Staff New Product Operation Manager

Own end-to-end build readiness for ECU development stage gates and drive cross-functional execution across CM sites.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Hardware and Software Engineering, Product Launch Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, and Test Automation to build integrated CM operations schedules.
• Partner with Hardware, Software, and Vehicle-level program managers to incorporate operations readiness milestones and dependencies into ECU and vehicle program schedules; surface technical and timeline risks holistically.
• Lead development builds and ramp readiness activities, ensuring security, materials, process/SOP, equipment, staffing, and training are ready at CM sites.
• Assess entry and exit criteria at ECU development stage gates (Proto, EVT, DVT, PVT), ensuring cross-functional engineering inputs meet operational requirements.
• Drive process improvement across internal/external CM operations, including communication, metrics, and documentation.
• Lead cross-functional issue resolution to mitigate risks and remove roadblocks to CM readiness.
• Analyze and communicate readiness risks and program status clearly to engineering and program leadership; present resolution options to the cross-functional executive team.
• Run post-ramp change management for design, quality, and process issue resolution with Quality and Design Engineering teams.

Requirements

• 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 across technical and nontechnical audiences; ability to escalate clearly and factually to executive stakeholders.
• Proven collaboration and relationship-building across organizational boundaries.
• Data-driven, proactive, and tenacious; comfortable working through ambiguity and focused on cross-functional problem solving.
• Strong analytical decision-making using measurement and test data, capability metrics, and program dashboards.
• Experience with Atlassian 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 for communication, reporting, visualizations, and analysis.

Technology

• Jira
• Confluence

Compensation

• $167,400 – $230,250 per year
• Annual bonus target: 15%
• Offers Bonus
• Offers Equity
• Eligible equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval and terms of the equity incentive plans, including applicable vesting requirements

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs

• Location: Palo Alto, California
• Location type: Hybrid
• Employment type: Full time
• Department: Technology and Innovation, Electronic Design

Candidate data privacy: Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may collect, use, and disclose personal information during the recruitment process for purposes including tracking interactions, analyzing and improving the application process, establishing an employment relationship, complying with legal obligations, record keeping, network and information security, preventing fraud, and as permitted by law. Data may be shared with internal personnel who need to know, affiliates, and service providers (including background check, staffing, and cloud services). Candidate personal data may be transferred or stored internationally, including in the United States, Canada, and the European Union and in the cloud. If a mobile telephone number is provided, SMS may be used for recruitment-related purposes (message and data rates may apply; opt out by replying STOP; consent is not required to apply).