Staff Program Manager, Vehicle Validation

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 is our commitment to ensuring every product meets the highest standards of function, quality, reliability, and real-world performance. It’s not just about testing—it’s about validating the entire vehicle against clear, data-driven requirements that reflect how our customers actually use our vehicles. This includes driving alignment between DFMEAs, requirement definition, and validation planning to ensure our vehicles meet the quality standards and performance expectations our customers rely on. As a Staff Program Manager, Vehicle Validation, you will play a critical role in aligning test plans, performance targets, build milestones, and system functionality across the vehicle lifecycle—from concept through launch. You’ll help develop and track robust validation plans that integrate hardware and software requirements, ensuring complete verification and validation coverage. In this role, you’ll collaborate across Rivian’s vehicle programs and work closely with cross-functional partners—from test and development teams to prototyping and manufacturing—to integrate plans, align resources, and balance cost, risk, timing, and scope. Your deep understanding of tools, processes, and vehicle systems will enable you to proactively identify gaps and drive clarity across teams. This role will be onsite in Irvine, CA Responsibilities Drive Program Integration & Planning – Align validation timelines, build planning, and program milestones across engineering teams. Own Validation Oversight – Lead the full validation cycle from requirements through production sign-off, covering both component and vehicle-level testing. Lead Pre-Production Asset Planning – Ensure prototypes, mules, and validation builds meet intent and are delivered on time and on budget. Enable Cross-Functional Alignment – Partner across engineering, purchasing, manufacturing, quality, and test teams to execute validation and build plans. Manage Issues & Escalations – Identify gaps early, drive resolution of critical validation issues, and ensure closure across systems. Communicate Clearly to Leadership – Report status, risks, and mitigation plans to stakeholders and leadership in regular forums. Champion Continuous Improvement – Identify and implement process enhancements that strengthen validation for current and future programs. Qualifications 8+ years of automotive experience, including 5+ years in program management Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Strong understanding of vehicle development milestones, systems engineering interactions, and program timelines Deep knowledge of production, retrofit, and prototype build processes — with a track record of influencing these areas to enable smart validation strategies Natural leader with a passion for building better ways to share data, solve problems, and guide teams toward high-quality outcomes Pay Disclosure Salary Range for California Based Applicants : $154,000-$192,500 (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.