Staff New Product Operation Manager

Rivian VW Group; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is seeking a Staff New Product Operations Manager to own build readiness end-to-end for ECU programs, defining entry and exit criteria at each development stage gate and coordinating with CM sites and cross-functional teams.

You will identify readiness risks, drive cross-functional issue resolution, and bridge Engineering and Operations requirements across Hardware Design, Product Launch Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, and Test Automation to build

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in NPI, SCM, Mfg Ops or Ops Eng.
• BS or MS in Engineering.
• Direct PCBA CM operational management experience.
• Strong communication in technical and nontechnical domains.
• Outstanding collaboration within/across organizations.
• Data-driven and proactive; thrives with ambiguity.
• Analytical with measurement data, dashboards and metrics.
• Excellent written/verbal communication to executives.
• Experience with Jira and Confluence.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
• Interest in AI-driven solutions for reporting and analysis.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate across stakeholders to create integrated CM operations schedules.
• Coordinate with program managers to integrate milestones into ECU/vehicle schedules.
• Lead development builds and ramp readiness at CM sites.
• Drive entry/exit criteria assessment at development stage gates.
• Champion process improvements across internal/external processes and docs.
• Lead cross-functional issue resolution to mitigate risks.
• Analyze risks and program status for engineering/program leadership.
• Lead post-ramp change management with Quality and Design Engineering.

Skills

New Product Introduction

Supply Chain Management

Manufacturing Operations

Operations Engineering

Jira

Confluence

Education

Engineering degree (BS/MS)

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Job description

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.

Role Summary

As RVT’s Electronic Control Unit (ECU) portfolio scales across brand partners and expands multiple country roadmaps, contract manufacturer development and launch readiness is a critical gate between engineering intent and program delivery. Our Electrical Hardware Technical Program Management team is seeking a Staff New Product Operations Manager to own build readiness end to end — defining and driving entry and exit criteria at every development stage gate (Proto, EVT, DVT, PVT), and holding contract manufacturer sites and cross‑functional stakeholders accountable to them before a build is allowed to proceed.

You are the accountable owner for identifying and escalating readiness risks — design, materials, process/SOP, equipment, staffing, training, and engineering inputs — and for driving cross‑functional issue resolution to unblock builds when readiness gaps or execution roadblocks put a milestone at risk. This includes bridging Engineering and Operational requirements across Hardware Design, Product Launch Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, and Test Automation to build integrated schedules and run critical milestone reviews. Beyond development and launch, you will lead post‑ramp change management and qualification in partnership with Product Launch Engineering, Quality, and Design Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate across key stakeholders, including Hardware and Software Engineering, Product Launch Engineering, Quality, Purchasing and Test Automation, to create integrated CM operations schedules.
• Coordinate with Hardware, Software and Vehicle‑level program managers to integrate critical operations readiness milestones and dependencies into top‑line ECU and vehicle program schedules, highlighting technical/timeline risks holistically.
• Lead development builds and ramp readiness activities, ensuring security, materials, process/SOP, equipment, staffing, and training are all in place at CM sites.
• Drive operations entry & exit criteria assessment at ECU development stage gates while ensuring that cross‑functional engineering inputs satisfy operational requirements.
• Champion process improvement initiatives across internal/external processes, communication, metrics and documentation as it relates to CM operations, management and quality.
• Lead cross‑functional issue resolution to mitigate risks and remove roadblocks for CM readiness.
• Analyze and communicate risks and program status succinctly to engineering and program leadership, highlighting key issues and presenting resolution options to the cross‑functional executive team.
• Lead post‑ramp change management efforts for design, quality and process issue resolution with Quality and Design Engineering teams.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience in New Product Introduction, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Operations, or Operations Engineering.
• BS or MS degree in Engineering.
• Direct PCBA CM operational management experience.
• Strong communication skills in technical and nontechnical domains.
• Outstanding collaboration and relationship‑building capabilities within and across organizations.
• Data‑driven, proactive, and tenacious; energized by ambiguity and passionate about cross‑functional problem solving.
• Strong analytical and data‑driven decision‑making capabilities; comfortable working directly with measurement and test data, capability metrics, and program dashboards.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to articulate clearly and factually to executive audiences and to translate technical detail for non‑engineering stakeholders.
• Experience with Atlassian‑based applications, including Jira and Confluence.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally to contract manufacturer, supplier, and vehicle program locations as needed.
• Eager to explore AI‑driven solutions across communication, reporting, visualizations and analysis.

Total Rewards

We build the exceptional — and we believe the people doing that work should be rewarded accordingly. In addition to a competitive base salary, full‑time positions may be eligible to participate in our annual company performance bonus program.

Payments are discretionary and not guaranteed; actual amounts depend on company results and the terms of the plan in effect, and require active employment at the time of payout. This role is also eligible for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval and the terms of our equity incentive plans, including applicable vesting requirements.

In addition to our compensation programs, we invest in our people with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, wellbeing, and financial future for full‑time employees — including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs. Offerings vary by country. Learn more about our global benefit programs.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. 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. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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 and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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 and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies’ service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, 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.

If you provide a mobile telephone number as part of your application or during the recruitment process, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use that number to contact you via SMS text message for recruitment‑related purposes, including scheduling, logistics, and status updates. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of applying for or being considered for employment.

Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English) and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.

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Note this job posting represents an open, active vacancy. Additionally, we are not currently accepting applications from third party application services.