Production Facilities Design Manager Lead

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.

As a company, we constantly challenge what's possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

About Rivian's Stanton Springs North Plant: Proudly Made in Georgia. Rivian is dedicated to creating a more sustainable future, and our Stanton Spring North Plant in Georgia will be instrumental in achieving this vision. This unique greenfield opportunity involves creating the state-of-the-art facility's HVAC and Plumbing Design. This plant will employ over 7,000 people and serve as the production plant for Rivian's Compact SUV, the R3, coming in 2028.

About Rivian's Facilities Production Design Team:

Our team plans and oversees the design and construction quality of Rivian's global portfolio of production facilities. We are a diverse group of Architects, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP), Fire Protection, Process, Chemical, Structural, and Civil Engineers, along with Technical Subject Matter Experts and Building Specialists. Together, we build world-class facilities that enable Rivian to scale. We challenge the status quo and deliver innovative, cost-efficient solutions to complex problems across Rivian's existing and proposed vehicle production facilities.

About the Role:

We are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented Design Manager to join our team. The Design Manager will serve as the primary point-of-contact for external design partners, including Architects and Engineers of Record, and will be the programming lead for our internal cross-functional teams such as Facilities, Logistics/Material Flow Engineering, ET, Security, and Manufacturing Engineering.

As the Design Manager, you will play a critical role in ensuring smooth communication between all parties involved in the design process. You will be responsible for translating end-user needs into effective and efficient building designs, collaborating closely with various stakeholders, and managing design development progress to meet deadlines, minimize changes, and ensure the designs align with our goals and values.

• Primary Point-of-Contact for External Design Partners: Act as the main liaison between Rivian and external design partners, such as architects and engineers, to ensure alignment on project requirements and deliverables.
• Programming Lead for Internal Cross-Functional Teams: Collaborate with internal teams (Facilities, Logistics/Material Flow Engineering, ET, Security, Manufacturing Engineering) to translate end-user needs into space program requirements and design solutions.
• Effective Communication: Be a strong communicator, ensuring transparency and clear communication with both internal and external stakeholders. Keep all parties informed and up-to-date on design development progress, timelines, and any changes to avoid scope gaps, change orders, or designs that do not meet end-user needs.
• Space Program Development: Develop a comprehensive list or blocking diagram of space program requirements based on approved end-user requests (plan of record). Work closely with the Project Manager and Technical System Owners to assess, challenge, and validate these requests to ensure the most efficient design solution.
• Review of External Partner Deliverables: Coordinate internal reviews of external partner deliverables (e.g., drawing sets, RFIs, submittals) and ensure they meet Rivian's standards and project requirements.
• Ownership of Requirements and Changes: Empower external design partners by clearly communicating owner requirements, project goals, and any changes to those requirements through narratives, sketches, and meeting minutes. All documentation will be recorded in the appropriate platforms (e.g., ACC).
• Collaboration on Standards and Specifications: Work with Facilities Production Leaders to develop, refine, and implement Rivian's standards, specifications, and tools for the project, ensuring consistency across the design and construction processes.
• Thought Leadership and Innovation: Act as a thought leader, driving innovation and continuous improvement by fostering collaboration and challenging traditional approaches to find new ways to align with Rivian's core mission and values.

Required:

• Education: Bachelor Degree of Architecture or Engineering or in a related discipline is required for this role.

• Experience:

  • At least 8 years of design management, engineering, architecture, or construction management, with a strong focus on building design and infrastructure projects.

  • Strong knowledge of design processes, construction documentation, and cross-functional collaboration.

  • Experience working with external partners (architects, engineers, contractors) and managing relationships effectively.

  • Exceptional communication and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders and complex workflows.

  • Ability to challenge and refine design concepts, aligning them with business goals and operational needs.

  • Demonstrated ability to innovate and drive improvements in design and project execution.

  • Familiarity with industry standards, building codes, and Rivian-specific processes and tools is a plus.

  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills

  • Experience working in BIM and other CAD environments.

• Travel: Ability to travel is needed for this role so this person can attend Design Workshops at Rivian's Plant in Normal, Illinois, to Rivian's future Midtown Atlanta office, and to the Stanton Springs North Plant in Social Circle, Georgia.

• Location: Ability to eventually work at Rivian's Stanton Springs North Plant or the ability to relocate to the Social Circle area for the role. Note: Relocation would be provided by Rivian.

Preferred:

• Masters degree in a field of study relating to the built environment.

• Experience with applying sustainability principles to your work.

• Licensed Professional Architect or Engineer (or similarly recognized professional certification).

• Experience leading the design for major commercial and/or industrial facilities.

• Experience with automating workflows and analyses through programming and scripts.

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Salary Range for Rivian Applicants: $114,100 to $142,600

Note: Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law.

Rivian's Benefits: Rivian provides robust medical, prescription, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Full Time Employee coverage is effective on the first day of employment. Part-Time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment.

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. 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.

Rivian 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.

Rivian 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 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) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian 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 affiliates; and (iii) Rivian's service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, 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.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.