetric energy density, and manufacturability targets.

Manage engineering budgets, equipment, facility usage, and test resources.

Review resource allocation with stakeholders to secure necessary support and ensure the team is properly equipped.

Process Governance & Risk Mitigation

Lead the change control process to review, approve, and document design changes.

Identify risks early (NUDDs) and maintain comprehensive open-issues lists; implement corrective actions (e.g., 8D, 5-Why) and expedite critical paths to leadership.

Host daily standup meetings to resolve tactical issues, provide clear agendas, and ensure immediate impact mitigation.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technology field.

3+ years of industry experience in a product development environment, with a proven track record of leading hardware or high-voltage battery pack programs through full lifecycle development.

Automotive experience is highly preferred; consumer device experience is acceptable.

Proficiency in program management and tracking tools: Jira, Confluence, Jama/Flow, Smartsheet, and MS Project.

Advanced expertise in PLM and design software: ENOVIA and 3DEXPERIENCE (CATIA V6).

Deep knowledge of quality and engineering frameworks: DFMEA, DVP&R, APQP/PPAP, ISO 26262 (Functional Safety), and 8D Problem Solving.

Experience coordinating supplier tooling, part quality maturation, and manufacturing ramp-up.

Formal training in program management (PMP, APQP, etc.) or problem-solving methodologies (Six Sigma, 5-Why, 8D) is a plus.

Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to cross-functional stakeholders.

Strong quantitative and analytical skills for data-driven decision-making.

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with a high degree of urgency and personal ownership.

Passion for electric vehicles and sustainable energy solutions.

Pay Disclosure
The salary range for this role is USD 121,500 - 151,900 for California based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.

The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian's 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.

This job is not expected to be closed any sooner than September 20, 2026.

Equal Opportunity
Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at View email address on businessworkforce.com.

Candidate Data Privacy and Technology
Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes ("Candidate Personal Data"). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian's service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process: To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Rivian uses iCIMS Talent Cloud Artificial Intelligence (TCAI) and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role.

AI does not make hiring decisions: Qualified candidate applications are reviewed by a member of our team, and all decisions throughout the process are made by humans. We use AI to support efficiency and consistency, not to replace human judgment. We are committed to a fair, thoughtful, and equitable experience for every candidate.

Participation in AI profile matching is entirely voluntary. If you prefer that your profile not be used in this process, you can opt out at any time. Opting out means your profile will be excluded from automated matching and will not be surfaced for additional roles through this system. Your current application remains active and will not be affected in any way.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.

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