Staff Technical Program Manager, Systems Integration & Validation

Rivian•Plymouth, California

About The Position

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. Delivering a validation-ready vehicle depends on translating validation intent into a correctly integrated, fit-for-use asset (LabCar and its surrogates) across DREs, NPI/Supply, RVT, and Special Projects, with V&V owning the integrity of that translation. As a Staff Technical Program Manager, Validation Software, you will own the operational execution of this integration layer across R1, R2, and EDV Pre-DV asset governance — simultaneously, not one program at a time. You will run the BOM/MPL-to-device reconciliation workstream, hold the cross-functional handshake between Validation, DRE/Device Teams, NPI, RVT, and Special Projects, and drive the fit-for-use decision that gates FM3-demonstrable evidence into DVB. You are accountable for consistent execution of this model across every program running it in parallel — not just for any single program's outcome. This is a working, hands-on TPM role inside a governance function that is scaling — you will help build the process as much as run it.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
Typically 5–8+ years of experience in automotive or complex electro-mechanical products, including significant experience in technical program management, systems engineering, or validation/test asset planning.
Working knowledge of BOM/MPL structures, device or part transmittal processes, and how pre-production surrogate parts differ from production-intent parts.
Demonstrated experience coordinating across engineering, program, NPI/supply chain, and build/test teams to resolve part, device, or asset delivery gaps under time pressure.
Comfortable operating with ambiguity in a governance model that is still being defined — able to drive clarity on R&R without waiting for it to be handed down.
Strong fluency with tools such as Jira, Confluence, and dashboarding tools to drive decisions, not just report status.
Proven ability to influence across functions and levels, and to facilitate cross-functional alignment (e.g., a deviation/negotiation forum) without formal authority over every party in the room.

Responsibilities

Own the BOM/MPL → device → asset translation workstream: reconcile validation intent, software maturity, and released or surrogate device content into a single integrated asset demand, in partnership with DREs and Device Teams.
Own execution consistency across the full platform of simultaneous Pre-DV programs (R1, R2, EDV) — apply the same governance model, definitions, and fit-for-use bar whether one program or several are running in parallel, and surface and resolve process drift between programs before it becomes divergent practice.
Run the pre-DV asset R&R model day to day — the handshake between Validation/Feature (intent), V&V (integration + governance), NPI/Supply (device delivery), RVT (functional build), and Special Projects (physical build) — and keep each accountability distinct and current.
Track and drive closure on DRE responsibilities: surrogate or released part readiness, technical function/data content, early flagging of form-fit-function deviation, and transmittal data traceable to the correct end devices.
Host and facilitate the pre-DV cross-functional reviews to negotiate production-intent, sourcing, and timing gaps before DVB.
Maintain visibility into asset and device readiness against program milestones, and escalate maturity or timing mismatches to Vehicle Line and program leadership before they become launch risks.
Support the fit-for-use decision: confirm intended validation is supported, the LabCar functions, and the physical build works, before FM3-demonstrable evidence is claimed.
Build and maintain dashboards/metrics for asset governance status (RAG-style tracking across sourcing, delivery, negotiation, and governance), and provide clear, data-backed updates to senior stakeholders.
Contribute to scaling this governance model as the team grows — turning working practice into repeatable process, templates, and RACI as headcount and program count increase.