Rivian

Sr. Technical Program Manager, Battery Structures/Body

Rivian$107K — $134K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's in engineering or equivalent technical degree.
  • 5+ years' experience in automotive product development focused on Body and/or Battery Structures, including at least 1 full vehicle or major sub-system launch.
  • In-depth knowledge of automotive design and development processes, and best practices for tooling and manufacturing readiness.
  • Strong capability to lead multi-disciplinary teams in a dynamic, ambiguous environment.
  • Excellent communication skills for technical and executive audiences, effectively framing trade-offs and recommendations.
  • Proficient in problem-solving using a first-principles approach.
  • Sound commercial awareness, making decisions based on cost, timing, risk, and performance metrics.
  • Experience with program planning tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira) and CAD systems, preferably CATIA.

Responsibilities

  • Lead cross-functional teams for delivery of structural sub-systems through the Rivian Development Process.
  • Own and manage the integrated timing plan for sub-system development, supplier sourcing, and validation.
  • Manage key performance metrics including cost, quality, and sub-system performance.
  • Champion issue resolution and change management for structural content.
  • Drive departmental alignment on program execution with various teams.
  • Support analysis of structural trade-offs considering cost, mass, timing, and performance.
  • Verify components meet vehicle requirements, assisting engineers with cross-functional issues.
  • Ensure manufacturability and industrialization alignment for structural systems.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package for employees and their families.
  • Paid vacation and sick leave.
  • Competitive insurance benefits, including life, medical, dental, and vision.
  • Eligibility for the 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program.
  • Immediate coverage for full-time employees upon hiring.
Full Job Description
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 $107,800 - $134,800 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.

About Rivian

Rivian is an American automaker and automotive technology company. Founded in 2009, the company develops vehicles, products and services related to sustainable transportation. Rivian has raised over $10.5 billion since 2019, with investments from Amazon, Ford, and Cox Automotive. The company's first two vehicles, the R1T and R1S, are electric vehicles that are expected to be released in 2021. Rivian has also announced plans to produce electric delivery vans for Amazon. The company has received praise for its focus on sustainability and its commitment to using recycled materials in its vehicles.
Learn more about Rivian
Size
10,000 employees
Market Cap
$16.8 billion
Industry
Founded
2009
NASDAQ

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