Material Flow Engineering Manager

Job Title: Material Flow Engineering Manager

Duration: 12+ Months

Location: Normal, IL & Atlanta, GA

• Hiring team is now open to candidates based in Atlanta, GA. However, travel to Normal, IL will be required.

The Material Flow Engineering Manager is a critical leadership role responsible for designing, optimizing, and executing the end-to-end material supply chain, from external suppliers directly to the assembly line. The primary goal is to ensure material availability to meet high-volume production targets while maintaining efficiency and safety. This role requires a technical leader capable of navigating ambiguity, driving cross-functional strategy, and implementing "first-principles" engineering solutions across the global footprint.

• Company: Rivian
• Worksite: Normal, IL & Atlanta, GA
• Working Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Travel: Some travel required

• Lead automation of supply chain logistics and high-impact projects that bridge the gap between physical logistics and digital intelligence.
• Leverage Artificial Intelligence and advanced automation to predict bottlenecks before they happen and optimize throughput in real-time.
• Direct the deployment and integration of material handling automation, including Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs), Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), and conveyor systems.

• Lead the development, modeling, and analysis of material flow strategies (e.g., sequencing, batching, storage) to achieve optimal cost, space utilization, and throughput.
• Develop models to analyze the cost, throughput, and space factors for part sequencing, material batching, intermediate storage locations, and other material flow strategies.

• Oversee the optimization and maintenance of cross-functional databases to ensure data integrity for material tracking and inventory control.
• Collaborate with IT to architect and implement digital systems tailored to support evolving operational requirements.
• Configure control cycles and logic for FLP and PACE systems to automate material replenishment triggers.
• Strategize IT hardware requirements and oversee the deployment of technology interfaces across the production floor.

• Oversee the creation of efficient, Lean, and safe factory layouts and material flow plans covering all processes from receiving through delivery to the production line.
• Design high-efficiency warehouse layouts, including kitting cells, AGV pathways, and optimized material supply routes.
• Specify and integrate material handling assets, including tuggers, AGVs, forklifts, and custom-engineered racking systems.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering (MEs) to engineer material delivery solutions (dollies, lift tables, GFRs) that align with specific packaging ergonomics.
• Engage with the Continuous Improvement (CI) team to prototype innovative equipment and optimize process cycle times.

• Manage cross-functional project teams, vendor relationships (LLP), and project timelines to successfully deliver on safety, quality, and production metrics.
• Conduct data-driven workload analysis to determine precise Headcount (HC) requirements and labor allocation.
• Lead formal buy-off procedures with Operations to ensure new processes meet safety, ergonomic, and throughput standards.
• Drive project momentum through weekly status reporting, cross-functional alignment meetings, and proactive bottleneck escalation.

• Author comprehensive Work Instructions (SOPs) and Job Cards to standardize tasks and minimize process variation.
• Provide subject matter expertise during the conceptual phases of new projects to ensure "Design for Logistics" principles are applied.

• Preferably 5-10 years of experience in high-volume manufacturing OEMs, logistics, or supply chain engineering.
• Minimum 5 years in a formal supervisory or leadership capacity.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.

• 2+ years of experience developing data-driven…