Hardware Operations & NPI Strategy Lead

Rivian VW Group; Palo Alto, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSU equity

Health coverage

Retirement savings

Job summary

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is seeking a Staff Product Operations Manager to secure production continuity, scale capacity, and drive operational excellence across hardware ecosystems. You will manage outsourced engineering partners, lead post-ramp redesigns and implement corrective actions with a global CM network.

The role requires strategic planning, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to navigate complex timelines in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in New Product Introduction, Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain or Operations Engineering.
• BS or MS degree in Engineering.
• Experience in component lifecycle management, material risk mitigation and EOL transition planning.
• Experience driving RMA triage, failure analysis and design refresh with engineering and suppliers.
• Experience managing engineering service partners or JDM partners.
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration, influence and relationship-building.
• Strong analytical, data-driven decision making and comfortable with ambiguity.
• Ability to travel as needed to CM sites internationally.
• Strong communication in technical and nontechnical domains.

Responsibilities

• Develop portfolio of engineering service providers for post-ramp design, validation and failure analysis.
• Create sustaining operations and post-ramp design/qualification workflows for internal systems.
• Collaborate with Hardware, Software, Quality, Purchasing and Test Automation to align CM schedules.
• Integrate critical milestones into top-line ECU and vehicle program schedules; highlight risks.
• Own production continuity planning including capacity modeling and ramp readiness.
• Lead build readiness for engineering, pilot and mass production phases.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Data-driven decision making

Effective communication

Influence without authority

Ability to travel internationally

Proactive risk mitigation

Education

Engineering degree (BS/MS)

Job description

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is seeking a Staff Product Operations Manager to secure production continuity, scale capacity, and drive operational excellence across hardware ecosystems. You will manage outsourced engineering partners, lead post-ramp redesigns and implement corrective actions with a global CM network.

The role requires strategic planning, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to navigate complex timelines in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment.