Autonomy Systems Validation, Staff TPM - Engineering

Rivian is 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

As a Technical Program Manager on Rivian's Autonomy Systems Validation team, you'll own the plan that keeps on-road and closed-course testing aligned with virtual validation and determines when our end-to-end autonomy software is ready for release. You'll partner with autonomy software, functional safety, operations, homologation, and leadership to build an integrated active safety and automated driving test plan, incorporating AI/ML model development and platform integration, tracking release criteria and feature validation KPIs, and turning complex technical trade-offs into clear decisions. You’ll be a force multiplier navigating technical complexity while driving alignment and execution across stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Drive project delivery: Develop a strong technical understanding of the stack and align program goals to business objectives. Improve delivery outcomes through project roadmaps and timelines, structured execution and coordination, accounting for factors unique to ML based end-to-end autonomy.
• Boost efficiency: Establish metrics, identify gaps and bottlenecks, streamline workflows and improve tooling to increase throughput on release metrics and validation KPIs.
• Enable cross-functional collaboration: Improve alignment across teams through effective communication, integrated plans, shared objectives and faster decisions.
• Manage risk proactively: Manage ambiguity, anticipate issues, develop mitigation plans, drive data-based escalation and minimize impact on timelines and quality.
• Keep stakeholders aligned and collaborate cross-functionally. Drive integrated plans, shared objectives, and faster decisions through clear communication. Establish standard reports that support launch readiness reviews and give leadership concise visibility into technical and performance trade-offs, risks, and feature readiness.
• Champion continuous improvement: Lead retros, encourage feedback, and implement changes to improve processes, team dynamics, and outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven delivery with a bias for action: 7+ years leading complex, multi-team software or technology programs in fast-paced or early-stage environments. You have a proven track record of delivering projects and getting things done.
• Technically strong: Comfortable working with engineers, experience with ML, robotics stacks, metrics driven analysis, validating end-to-end autonomy, and scenario or structured testing.
• Strong project management: Skilled at planning, prioritizing, adapting to change, managing risk and dependencies.
• Collaborative leader and clear communicator: Explain complex ideas simply, influence through soft power rather than authority, surface risks early, secure buy-in from senior stakeholders and build a positive team culture.
• Strategic and systems thinking: You keep the bigger picture in mind, reason about how parts of a complex system interact and how change in one area affects others, structure undefined problems, thrive in ambiguity and bring momentum and calm without adding unnecessary process.
• BA/BS degree in Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Data Science or equivalent experience with a strong foundation in areas relevant to AI/ML.

Preferred Qualities

• Deep knowledge and program management experience of ADAS / Automated Driving and the autonomous driving stack, Robotaxis or Robotics; particularly involving the integration and management of complex AI/ML models.
• Deep experience with simulation platforms or virtual validation strategies.
• Familiarity with global regulatory and consumer ratings frameworks.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $167,400 - $209,300 for Palo Alto, California 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). There is no fixed deadline for this application; applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until the role is filled or the opening is no longer needed.

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 [email protected].

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.