Staff Technical Program Manager, AI & Data
Irvine, CA - USA
Job Summary
About Us
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotives next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions were 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 well map a new way forward. Working together well create a future thats 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. Youll 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 youre 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
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 ( 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
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.
Required Experience:
Staff IC
About Company
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter.