Sr. Manager, Supplier Excellence

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.

- 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.

- 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.

- 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.