Finance Manager, R1 Program

Rivian•Irvine, CA

About The Position

We are seeking a Finance Manager, R1 Program to own and evolve the end-to-end financial performance of the R1 platform—linking vehicle economics, volume, Capex, and unit cost to Rivian’s broader financial objectives. This role is accountable for the full P&L view of R1, from top-line revenue and mix through contribution margin, Opex, and investment returns. This role sits at the intersection of Product Development Finance, Vehicle Line leadership, Operations, and Corporate Finance, with a mandate to drive rigorous forecasting, sharp performance insights, and disciplined investment stewardship for the R1 business. You will act as a critical connector between Finance, Product Development, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and other partner teams, helping shape how our tools and processes (e.g., Oracle, SmartView, SAP, and self-serve BI environments) work together to support a scalable, data-driven operating model for R1. Why This Role Matters Own the economics of a flagship platform: You will be the financial owner for the R1 platform, ensuring that revenue, COGS, Opex, and Capex plans are tightly aligned to Rivian’s strategic and financial goals. Turn complexity into clear decisions: By translating large, complex data sets into intuitive narratives, you will enable leaders to make informed trade-offs on content, timing, footprint, and investment for the R1 business. Connect product, operations, and finance: You will anchor cross-functional decision-making by quantifying the financial impact of design, sourcing, and manufacturing choices across Product Development, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Vehicle Line leadership. Steward capital and cost structure: Through robust Capex planning, cost-down initiatives, and scenario modeling, you will help Rivian deploy capital wisely, improve unit economics, and sustain profitable growth on the R1 platform. Build the tools and reporting to scale: You will design and continuously improve the forecasting, reporting, and analytics infrastructure that underpins R1 performance reviews, enabling faster, higher-quality decisions as the business grows.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Engineering, or a related field.
7+ years of progressive experience in corporate finance, FP&A, product/program finance, or similarly analytical roles in complex organizations.
Strong financial modeling and analytical skills, including experience working with large data sets and building driver-based forecasting models.
Demonstrated experience owning forecasts and budgets across revenue, COGS, Opex, and Capex, ideally at a product, platform, or program level.
Proven track record partnering with non-finance teams (e.g., engineering, operations, product, manufacturing) to drive business outcomes—not just report results.
Experience leading scenario modeling and business case development to support product, volume, and investment decisions.
High attention to detail with the ability to zoom in and out—from transaction-level validation to executive-level storytelling and recommendation.
Comfort working with ERP and planning tools (e.g., Oracle, SmartView, SAP) and navigating self-serve data/BI environments.
Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to synthesize complex financial topics into clear, concise narratives and materials for senior leaders.
Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional partners, challenge assumptions constructively, and guide decisions through data and insight.

Nice To Haves

Experience in automotive, manufacturing, hardware, or other complex product businesses with significant Capex and multi-year investments.
Prior product or program finance ownership (e.g., platform, vehicle line, or major program).
Familiarity with cost accounting, manufacturing finance, and unit economics for physical products.
Experience managing or mentoring junior team members and shaping team ways of working.
Passion for EVs, sustainability, and building from first principles in a fast-paced, high-growth, and often ambiguous environment.
MBA or similar graduate degree in finance, business, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Own the R1 financial forecast and budget across revenue, COGS, Opex, and Capex, ensuring clear linkage between vehicle economics and Rivian’s broader financial targets.
Lead the monthly and quarterly performance review process for R1, including actuals vs. forecast/budget analysis, variance explanations, and risk & opportunity tracking.
Develop clear, executive-ready storylines that explain what is driving performance, what is changing, and what actions are needed to stay on track.
Maintain a robust understanding of R1 unit economics, including volume, price, mix, incentives, and cost structure, and use it to frame strategic and operational decisions.
Lead end-to-end forecasting and budgeting cycles for the R1 platform, partnering with Product Development, Vehicle Line, Operations, and Corporate Finance to deliver aligned, credible plans.
Build and refine driver-based models that connect volume, content, cost, and investment decisions to R1 P&L and cash impacts.
Own scenario modeling and business cases for R1 product and program decisions (e.g., content changes, engineering actions, volume scenarios, footprint decisions, portfolio trade-offs).
Challenge assumptions and pressure-test plans with data, framing trade-offs and sensitivities so leaders can choose between options with confidence.
Oversee Capex planning and tracking for R1 (e.g., tooling, engineering, launch investments), ensuring alignment between ProjectEx/PCCR approvals, Oracle/SmartView inputs, and program financial targets.
Partner with Product Development, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing to quantify the financial impact of design and sourcing decisions, including tooling, piece cost, investment phasing, and timing risk.
Support and help prioritize cost-down initiatives, connecting engineering actions, sourcing strategies, and manufacturing improvements to margin and payback outcomes.
Monitor investment performance against business cases, highlighting variances, learnings, and implications for future R1 and platform decisions.
Serve as the primary finance partner to R1 Vehicle Line leadership, Product Development, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing for platform-level decisions.
Represent R1 Finance in cross-functional forums (e.g., program reviews, sourcing councils, product reviews), ensuring financial implications are clearly articulated, documented, and understood.
Translate business requirements into finance and data needs, working with Finance, Operations, and IT/data partners to ensure systems and reporting support how work actually happens.
Build trusted relationships grounded in candor, rigor, and solution orientation, helping teams move from reporting to action.
Build and maintain management reporting for R1 (e.g., waterfalls, bridges, dashboards) that clearly highlight drivers of change and connect operational metrics to financial outcomes.
Ensure data integrity across Oracle, SmartView, SAP, and BI tools, partnering with relevant teams to resolve issues and improve usability for Finance and business stakeholders.
Identify and execute on automation and standardization opportunities that increase forecast quality, speed, and transparency (e.g., templates, standard decks, self-serve reporting).
Continuously refine KPIs and performance indicators for the R1 platform, ensuring they evolve with the business and remain decision-relevant.
Coach and mentor analysts and senior analysts supporting R1, elevating analytical quality, business acumen, and ownership mindset.
Set clear standards and operating rhythms for R1 Finance (cadence, deliverables, quality expectations), balancing speed with accuracy.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, challenging existing processes and tools and testing new approaches where they can materially improve outcomes.
Model Rivian’s values in how you work—building an inclusive, high-trust environment that encourages diverse perspectives and constructive debate.