Sr. Manager, Powertrain Production Programs

Sr. Manager, Powertrain Production Programs

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.

Rivian is seeking a Sr. Manager, Powertrain Production Programs to lead series program execution across the powertrain organization. This role is responsible for driving the implementation of series program activities, including variant introductions, cost reduction initiatives, product and supply base re-qualification, issue escalation, and cross-functional problem solving. The ideal candidate brings strong program leadership, operational rigor, and the ability to clearly communicate priorities, risks, KPIs, and business impact to senior leadership.

This role will lead the team responsible for driving and directing plant and operations teams through structured problem solving, ensuring rapid issue containment, clear ownership, cross-functional alignment, and durable corrective action.

Responsibilities:

• Own execution of the series program roadmap for the powertrain organization, including variant introductions, cost reduction initiatives, and product or supply base re-qualification.
• Lead the cross-functional teams in Normal (including Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, etc.) to resolve production, quality, and ramp issues.
• Lead and develop direct reports within the Powertrain Production Programs team.
• Communicate top issues, KPIs, risks, and recovery plans to Rivian leadership with clear linkage to business impact.
• Drive strong accountability across engineering, operations, and plant functions, ensuring issues have clear ownership, decision-making support, execution urgency, and closure.
• Provide day-to-day direction to operations teams during issue investigation and resolution, ensuring actions are prioritized, coordinated, and executed in line with program and business needs.
• Serve as the connection point between the powertrain engineering organization and program development teams.
• Support new program launches during industrialization at Rivian plants, ensuring readiness and cross-functional alignment.
• Support field issue triage and help ensure ownership is assigned and actions are driven to resolution.
• Build a team culture grounded in urgency, rigor, transparency, and relentless follow-through.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of experience in engineering, program management, manufacturing, product development, or operations within automotive or a similarly complex industry.
• 3+ years of people leadership experience managing technical or program teams.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional initiatives in a fast-paced production environment.
• Experience managing issue escalation, risk tracking, and execution against program milestones.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex issues into clear leadership updates.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to drive decisions across multiple stakeholders.
• Hands-on experience with structured problem solving using 8D/A3/5-Why disciplines, with clear action tracking, owner assignment, and leadership visibility.
• Experience driving cross-functional recovery rooms / escalation cadences with manufacturing, quality, product engineering, supply chain, supplier development, launch, and plant operations teams.

Pay Disclosure Salary Range Illinois-Based Applicants: $161,00-$201,200 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, and other factors permitted by law). Benefits

Summary:

Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day 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…