Lead Program Manager, Early Program Development

About Rivian

Rivianis 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.

This role sits within the Strategy & Planning team and is responsible for bridging the gap between high‑level product strategy and engineering execution. In this position, you will lead the cross‑functional technical and business integration of new programs from initial concept through Concept Freeze. You will lead technical deep dives, trade‑off analyses, and operational strategies to move a product from concept to production‑ready development.

You will work on difficult problems without a clear answer and interact with multiple functions including engineering, operations, manufacturing, strategy, finance, supply chain, and more.

• Collaborate cross‑functionally to establish competitive benchmarks, pricing studies, and volume sensitivities for early‑stage programs.
• Identify and gather insights on key positioning elements and features that drive program volume and price targets.
• Manage the program business case inputs, including tracking BOM COGS, non‑BOM costs (conversion, logistics, warranty), and investment envelopes.
• Lead deep dives with Advanced Product Development teams to develop early concepts.
• Facilitate cross‑functional studies to identify mission‑critical "one‑way door" decisions, ensuring rapid iteration and data‑driven technical direction.
• Build and maintain trade‑off matrices and decision frameworks to resolve disconnects between product feature objectives and financial/technical constraints.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Procurement, and Logistics to develop operational strategies that support the product definition.
• Translate program cost targets into clear operational objectives for manufacturing footprint, logistics, and supply chain.
• Execute ad hoc technical and business analyses to support leadership decision‑making, including value stream mapping, cash cycle, and make‑vs‑buy studies.

• Passionate about business execution and interest in solving difficult and ambiguous problems.
• 4‑7+ years of experience in Technical Program Management, Product Development or Industrial Engineering in a hardware‑intensive industry (Automotive, Aerospace, or Energy).
• Strong technical literacy; ability to speak the language of engineering and manufacturing to evaluate architecture and complexity trade‑offs.
• Proficient in building structured decision frameworks and trade‑off matrices to solve complex, ambiguous problems.
• Ability to handle financial modeling.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to synthesize technical deep dives into clear recommendations for executive reviews.

The salary range for this role is $,500 for Southern California based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.

The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full‑time and part‑time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short‑term disability insurance, and long‑term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian’s 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain…