Sr. Technical Program Manager - Body

Rivian Automotive; Normal (IL); On-site; USD 112,000 - 139,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian is seeking a Senior Technical Program Manager for the Body Manufacturing Engineering team at the Normal, IL facility. You will lead cross-functional scope execution across joining, assembly, tooling, and simulation, translating commitments into readiness and proactive risk mitigation.

You will coordinate with Design Engineering, Supply Chain, CAPEX/Finance, Facilities, and Plant Operations to ensure on-time, within-budget tooling and equipment delivery, with data-driven reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering with 4+ years in automotive manufacturing or BIW programs.
• Ability to lead multi-workstream programs in a fast-paced matrix environment.
• Experience with joining, assembly tooling, DFM, and simulation is preferred.
• Strong communication and program-tracking tool proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Drive integrated program schedule across joining, assembly, tooling, and simulation.
• Align cross-functional teams to achieve equipment, tooling, and process readiness.
• Identify and mitigate program risks related to cost, timing, quality, and mass.
• Translate DFM and simulation insights into actionable design decisions.
• Manage engineering change requests, tooling mods, and line trials for updates.
• Oversee tooling vendors and equipment suppliers through milestones.
• Establish standard program management practices and executive reporting.
• Support prototype, pilot, and pre-production builds for launch readiness.
• Leverage data/AI to create auto-generated reports, reducing admin burden.

Skills

Multi-workstream leadership

Communication skills

Problem solving

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or related field)

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

MS Project

Smartsheet

Jira

Job description

About Rivian

Rivianis on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.

As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

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 launch readiness are actively managed.
• Leverage data and AI tools to create auto-generated reports and dashboards to reduce administrative burden while focusing efforts on resolving real problems.
• Responsible for driving escalation topics and focusing escalation pathways on problem resolution and productive 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); Advanced degree preferred.
• 4+ years of experience in automotive manufacturing engineering, technical program management, or body-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 of joining methods (resistance spot welding, SPR, structural adhesive, laser welding), assembly tooling design/build lifecycles, DFM principles, and simulation analysis (stamping feasibility, tolerance stack-up, line accessibility) are preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-workstream programs in a fast-paced, matrixed environment—converting ambiguity into defined project scopes, key deliverables, and actionable timelines.
• Proficiency with program management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira) and experience building program tracking structures from the ground up.
• Proven track record collaborating with CAPEX, Supply Chain, Facilities, and Manufacturing teams to deliver tooling and equipment on time and within budget.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, applying a first-principles, systems-thinking approach to problem-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.

This job is not expected to be closed any sooner than 10/1/2026.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at [e-mail].

Candidate Data Privacy and Technology

Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes ("Candidate Personal Data"). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process

To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Rivian uses iCIMS Talent Cloud Artificial Intelligence (TCAI) and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role. AI does not make hiring decisions: Qualified candidate applications are reviewed by a member of our team, and all decisions throughout the process are made by humans. We use AI to support efficiency and consistency, not to replace human judgment. We are committed to a fair, thoughtful, and equitable experience for every candidate.

Participation in AI profile matching is entirely voluntary. If you prefer that your profile not be used in this process, you can opt out at any time. Opting out means your profile will be excluded from automated matching and will not be surfaced for additional roles through this system. Your current application remains active and will not be affected in any way.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.