Sr. Manager, Supplier Excellence

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 Rivian VW Technology Group is seeking a technically adept, hands-on Manager of Supplier Excellence. This role is designed for a leader who isn't afraid to dive deep into the "nitty-gritty" of electromechanical systems while managing the quality performance of our contract manufacturers (CMs). You will bridge the gap between high-level strategy and floor-level execution, ensuring our electronic modules scale seamlessly from Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) to high-volume manufacturing. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership: Contribute to the creation & implementation of best practice quality visions & procedures that specifically improve operational performance at Contract Manufacturers with a lean internal team. . Technical Problem Solving: Identify, root cause, & track complex issues by working directly with internal stakeholders & CMs to implement improvements during production & vehicle launch. Audit & Compliance: Perform & sustain VDA audits during sourcing & throughout the program life cycle. Project Oversight: Drive the completion of PPA & Reifegrad Absicherung (RGA) or Maturity levels Assurance requirements from early development phases through Start of Production (SOP). Performance Tracking: Manage & report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure project timing & quality standards are met. Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify high-risk areas within both the engineering design cycle and the physical production environment. Qualifications Educational Background: BS or higher in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, Mechatronics, or an equivalent technical field. Experience: 10+ years in product development or volume manufacturing, specifically within high-rate production environments & PCBA manufacturing. Proven experience in managing lean engineering teams within high-growth or startup-style environments where efficiency & technical self-sufficiency are paramount Hands-on Depth: Ability to dive deep into electrical, software, & mechanical issues. Technical expertise in automotive low voltage electronics (IPC-610 certification is a significant plus). Quality Toolkit: Deep understanding of automotive PPAP, DFMEA, FMEA, Metrology, & various inspection methods/equipment. Expertise in VDA 6.3 and the RGA framework for risk-based component qualification. CM Management: Proven track record of working with Contract Manufacturers to drive manufacturing KPIs to the highest standards. Skills & Competencies Adaptive Leadership: Ability to manage ambiguity & create clarity in complex situations while overseeing multiple projects simultaneously. Communication: Excellent verbal & written skills for collaborating across cross-functional teams and external partners. Operational Rigor: Strong documentation practices for tracking changes, test results, & issues. Agility: A forward-thinking mindset with the ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment. Travel: Willingness to travel to contract manufacturer locations as needed to support production & test development activities. Total Rewards Full-time positions include base salary, eligibility for an annual performance bonus, and eligibility for equity. In addition to base salary, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies offers benefits tailored to the local market. For more information on the benefits available for full-time employees, check out our Global Benefits Site . 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 . 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 [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.