Head of Vehicle Safety Testing & Validation

Rivian; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 218,000 - 273,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Paid sick leave

Insurance benefits

401(k) Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Job summary

Rivian is seeking a Senior Manager, Safety Test & Validation to lead Rivian’s Vehicle Safety Engineering test and validation team. You will shape end-to-end validation strategies, oversee DVP development, and collaborate with engineering, program management, and homologation teams to ensure safety and compliance.

Based in California, the role emphasizes cross-functional leadership, external partner management, and rigorous execution of testing programs to meet global standards and real-world

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in vehicle safety, crashworthiness, and structural performance with global regulatory knowledge (FMVSS, UNECE, US NCAP, Euro NCAP, IIHS).
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams with technical excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional strategy development for Rivian’s Vehicle Safety Engineering test and validation.
• Define and optimize vehicle- and component-level testing programs to meet internal targets and global standards.
• Oversee DVP development, execution, and milestone tracking.
• Manage external test facility partnerships and supplier relationships.

Skills

Vehicle safety

Crash testing

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Stakeholder communication

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s in Mechanical/Automotive Engineering

Tools

CAE methodologies

Crash test planning

Testing facilities management

Job description

Rivian is seeking a Senior Manager, Safety Test & Validation to lead Rivian’s Vehicle Safety Engineering test and validation team. You will shape end-to-end validation strategies, oversee DVP development, and collaborate with engineering, program management, and homologation teams to ensure safety and compliance.

Based in California, the role emphasizes cross-functional leadership, external partner management, and rigorous execution of testing programs to meet global standards and real-world