Senior Technical Program Manager, Functional Safety

Rivian Automotive

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

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Technical Program Manager to lead and coordinate cross-functional teams in the development of Functional safety requirements, SW implementation and validation. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring the successful execution of complex technical programs that directly impact the safety and performance of our electric vehicle platforms.

This is a high-impact role that requires technical understanding of ISO 26262 functional safety requirements as they apply to vehicle propulsion systems, energy & thermal management systems, body & lighting systems as well as automotive regulatory requirements and vehicle hardware-software integration activities. As a key member of our engineering team, you will work closely with SW engineering leads, systems engineers, validation teams, and other stakeholders to ensure timely execution, manage risks, dependencies, and critical deliverables while ensuring successful integration of systems for next-gen EVs.

Responsibilities

  • Program Leadership: Lead end-to-end technical programs that integrate hardware and software for vehicle safety systems. Ensure alignment with company objectives and technical milestones.
  • Systems Engineering & Scoping: Collaborate with technical teams to scope integration requirements using systems engineering principles. Identify test asset needs and coordinate test plans (subsystem and vehicle level) based on software and hardware deliverables, as well as Vehicle Design Validation Plans (DVP) timing.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Systems engineering, Software Development, and Validation teams to ensure smooth software-hardware integration, validation, calibration throughout the program lifecycle.
  • Prioritization & Planning: Develop and manage detailed subsystem safety development timelines and resource allocation for integration efforts, accounting for dependencies on vehicle safety goal validation activities, feature maturity milestones and/or OTA release cadence.
  • Technical Risk Management: Drive the identification and resolution of technical issues throughout the software and hardware integration process. Manage risks and dependencies to minimize delays.
  • Verification & Validation: Coordinate the development and execution of verification test plans. Promote automated scalable validation principles, ensuring testing aligns with program milestones and quality standards. Work with testing team to identity functional safety testing progress, test assets and understand functional safety test metrics
  • Stakeholder Communication: Provide regular program updates to executive management and the program team. Conduct healthy escalations to ensure deliverables are met and mitigate potential risks before they impact the timeline.
  • Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve program management processes, integration workflows, and test processes. Implement best practices to optimize efficiency and quality.

Qualifications

  • Education: BS or MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related technical field. Advanced degrees preferred.
  • Experience:
    • 5+ years of relevant experience in technical program management, with at least 3 years focused on integration and development of vehicle controls safety software in the automotive/EV sector.
    • Proven expertise in managing complex programs that involve safety-critical features, especially in an automotive or high-tech environment.
    • 3+ years of experience with Systems Engineering principles and Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
  • Technical Expertise:
    • In-depth knowledge and understanding of electromechanical embedded systems, ISO26262 functional safety guidelines, FMVSS and other global homologation/regulatory requirements
    • Experience with requirements management tools (e.g. JAMA), issue tracking tools (Jira), SW version control tools (e.g. Git)
  • Program Management Skills:
    • Expertise in managing software development projects using Agile and Waterfall methodologies.
    • Strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex project dependencies.
    • Ability to navigate ambiguous problems and create new collaboration frameworks
    • Proven track record of successfully managing project risks, dependencies, and deliverables to ensure timely and high-quality results.

Pay Disclosure

Salary Range/Hourly Rate for Palo Alto, California Based Applicants: $133,000 - 170,000 USD (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Salary Range/Hourly Rate for California Based Applicants: $122,500 - 155,000 USD (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits Summary: Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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.

Company Statements

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 candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.

Candidate Data Privacy

Rivian and VW Group Technologies (“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) recordkeeping; (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.

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

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

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Confirmed 10 hours ago. Posted 12 days ago.

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