Sr. Technical Program Manager, Battery Structures/Body

About Rivian

Rivian is 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 Vehicle Hardware Engineering (VHE) Sr. Technical Program Manager - Body / Battery Structures, you will have the responsibility of managing the development and delivery of structural sub-systems (Body Structures and/or Battery Structures) from concept to market execution within the program timeline and established cost, mass, investment, quality, and performance targets. A successful candidate exhibits a proactive, positive attitude towards difficult engineering challenges. In this role, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to align on overall program deliverables and report on status and risks to ensure visibility across teams.


Responsibilities

• Lead a matrix organization to ensure delivery of body and/or battery structural sub-systems through the complete Rivian Development Process.
• Own the integrated sub-system development timing plan including supplier sourcing, surface and engineering release, virtual validation loops, tooling timing, part maturation, and validation.
• Manage key performance metrics including issues and change management, cost, mass, quality, validation, and sub-system performance.
• Champion and drive cross-functional issue resolution (RCs), change management (CRs/CAs), Deviations (DVI), and large program changes (PCCR) for structural content.
• Drive key external departments (Purchasing, Manufacturing, NPI/Launch, Finance, Quality, Attributes, Studio, Vehicle Programs, and other PD functions) towards alignment on program execution direction.
• Support sub-system imperative balance, framing structural tradeoffs across cost, mass, timing, investment, risk, manufacturability, safety, and attribute performance.
• Verify all body and/or battery structural components and systems meet vehicle-level requirements (crash, durability, stiffness, NVH, etc.) and assist engineers with solving and managing cross-functional issues.
• Ensure early and continuous manufacturability and industrialization alignment for structural systems, including tooling strategy, plant readiness, line trials, and launch ramp plans.
• Lead preparation and execution for structural content at all build events (mules, VP, PP, launch), ensuring content readiness, part availability, and recovery plans where needed.
• Serve as the single point of accountability for body / battery structures program status, risks, decisions, and escalations.
• Establish and maintain an effective operating cadence and tools (dashboards, risk registers, critical path views) to clearly communicate status, risks, and recovery plans to stakeholders and leadership.
• Exhibit "Rivian Compass" in everything you do.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in engineering or equivalent technical degree.
• 5+ years' experience of automotive product development with focus on Body Structures & Closures and/or Battery Structures, ideally experiencing at least 1 full vehicle or major sub-system launch.
• Detailed knowledge of the automotive design and development process, system requirements, and general engineering best practices, including tooling and manufacturing readiness for structural systems.
• Proven ability and eagerness to lead a multi-disciplinary, cross-functional team through a fast-paced, dynamic environment with a high degree of ambiguity.
• Outstanding communication skills for both detailed technical discussions and high-level executive audiences, including clear framing of tradeoffs and recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems using a first-principles approach.
• Excellent commercial and financial awareness, with experience framing decisions in terms of cost, timing, risk, and performance.
• Strong command of program planning and tracking tools (e.g. MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira or equivalent); capable of building and managing integrated sub-system schedules and critical paths.
• Knowledge of materials, processes, and technologies used to deliver structural hardware engineering content.
• Knowledge in operating CAD systems, with preference towards CATIA experience.
• Travel Requirements: As needed (~10%) based on production support, supplier engagement, and launch priorities.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $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.


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 click.appcast.io.

Candidate Data Privacy

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.


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