Sr. Manager, Safety Test and Validation

Rivian•Plymouth, MI

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Safety Test & Validation is responsible for leading, developing, and executing Rivian’s Vehicle Safety Engineering test and validation engineering team. This role drives the end-to-end testing strategy to ensure Rivian’s vehicles meet global regulatory and consumer rating standards, quality benchmarks, consumer expectations, and real-world performance requirements for passive safety. In this role, you will define comprehensive validation initiatives, oversee Design Verification Plan (DVP) creation and execution, manage external test facility partnerships, and collaborate cross-functionally across engineering, program management, and homologation teams.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field.
Extensive experience in vehicle safety, crashworthiness, and structural performance, with a strong understanding of global regulatory and consumer safety standards (FMVSS, UNECE, US NCAP, Euro NCAP, IIHS).
Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering technical excellence and career growth.
Strong expertise in CAE methodologies, crash test planning, and vehicle safety validation.
Deep understanding of vehicle structures, materials, and crash management strategies in crash scenarios.
Demonstrated ability to drive cross-functional collaboration, effectively influencing decisions across engineering, and program teams.
Strong project management skills, with experience in tracking deliverables, mitigating risks, and aligning resources.
Ability to champion strategic change, proactively identifying opportunities for efficiency improvements and enhanced safety methodologies.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, capable of presenting technical findings and influencing leadership decisions.

Nice To Haves

Extensive experience in vehicle-level or complex multi-system test and validation engineering, global compliance, and physical testing methodologies.
Proven ability to mobilize cross-functional engineering teams and drive technical alignment without direct authority.
Ability to operate independently, making high-impact decisions to optimize validation timelines and performance outcomes.
Establishes rigorous tracking systems to drive continuous improvement in test efficiency, data quality, and compliance validation.
Champions bold testing and validation methodologies even when they challenge conventional perspectives, maintaining strong collaborative relationships across functions.
Ability and willingness to travel to vehicle test locations, test tracks, and external supplier facilities as required.

Responsibilities

Participate in cross-functional strategy development to advance Rivian’s overall Vehicle Safety Engineering test and validation vision.
Define, establish, and optimize vehicle- and component-level testing programs to validate performance against internal targets, global standards, and regulatory requirements (FMVSS, UNECE, Euro NCAP, etc.).
Oversee program Design Verification Plan (DVP) development, execution, and milestone tracking.
Influence internal and external functional groups, program management, and homologation teams to achieve seamless system- and vehicle-level validation execution.
Develop strategic partnerships with test labs, research institutions, and key vendors. Plan assets, capacity, timelines, budget, and equipment investments to ensure the function delivers against all commitments.
Represent Rivian in technical regulatory discussions and vehicle rating/performance evaluations for the validation approach.
Establish and maintain clear, systematic, and documented internal standards, procedures, and stakeholder instructions to ensure repeatably consistent execution across all test events.
Implement robust knowledge transfer processes and cover plans so critical operations are never dependent on a single individual.
Oversee critical test setup, execution, and post-test assessment checkpoints. Ensure named, accountable owners complete pre- and post-test checks and that all required equipment, instructions, and information are verified prior to execution.
Maintain systems of control that prevent critical steps or procedural checks from being omitted.
Ensure key decisions, stakeholder agreements, and procedure changes are documented in writing prior to execution. Provide complete, high-quality, and timely test data, reports, and management updates.
Ensure all work executed meets quality, timing, and completeness standards. Remain accountable for setting up, directing, and checking the team's output.
Set clear expectations, provide regular performance feedback, and mentor team members.
Proactively identify and surface technical, operational, or timing risks before they impact test outcomes. Escalate unmitigated risks with clear impact assessments and proposed solutions.
Manage external partners and contracts in compliance with Rivian procurement policies.