Senior Technical Program Manager, ECU Reliability & Durability Validation

About the Position

Senior Technical Program Manager, ECU Reliability & Durability Validation

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.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain reliability and durability validation program schedules; align test milestones with ECU and vehicle-level program gates across all xVT maturity phases.
• Coordinate test execution across RVT’s internal labs in Northern and Southern California and accredited third-party test facilities; manage capacity, sample allocation, and sequencing.
• Develop and maintain the R&D validation test plan (DVP&R) for assigned ECU programs, ensuring coverage of thermal cycling, vibration, shock, humidity, corrosion, and accelerated life testing.
• Identify, escalate, and actively drive mitigation of program risks related to test schedule, lab availability, sample readiness, and failure closure.
• Support test readiness reviews with ECU TPMs, confirming that R&D test infrastructure, samples, and procedures are in place ahead of each program gate.
• Author and maintain test coordination artifacts: program trackers, status reports, risk registers, and gate review packages for internal and partner audiences.
• Drive continuous improvement of R&D test planning processes, coordination workflows, and reporting practices across the ECU validation team.

Requirements

• Minimum Qualifications:

  • 4+ years of experience in technical program management, test engineering, or validation coordination in the automotive, aerospace, or consumer electronics industry.
  • B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical field.
  • Hands-on familiarity with ECU / PCBA reliability and durability test methods: thermal cycling, vibration (random & sine), mechanical shock, humidity, corrosion, and HALT.
  • Experience developing and maintaining DVP&R documents and reliability test plans aligned to automotive standards (ISO 16750, AEC-Q, IEC 60068, or OEM-specific test specs).
  • Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-workstream validation programs-tracking milestones, samples, lab capacity, and cross-team dependencies simultaneously.
  • Experience coordinating with both internal test labs and accredited third-party test facilities, including scheduling, sample management, and report review.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to produce clear status reports, risk registers, and gate review packages for engineering and program leadership.
  • Experience with Atlassian-based tools including Jira and Confluence for program tracking, documentation, and cross-team coordination.
  • Ability to travel domestically and internationally to test laboratories, supplier sites, and vehicle program locations as needed.

• Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with EV ECU hardware-Infotainment, Connectivity, BMS, or Zonal controllers-and the unique reliability and environmental requirements of electrified vehicle platforms.

We Offer

• Competitive base salary: $121.5K – $167.1K
• Annual company performance bonus program
• Equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
• Comprehensive benefits package including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs

About the Company

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.

Equal Opportunity

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 [email protected].

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)**and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) 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.