Program Manager, Product Quality and Readiness at Rivian

San Jose, California, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

13 Mar, 26

Salary

161450.0

Posted On

13 Dec, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Technical Program Management, Product Engineering, Process Engineering, Operations, Quality Control, Data Analysis, Standard Operating Procedures, Manufacturing Execution, Customer Focus, Operational Execution, Systems Thinking, Problem Solving, Data Pipelines, Telemetry, Logistics, Applied Ingenuity

Industry

Motor Vehicle Manufacturing

Description

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 At Rivian, handing over the keys isn’t just a transaction; it is the start of an adventure. As the Program Manager, Product Quality & Readiness, you are the guardian of that standard. You are a strategic operator and systems thinker obsessed with defining the technical frameworks and quality gates that ensure every vehicle delivered to a customer is flawless in both function and form. You operate at the critical junction where the factory ends and the customer journey begins. Your mission is to architect the intelligent, scalable operating system that performs the final validation of our vehicles before they ever reach a customer's driveway. You ensure that the first moment of ownership is pure joy, unmarred by technical oversight or cosmetic imperfection. More critically, you will transform this validation phase into the ultimate feedback loop. You will capture high-fidelity data to drive systemic improvements in the factory, while simultaneously driving rigorous operational execution in the field to ensure vehicle presentation is immaculate. You are the operational bridge ensuring quality is a closed-loop system that centers the customer at every stage. Responsibilities The Customer Advocate: You never lose sight of the human being waiting for their keys. You view every defect—whether a software bug or a smudge on the glass—as a potential friction point in a customer’s adventure, and you fight relentlessly to eliminate them. The Clarity Creator: You are an expert at simplifying complex quality challenges into structured, measurable technical programs. The Data Architect: You use data to diagnose systemic issues, build compelling business cases, and ensure every requirement is backed by measurable field impact. The Strategic Partner: You excel at translating field reality into actionable HQ plans, fostering alignment and shared success with central teams, especially Manufacturing. A Long-Term Builder: You are focused on building sustainable, scalable systems that will power our quality standards for years to come. Qualifications 8+ years of experience in Technical Program Management, Product, Process/Industrial Engineering, or Operations within a complex hardware-intensive industry (Automotive, Aerospace, or similar). This requirement is reduced to 5 years for candidates with a Master’s degree. Customer Obsession: A demonstrated ability to connect technical processes to customer outcomes. You understand that "Quality" is defined by the user experience, not just the spec sheet. Operational Rigor: Experience defining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for field or factory teams. You understand that while the factory builds the product, the field team delivers the experience, and you know how to drive compliance in product presentation, quality, and cleanliness. Proven experience in defining, deploying, and owning technical systems and data pipelines, specifically around quality control, manufacturing execution (MES), or diagnostic tooling. Exceptional ability to synthesize high-volume data (telemetry, manufacturing data) into clear, strategic narratives for both executive and engineering audiences. The Operator-Engineer Mindset: You are equal parts operator (focused on execution, logistics, and people) and engineer (focused on systems, optimization, and tools). Applied Ingenuity: A degree in a hands-on technical field is preferred. However, we value applied ingenuity above all; a demonstrated track record of solving complex problems in rigorous environments may be accepted in lieu of specific academic credentials. Pay Disclosure Salary Range/Hourly Rate for California Based Applicants: $121,800 - $161,450 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law). Benefits Summary: Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Full Time Employee coverage is effective on the first day of employment. Part-Time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. Salary Range/Hourly Rate for Illinois Based Applicants: $102,300 - $135,580 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law). Benefits Summary: Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Full Time Employee coverage is effective on the first day of employment. Part-Time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. Equal Opportunity Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law. Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at candidateaccommodations@rivian.com. Candidate Data Privacy Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law. Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services. Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions. Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.

Responsibilities

The Program Manager is responsible for ensuring that every vehicle delivered is flawless in function and form, acting as a bridge between factory operations and customer experience. They will also transform the validation phase into a feedback loop for continuous improvement.