Program Manager, Product Quality and Readiness

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

Salary Range/Hourly Rate for California Based…