Sr. Technical Program Manager - Body

Role Summary

Rivian's Body Manufacturing Engineering (ME) team designs, launches, and continuously optimizes world-class manufacturing systems to produce safe, high-quality vehicles at scale. As a Senior Technical Program Manager, you will lead cross-functional scope execution across joining, assembly, tooling, and simulation workstreams—translating program commitments into technical readiness and proactive risk mitigation.

Body Manufacturing Engineering oversees joining processes, assembly line equipment, tooling strategy, and advanced simulation across product updates, DFM studies, and program management lifecycles.

We are seeking a Senior Technical Program Manager to serve as the connective tissue across joining, assembly equipment, tooling, and simulation disciplines—aligning key deliverables (cost, timing, quality, mass, and CAPEX/ED&D investment) with structured execution and proactive risk management. This role is located at our Normal, IL facility and reports directly to a Sr. Manager, Manufacturing Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Drive the integrated program schedule for Body Manufacturing Engineering (joining, assembly, tool design, simulation, and DFM) from initial concept through SOSP and steady-state production.
• Align cross-functional teams—including Design Engineering, Supply Chain, CAPEX/Finance, Facilities, and Plant Operations—to ensure equipment, tooling, and process readiness adhere to Rivian Development Process gate milestones.
• Identify and mitigate program risks regarding cost, timing, quality, mass, and tooling budget through structured gate reviews, design evaluations, and issue resolution frameworks.
• Translate advanced DFM studies and simulation insights into actionable design and process decisions, maintaining continuous feedback loops between simulation models, tool design, and line-side execution.
• Manage technical engineering change requests, tooling modifications, and line trials for running product updates to minimize impact on production.
• Oversee tooling vendors and equipment suppliers through schedule management, buy-off, installation, and commissioning milestones.
• Establish and maintain standard program management practices (reporting cadences, dashboards, escalation paths) to translate complex engineering topics into executive-level communications.
• Support prototype, pilot, and pre-production build events to ensure Body ME deliverables and launchreadiness are actively managed.
• Leverage data and AI tools to create auto-generated reports and dashboards to reduce administrativeburden while focusing efforts on resolving real problems.
• Responsible for driving escalation topics and focusing escalation pathways on problem resolution andproductive outcomes.
• Embody the "Rivian Compass" values across all workstreams and team interactions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or related technical field); Advanceddegree preferred.
• 4+ years of experience in automotive manufacturing engineering, technical program management, orbody-in-white (BIW) development, with direct involvement in joining, assembly systems, or tooling programs.
• Strong technical understanding of body-in-white manufacturing processes is preferred. Knowledge ofjoining methods (resistance spot welding, SPR, structural adhesive, laser welding), assembly toolingdesign/build lifecycles, DFM principles, and simulation analysis (stamping feasibility, tolerance stack-up, lineaccessibility) are preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-workstream programs in a fast-paced, matrixed environment—convertingambiguity into defined project scopes, key deliverables, and actionable timelines.
• Proficiency with program management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira) and experience buildingprogram tracking structures from the ground up.
• Proven track record collaborating with CAPEX, Supply Chain, Facilities, and Manufacturing teams to delivertooling and equipment on time and within budget.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, applying a first-principles, systems-thinking approach toproblem-solving and executive-level presentations.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $111,600-$138,700 for Illinois 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 eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.      You can apply for this role through careers.rivian.com (or through internal-careers-rivian.icims.com if you are a current employee). This job is not expected to be closed any sooner than 10/1/2026.