Sr. Manager, Body Manufacturing Engineering – Closures

Rivian•Normal, IL

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Body Manufacturing Engineering owns the design, development and launch of the body in white production processes and lines at Rivian.Within this team, Closures Manufacturing Engineering is responsible for the processes and equipment that deliver doors, hoods, liftgates, fender and hang on systems to fit, function, and craftsmanship targets. We're looking for a Sr. Manager to lead our Closures Manufacturing Engineering team. You'll own the manufacturing process strategy for closure panels and mechanisms across current and future vehicle programs, lead a team of manufacturing engineers, and be the primary technical point of accountability for closures build quality, cost, and launch readiness. You'll partner closely with Body Structures manufacturing engineering, Design Engineering, Quality, Tooling, and Plant Operations to make sure closures processes are robust from first virtual build through steady-state production.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or equivalent technical field; advanced degree is a plus.
12+ years of experience in automotive manufacturing engineering, with significant direct experience in closures processes and advanced systems.
5+ years of people leadership experience managing engineers or technical teams.
Demonstrated experience taking closures manufacturing processes from concept through launch, including equipment specification, supplier/integrator management, and ramp-up to rate.
Hands-on experience with PFMEA/DFMEA, control plans, GD&T, and tolerance stack-up analysis as applied to closures fit and finish.
Track record partnering with Design Engineering to influence product design for manufacturability without compromising function, craftsmanship, or program timing.
Experience managing CapEx, project timeline, and supplier/integrator relationships.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present technical status, risk, and trade-offs clearly to both engineers and executive leadership.
A systems-based, first-principles approach to problem-solving, with the curiosity to challenge "how it's always been done."
Eagerness to work cross-functionally in a dynamic, matrixed environment with a bias for action.

Nice To Haves

advanced degree is a plus

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor and expand a high-performing engineering team focused on closures and hang-on assembly manufacturing processes.
Own the manufacturing process strategy and equipment concept development for closures across vehicle programs including tooling, line layout, hemming process and best fit systems.
Partner with Product Design Engineering to influence closures design for manufacturability providing DFM feedback early enough to avoid costly late-stage tooling changes.
Lead structured problem-solving initiatives across virtual builds, prototype phases, and final launch to resolve issues and consistently attain fit-and-finish targets.
Drive closures program deliverables, including design, development, quality, timing, cost, and represent closures readiness during program gates and launch readiness reviews.
Coordinate with Body Structures, Stamping, Paint, and General Assembly manufacturing engineering teams to ensure closures processes integrate cleanly with upstream and downstream systems.
Manage tooling and equipment suppliers/integrators for closures-specific equipment through RFQ, design, build, installation, commissioning, and ramp-up to target rate and quality and handover to production.
Establish and maintain standard work, documentation, and training for closures manufacturing processes (PFMEA, control plans, process sheets) across the team.
Provide regular, KPI updates to Body Manufacturing Engineering leadership on program status, quality, performance, budget and risk.
Support build events (prototype, pilot, pre-production) and production launches, ensuring closures systems meet target quality and rate.
Exhibit "Rivian Compass" in everything you do.