Autonomy Systems Validation, Staff TPM - Engineering

Rivian•Palo Alto, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

As a Technical Program Manager on Rivian's Autonomy Systems Validation team, you'll own the plan that keeps on-road and closed-course testing aligned with virtual validation and determines when our end-to-end autonomy software is ready for release. You'll partner with autonomy software, functional safety, operations, homologation, and leadership to build an integrated active safety and automated driving test plan, incorporating AI/ML model development and platform integration, tracking release criteria and feature validation KPIs, and turning complex technical trade-offs into clear decisions. You’ll be a force multiplier navigating technical complexity while driving alignment and execution across stakeholders.

Requirements

Proven delivery with a bias for action: 7+ years leading complex, multi-team software or technology programs in fast-paced or early-stage environments. You have a proven track record of delivering projects and getting things done.
Technically strong: Comfortable working with engineers, experience with ML, robotics stacks, metrics driven analysis, validating end-to-end autonomy, and scenario or structured testing.
Strong project management: Skilled at planning, prioritizing, adapting to change, managing risk and dependencies.
Collaborative leader and clear communicator: Explain complex ideas simply, influence through soft power rather than authority, surface risks early, secure buy-in from senior stakeholders and build a positive team culture.
Strategic and systems thinking: You keep the bigger picture in mind, reason about how parts of a complex system interact and how change in one area affects others, structure undefined problems, thrive in ambiguity and bring momentum and calm without adding unnecessary process.
BA/BS degree in Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Data Science or equivalent experience with a strong foundation in areas relevant to AI/ML.

Nice To Haves

Deep knowledge and program management experience of ADAS / Automated Driving and the autonomous driving stack, Robotaxis or Robotics; particularly involving the integration and management of complex AI/ML models.
Deep experience with simulation platforms or virtual validation strategies.
Familiarity with global regulatory and consumer ratings frameworks.

Responsibilities

Drive project delivery: Develop a strong technical understanding of the stack and align program goals to business objectives. Improve delivery outcomes through project roadmaps and timelines, structured execution and coordination, accounting for factors unique to ML based end-to-end autonomy.
Boost efficiency: Establish metrics, identify gaps and bottlenecks, streamline workflows and improve tooling to increase throughput on release metrics and validation KPIs.
Enable cross-functional collaboration: Improve alignment across teams through effective communication, integrated plans, shared objectives and faster decisions.
Manage risk proactively: Manage ambiguity, anticipate issues, develop mitigation plans, drive data-based escalation and minimize impact on timelines and quality.
Keep stakeholders aligned and collaborate cross-functionally. Drive integrated plans, shared objectives, and faster decisions through clear communication. Establish standard reports that support launch readiness reviews and give leadership concise visibility into technical and performance trade-offs, risks, and feature readiness.
Champion continuous improvement: Lead retros, encourage feedback, and implement changes to improve processes, team dynamics, and outcomes.