Role Summary

The Sr. Staff VLM is the primary execution lead for a specific vehicle zone (Underbody & Tech or Upper Body & Functions). You will serve as the "right hand" to the vehicle Chief Engineer (CE), translating high-level program goals into actionable execution plans. You are responsible for the cross-functional orchestration of engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing to ensure the zone meets its technical, financial, and timing milestones.

Responsibilities

• CE Partnership & Execution: Operationalize the CE's technical strategy by driving day-to-day execution across the zone. Ensure all subsystems are tracking toward program milestones
• Commercial & COGS Management: Own the "Ground Truth" of the zone's Bill of Materials (BOM). Identify cost risks early and lead cost down initiatives to deliver the program target margin.
• Sourcing & Supplier Integration: Act as the primary liaison with Global Supply Chain. Ensure sourcing strategies align with technical requirements and that supplier timing is de-risked and integrated into the master schedule.
• Operational Readiness: Drive the zone through Virtual Releases, Design Maturity (DM1-5) and Manufacturing Readiness. You are responsible for end-to-end success of the zone, from design to manufacturing.
• Validation & Asset Coordination: Oversee the planning, budgeting, procurement and tracking of validation assets across your zone. Ensure full scope of testing is covered, from component to vehicle level validation.
• Establishing Product Vision: Translate high level business objectives into tangible and actionable product goals. Leverage benchmarking insights to inform domain strategy and drive innovation.
• Continuous Improvement: Refine and develop processes that eliminate duplication and accelerate progress, enhancing team performance, engagement, and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Experience: 8+ years in automotive program management or engineering leadership, with a track record of supporting large-scale vehicle programs through launch.
• Collaborative Leadership: Proven ability to support a "Single Point Owner" (like an Assistant Chief Engineer) while independently driving large cross-functional teams.
• Financial Acumen: Deep understanding of automotive cost structures, including piece price, tooling, and inbound logistics.
• Technical Breadth: Ability to drive technical decision making across multiple domains, guiding cross functional teams to resolve complex trade-offs.
• Zone Expertise: High proficiency in the systems within your domain (Underbody/Tech or Upper Body/Func) to effectively challenge technical assumptions when they impact COGS or timing.
• Familiarity with vehicle autonomous systems and/or hardware

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $196,000-245,000 for Southern 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).