Role SummaryVehicle Validation at Rivian ensures every product delivers exceptional function, quality, reliability, and real-world performance. We perform both verification and validation against data-driven requirements that reflect how our customers use our vehicles-connecting DFMEAs, requirements, and validation plans into a cohesive process.
As Sr. Program Manager, you'll lead cross-functional integration-bringing together engineering, test, prototyping, and manufacturing to align test plans, targets, build milestones, and system functionality from concept through launch. You'll develop and track comprehensive hardware and software validation plans, ensuring complete verification and validation coverage.
You'll foster collaboration across vehicle programs, align resources, balance cost, risk, timing, and scope, and help teams close gaps-creating the clarity needed to deliver vehicles that exceed expectations.
Responsibilities- Coordinate validation timelines, build plans, and program milestones in partnership with engineering and cross-functional teams.
- Support the full validation cycle-from requirements through production sign-off-covering both component and vehicle-level testing.
- Integrate plans across engineering, purchasing, manufacturing, quality, and test teams to ensure alignment and readiness.
- Identify gaps and risks early, manage escalations, and work with stakeholders to drive resolution.
- Provide clear updates on progress, risks, and mitigation plans to leadership.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of validation processes and tools.
Qualifications- Typically 5+ years of experience in automotive or related industries, with at least 3 years in program management or similar cross-functional roles.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, or equivalent combination of education, training, and hands-on experience.
- Understanding of vehicle development milestones, systems engineering, and program delivery.
- Familiarity with production, retrofit, and prototype build processes.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively across teams, communicate effectively, and enable high-quality outcomes.
- Passion for problem-solving, continuous learning, and delivering exceptional products to customers.
Pay DisclosureThe 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.
You can apply for this role through careers.rivian.com (or through internal-careers-rivian.icims.com if you are a current employee). There is no fixed deadline for this application; applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until the role is filled or the opening is no longer needed.
