Staff IT Program Manager

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies

$120K — $150K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science or equivalent experience
  • 5+ years in software industry focusing on IT program and project management
  • Experience managing complex, cross-organizational IT programs, preferably in a JV context
  • Strong stakeholder management skills to align diverse teams
  • Excellent analytical and organizational abilities
  • Effective communicator at all organizational levels
  • Preferred technical background in software development or automotive industry

Responsibilities

  • Lead IT programs from strategy to execution across organizations
  • Drive IT requirements for systems integration ensuring data compliance
  • Coordinate software rollout ensuring team alignment and timing
  • Oversee escalation of technical issues with clear resolution paths
  • Act as central contact point for issue resolution between teams
  • Facilitate communication between users across organizations
  • Manage project timelines and deliverables coordination tools
  • Maintain documentation of IT activities meeting internal and regulatory standards

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
  • Eligibility for annual performance bonus
  • Possibility for equity-based compensation
  • Flexible onsite work schedule of three days a week
Full Job Description
Role Summary

At the intersection of two automotive powerhouses, this isn't your typical IT program management role. As our IT Program Manager, you'll be the connective tissue between Rivian Volkswagen Technology (RV Tech) and the broader VW Group - owning the end-to-end delivery of critical IT integrations that directly enable vehicle programs at scale. If you thrive in ambiguity, love building order from complexity, and want your work to have a tangible impact on the future of EVs, this role was built for you. This role will be located at our Palo Alto, Ca office with a flex schedule of 3 days a week onsite.

This is a rare opportunity to sit at the center of one of the most significant automotive technology collaborations happening right now. You'll gain exposure across two global organizations, work on programs with real visibility, and help shape how two iconic brands build and share technology infrastructure for the next generation of vehicles.

Responsibilities
  • Program Ownership & Execution
    • Lead IT programs end-to-end - from high-level strategy through detailed execution - across a fast-paced, cross-organizational environment.
    • Drive the implementation of IT requirements that enable seamless systems integration between RV Tech and VW Group, ensuring data exchange, compliance, and technical alignment across both organizations.
    • Coordinate the rollout of software solutions, making sure the right teams are aligned and moving in the same direction at the right time.
    • Lead the escalation process for technical issues, ensuring timely triage, clear ownership, and structured resolution paths

    Cross-Organizational Collaboration
    • Act as the central escalation point between RV Tech and VW Group (including its associated brands), driving issue resolution with urgency and clarity.
    • Bridge communication between VW Group users operating in the RV Tech environment and vice versa, reducing friction and keeping programs on track.
    • Partner with service providers to resolve technical issues efficiently, protecting timelines and team velocity.

    Timeline & Delivery Management
    • Own the core collaboration tooling used to coordinate project plans, timelines, and deliverables across both organizations.
    • Align program milestones with vehicle project timelines - understanding that in automotive, a slip here has downstream consequences everywhere.

    Documentation & Compliance
    • Maintain rigorous documentation of IT activities, requirements, and timelines that teams can actually rely on.
    • Ensure all implemented solutions meet internal policies and external regulatory standards - no surprises at launch.


Qualifications
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field (or equivalent experience).
  • 5+ years in the software industry with a strong focus on IT program and project management.
  • A track record of managing complex, cross-organizational IT programs - ideally across international teams or in a JV/partnership context.
  • Sharp stakeholder management skills - you know how to align people who don't share the same org chart.
  • Strong analytical and organizational chops; you can zoom out to set direction and zoom in to unblock a stuck dependency.
  • Clear, confident communicator- written and verbal - across all levels of an organization.
  • Technical background in software development or automotive industry is preferred
Total Rewards

Total compensation packages for full-time positions include base salary, eligibility for an annual performance bonus, and eligibility for equity.

In addition, our benefits package has been designed to support the health and wellness of our employees. For more information on RV Tech's comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, check out our Global Benefits Site.

External candidates can apply for this role through the RV Tech Careers site (https://rivianvw.tech/#careers). If you are a current employee, please apply through our internal job board.

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies

More Manufacturing & Automotive Jobs

Find similar Staff IT Program Manager jobs: