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Lead Program Manager, Early Program Development
full-timeIrvine$154k - $192k

Summary

Location

Irvine

Salary

$154k - $192k

Type

full-time

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About this role

About Rivian

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

This role sits within the Strategy & Planning team and is responsible for bridging the gap between high-level product strategy and engineering execution. In this position, you will lead the cross-functional technical and business integration of new programs from initial concept through Concept Freeze. You will lead technical deep dives, trade-off analyses, and operational strategies to move a product from concept to production-ready development. You will work on difficult problems without a clear answer and interact with multiple functions including, engineering, operations, manufacturing, strategy, finance, supply chain, and more.


Responsibilities

  • Collaborate cross-functionally to establish competitive benchmarks, pricing studies, and volume sensitivities for early-stage programs.
  • Identify and gather insights on key positioning elements and features that drive program volume and price targets.
  • Manage the program business case inputs, including tracking BOM COGS, non-BOM costs (conversion, logistics, warranty), and investment envelopes.
  • Lead deep dives with Advanced Product Development teams to develop early concepts.
  • Facilitate cross-functional studies to identify mission-critical "one-way door" decisions, ensuring rapid iteration and data-driven technical direction.
  • Build and maintain trade-off matrices and decision frameworks to resolve disconnects between product feature objectives and financial/technical constraints.
  • Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Procurement, and Logistics to develop operational strategies that support the product definition.
  • Translate program cost targets into clear operational objectives for manufacturing footprint, logistics, and supply chain.
  • Execute ad hoc technical and business analyses to support leadership decision-making, including value stream mapping, cash cycle, and make-vs-buy studies.

Qualifications

  • Passionate about business execution and interest in solving difficult and ambiguous problems.
  • 4-7+ years of experience in Technical Program Management, Product Development or Industrial Engineering in a hardware-intensive industry (Automotive, Aerospace, or Energy).
  • Strong technical literacy; ability to speak the language of engineering and manufacturing to evaluate architecture and complexity trade-offs.
  • Proficient in building structured decision frameworks and trade-off matrices to solve complex, ambiguous problems.
  • Ability to handle financial modeling
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to synthesize technical deep dives into clear recommendations for executive reviews.

Pay Disclosure

Salary Range/Hourly Rate range for California Based Applicants: $154,000-$192,500 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

 

Benefits Summary: Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment, and Rivian covers most of the premiums.




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

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.  

 

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

Other facts

Tech stack
Technical Program Management,Product Development,Industrial Engineering,Financial Modeling,Communication Skills,Decision Frameworks,Trade-off Matrices,Cross-functional Collaboration,Operational Strategies,Data-driven Analysis,Benchmarking,Cost Tracking,Problem Solving,Manufacturing Engineering,Logistics,Supply Chain

About Rivian

Doing something different is never easy. It requires courage, optimism and grit. Core to our mission is building a team of adventurous individuals determined to make a positive impact on the world. This means challenging ourselves constantly. Stretching beyond the bounds of conventional thinking. Reframing old problems. Seeking new solutions. And operating comfortably in a space of uncertainty. While our backgrounds are diverse, our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations. Do you like doing the impossible? We’d love to hear from you.

Team size: 10,001+ employees
LinkedIn: Visit
Industry: Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
Founding Year: 2009

What you'll do

  • The Lead Program Manager will lead the integration of new programs from concept to production-ready development, collaborating across multiple functions. Responsibilities include managing program business case inputs and facilitating cross-functional studies to ensure data-driven technical direction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rivian pay for a Lead Program Manager, Early Program Development?

Rivian offers a competitive compensation package for the Lead Program Manager, Early Program Development role. The salary range is USD 154k - 193k per year. Apply through Clera to learn more about the full compensation details.

What does a Lead Program Manager, Early Program Development do at Rivian?

As a Lead Program Manager, Early Program Development at Rivian, you will: the Lead Program Manager will lead the integration of new programs from concept to production-ready development, collaborating across multiple functions. Responsibilities include managing program business case inputs and facilitating cross-functional studies to ensure data-driven technical direction..

Why join Rivian as a Lead Program Manager, Early Program Development?

Rivian is a leading Motor Vehicle Manufacturing company. The Lead Program Manager, Early Program Development role offers competitive compensation.

Is the Lead Program Manager, Early Program Development position at Rivian remote?

The Lead Program Manager, Early Program Development position at Rivian is based in Irvine, California, United States. Contact the company through Clera for specific work arrangement details.

How do I apply for the Lead Program Manager, Early Program Development position at Rivian?

You can apply for the Lead Program Manager, Early Program Development position at Rivian directly through Clera. Click the "Apply Now" button above to start your application. Clera's AI-powered platform will help match your profile with this opportunity and guide you through the application process. You can also learn more about Rivian on their website.