Sr. Program Manager, Vehicle Validation
About The Position
About Rivian Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract. As a company, we constantly challenge what's possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations. Role Summary Vehicle Validation at Rivian ensures every product delivers exceptional function, quality, reliability, and real-world performance. We perform both verification and validation against data-driven requirements that reflect how our customers use our vehicles-connecting DFMEAs, requirements, and validation plans into a cohesive process. As Sr. Program Manager, you'll lead cross-functional integration-bringing together engineering, test, prototyping, and manufacturing to align test plans, targets, build milestones, and system functionality from concept through launch. You'll develop and track comprehensive hardware and software validation plans, ensuring complete verification and validation coverage. You'll foster collaboration across vehicle programs, align resources, balance cost, risk, timing, and scope, and help teams close gaps-creating the clarity needed to deliver vehicles that exceed expectations.
Requirements
- Typically 5+ years of experience in automotive or related industries, with at least 3 years in program management or similar cross-functional roles.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, or equivalent combination of education, training, and hands-on experience.
- Understanding of vehicle development milestones, systems engineering, and program delivery.
- Familiarity with production, retrofit, and prototype build processes.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively across teams, communicate effectively, and enable high-quality outcomes.
- Passion for problem-solving, continuous learning, and delivering exceptional products to customers.
Responsibilities
- Coordinate validation timelines, build plans, and program milestones in partnership with engineering and cross-functional teams.
- Support the full validation cycle-from requirements through production sign-off-covering both component and vehicle-level testing.
- Integrate plans across engineering, purchasing, manufacturing, quality, and test teams to ensure alignment and readiness.
- Identify gaps and risks early, manage escalations, and work with stakeholders to drive resolution.
- Provide clear updates on progress, risks, and mitigation plans to leadership.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of validation processes and tools.
Benefits
- Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26.
- Coverage is effective on the first day of employment, and Rivian covers most of the premiums.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Industry
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
