Sr. Technical Program Manager, Release Process

About Us

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we’re addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world.

The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we’ll map a new way forward. Working together, we’ll create a future that’s more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.

As a Technical Program Manager on the Software Release Management team, your primary goal is to ensure consistently high-quality software releases across multiple vehicle programs. You will achieve this by architecting and optimizing Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies  software feedback and release process. You will manage diverse streams of information - including technical bugs, field reports, and customer feedback - to support monthly over-the-air (OTAi) updates.

The ideal candidate is passionate about streamlining complex engineering projects in Jira, building better tools, and creating scalable processes that allow our engineering teams to resolve issues and execute flawless releases at scale.

• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert for Jira by designing, implementing, and maintaining complex workflows, custom schemes, automation rules, and integrations to manage and improve feedback and release processes.
• Build and maintain internal tools that collect and consolidate feedback from diverse sources (Beta testers, Field Operations, Service, and internal Quality teams).
• Implement robust categorization and linking of feedback and release tasks through data analysis, tagging, and custom triaging workflows to ensure all issues receive scalable engineering review.
• Continuously audit the software release pipeline, including all testing milestones, to identify process gaps and bottlenecks, and implement systemic improvements to enhance the overall readiness framework.
• Build and maintain dashboards using Jira data that provide real-time visibility into feedback funnels and process status for all stakeholders.
• Work with interdisciplinary teams to analyze inefficient processes and identify opportunities for improvement through root cause analysis and tooling infrastructure.
• Configure integrations (e.g., Slack bots) to provide timeline alerts to stakeholders regarding high-priority blockers or stalled tickets.

• Expert with Jira SQL for complex querying, automations, workflows, and dashboard creation.
• Proven experience creating Jira Automation rules to replace manual tasks.
• Solid understanding of the software release product development process and the entire Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC).
• A strong desire to learn and a "hungry" attitude, with an eagerness to take on increasing responsibility.
• High level of patience and meticulous attention to detail, with the ability to execute tasks in a structured and methodical way.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and collaboration skills with a high attention to detail and an analytical mindset.
• Familiarity with query programming languages and experience with JQL and Automation for Jira.
• Experience with Jama, Confluence, and/or Smartsheet is a plus.
• Automotive experience is an asset.

Salary Range/Hourly Rate for California Based Applicants
: $132,100 - $165,100 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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.

Total Rewards

Total compensation packages for this position include base salary, eligibility for an annual performance bonus, and eligibility for…