Staff Technical Program Manager, AI & Data

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 Our Data & AI team is looking for a Staff Technical Program Manager to drive cross-functional, strategic Data & AI initiatives across the organization. This role requires a high level of initiative, independent judgment, and indirect leadership. You'll operate as the connective tissue across product, platform, and infrastructure teams — translating ambiguous, technically complex Data & AI efforts into clear plans, dependencies, and delivery commitments. Projects in scope may be product-oriented (customer-facing AI/data features), platform-focused (the data and ML infrastructure other teams build on), or internal-facing (tooling and systems that improve how the company uses data and AI). You will be expected to flex across all three, often on the same project, and to bring both program rigor and enough technical fluency to be credible with the engineers, data scientists, and ML practitioners you're coordinating. RESPONSIBILITIES - Own end-to-end delivery for strategic Data & AI programs spanning product, platform, and internal-facing initiatives, from scoping through launch and post-launch health. - Plan, create, and maintain technical schedules, priorities, and execution plans across multiple Data & AI workstreams that cross organizational boundaries. - Drive broad, deep cross-functional programs internally and, where relevant, with external partners or vendors. - Partner with and influence Data Engineering, ML/AI, Analytics, Platform, and Product teams — including leadership — to align on scope, sequencing, and trade-offs. - Identify programmatic and technical risk (data quality, model readiness, infra scaling, dependency slippage) early, and drive mitigation before it threatens timing. - Ensure technical designs for data pipelines, platforms, and AI/ML systems are properly evaluated for feasibility, scalability, and quality before commitments are made. - Expertly manage stakeholder expectations, proactively surfacing dependencies and risks rather than waiting to be asked. - Provide program and executive-level status updates, and run healthy escalations ahead of deliverables going out of bounds. - Identify and drive continuous process improvements in how Data & AI programs are planned, tracked, and delivered. - Model and encourage practical use of AI tools within the program management workflow itself (e.g., status synthesis, documentation, risk analysis). QUALIFICATIONS - Demonstrated experience serving as TPM for Data & AI projects specifically — this is a hard requirement, not a nice-to-have. - 8+ years of Technical or Engineering Program Management experience. - BS or MS in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or another related technical field. - Basic understanding of the Data Engineering stack, with familiarity with tools such as Databricks, Hex, or similar. - Comfortable and proficient with AI tools such as Cowork, Gemini, and Codex, with demonstrated experience building your own TPM productivity tools using these tools (e.g., automating status reporting, risk tracking, or documentation workflows). - Willingness and enthusiasm to use AI tools as part of day-to-day program management work (not just programs about AI). - Proven ability to operate effectively in highly technical, ambiguous environments, and to earn credibility with engineers, data scientists, and ML practitioners. - Proven experience working in a rich cross-functional setting, coordinating across many stakeholder groups, competing priorities, and organizational boundaries with minimal direct authority. - Excellent communication, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills, including with executive stakeholders. - Experience with agile and waterfall development processes using Jira or similar program management tooling. - Proven track record planning budgets, maintaining forecasts, and managing risk registers across multiple concurrent programs. - Strong team player known for building trust and partnering across functional lines. 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 is 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 https://rvtech.mybenefits.life/. External candidates can apply for this role through the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers site (https://rivianvw.tech/#careers). If you are a current employee, please apply through our internal job board https://app.ashbyhq.com/internal/job-board/b10a9912-eb45-4a84-9a34-84b2a459923a. 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 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) https://assets.ctfassets.net/2md5qhoeajym/53otRWdzXPzSdWPgiel5T/07c61b0eed2d91f2f403f788fd20d315/RVTech_Candidate_Data_Privacy_Notice_-_Nov_2024.pdf and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) https://assets.ctfassets.net/2md5qhoeajym/40xUZMehbGToclkLqWXW0E/eb5b553bd8af7c607066253fbb227bda/RVTech_Candidate_Data_Privacy_Notice_-_Nov_2024_Serbian.pdf for more information. -- Please note this job posting represents an open, active vacancy. Additionally, we are not currently accepting applications from third party application services.