Manager, Material Flow Engineering

Rivian•Normal, IL

126d•Onsite

About The Position

The Material Flow Engineering Manager at Rivian is a critical leadership role responsible for designing, optimizing, and executing the end-to-end material supply chain, from external suppliers directly to the assembly line. The primary goal is to ensure material availability to meet high-volume production targets while maintaining efficiency and safety. This role requires a technical leader capable of navigating ambiguity, driving cross-functional strategy, and implementing "first-principles" engineering solutions across the global footprint. This role is located at our Normal, IL facility and reports directly to a Sr. Manager, Manufacturing Engineering.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in high-volume manufacturing OEM’s, logistics, or supply chain engineering, with at least 5 years in a formal supervisory or leadership capacity.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
2+ years’ experience with data-based development of end-to-end supply chain, logistics, and/or material flow processes for high volume, high complexity production or logistics facilities.
Demonstrated skill in CAD software (AutoCAD) for layout planning, including 2+ years’ experience.
Strong capability in data analysis tools (Excel/Google Sheets) and analytical ability to break down complex problems and data sets to derive meaningful, actionable results.
Hands-on experience with key manufacturing and logistics systems, such as Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Material Requirements Planning (MRP), or Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).
Exceptional analytical abilities, proven leadership qualities, and strong communication skills necessary to navigate and thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment characterized by ambiguity.

Nice To Haves

An MBA or Master's degree.
Experience working with Yard Management Systems (YMS).
Experience with modeling or simulation software (Flexsim, AnyLogic, etc.) and data visualization tools (MS PowerBI).
Ability to understand Engineering and Design direction and provide focused supply-chain solutions accordingly.

Responsibilities

Lead automation of supply chain logistics and high-impact projects that bridge the gap between physical logistics and digital intelligence.
Leverage Artificial Intelligence and advanced automation to predict bottlenecks before they happen and optimize throughput in real-time.
Direct the deployment and integration of material handling automation, including Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs), Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), and conveyor systems.
Lead the development, modeling, and analysis of material flow strategies (e.g., sequencing, batching, storage) to achieve optimal cost, space utilization, and throughput.
Develop models to analyze the cost, throughput, and space factors for part sequencing, material batching, intermediate storage locations, and other material flow strategies.
Oversee the optimization and maintenance of cross-functional databases to ensure data integrity for material tracking and inventory control.
Collaborate with IT to architect and implement digital systems tailored to support evolving operational requirements.
Configure control cycles and logic for FLP and PACE systems to automate material replenishment triggers.
Strategize IT hardware requirements and oversee the deployment of technology interfaces across the production floor.
Oversee the creation of efficient, Lean, and safe factory layouts and material flow plans, covering all processes from receiving through delivery to the production line.
Design high-efficiency warehouse layouts, including kitting cells, AGV pathways, and optimized material supply routes.
Specify and integrate material handling assets, including tuggers, AGVs, forklift and custom-engineered racking systems.
Partner with Manufacturing Engineering (MEs) to engineer material delivery solutions (dollies, lift tables, GFRs) that align with specific packaging ergonomics.
Engage with the Continuous Improvement (CI) team to prototype innovative equipment and optimize process cycle times.
Manage cross-functional project teams, vendor relationships (LLP), and project timelines to successfully deliver on safety, quality, and production metrics.
Conduct data-driven workload analysis to determine precise Headcount (HC) requirements and labor allocation.
Lead formal 'buy-off' procedures with Operations to ensure new processes meet safety, ergonomic, and throughput standards.
Drive project momentum through weekly status reporting, cross-functional alignment meetings, and proactive bottleneck escalation.
Author comprehensive Work Instructions (SOPs) and Job Cards to standardize tasks and minimize process variation.
Provide subject matter expertise during the conceptual phases of new projects to ensure 'Design for Logistics' principles are applied.