Sr. Design Manager, Environments (Events)

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.

The Environments Design Team creates immersive, brand-forward experiences across events, activations, and physical spaces that communicate the Rivian brand and help broaden our reach with new audiences. As Design Manager, you will lead the development and execution of scalable event concepts, guiding them from idea to completion. This role requires a creative problem solver who can collaborate cross-functionally, document processes, and scale experiences while maintaining the highest standards of design and storytelling. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure seamless execution of events that engage and inspire our audiences.

* Lead the creative direction and execution of experiential events, activations, and branded environments, ensuring alignment with Rivian's brand values and event strategy.
* Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to develop event concepts, including spatial layouts, mood boards, and design packages that are scalable across multiple locations and formats.
* Create and maintain detailed documentation, including schematic and design development packages, ensuring all deliverables meet project goals, timelines, and budgets.
* Manage relationships with vendors, fabricators, and production teams to ensure the highest quality execution of event designs, with an emphasis on scalability and repeatability.
* Oversee the production process from concept through installation, providing creative direction and feedback to ensure consistency and quality.
* Conduct site visits and surveys to assess event spaces, ensuring all design and operational requirements are met.
* Stay current on trends in event design, technology, and experiential marketing, introducing new ideas and processes to elevate Rivian's event experiences.
* Ensure meticulous documentation of design decisions and revisions, contributing to the development of scalable frameworks for future events.
* Lead internal creative reviews and brainstorming sessions to refine the event design process and inspire cross-functional teams continuously.
* Facilitate cross-collaboration with Visual Identity (Graphics) and Furniture & Styling to ensure event spaces are fully realized, coordinated across design scopes, and aligned with brand standards.
* Drive successful execution by integrating standardized content and graphics assets, while consistently feeding project learnings back to evolve and refine operational standards and guidelines.
* Contribute to the overall team culture, fostering collaboration, innovation, and design excellence.

* 5+ years of experience in experiential design, event design, or related fields, with proven experience managing scalable event processes.
* Bachelor's degree in experiential design, architecture, interior design, or related discipline.
* A strong portfolio demonstrating your ability to design and execute events and activations across a range of scales and formats.
* Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple projects at different stages of development.
* Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience working across teams to manage complex projects.
* Proficiency in design tools such as 3d modeling software (Rhino, SketchUp, Revit), Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign), and Figma
* Knowledge of event production constraints, including timelines, budgets, and logistics, and the ability to document these processes for future use.
* Up to 30% travel is required: Willingness to travel and participate in on-site event installations.
* Strong understanding of event technology, fabrication processes, material sourcing, and the ability to document these processes for future projects.

The salary range for this role is $98,500 to $123,100 for California based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, shift, and organizational needs.

The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian's 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.

You can apply for this role through careers.rivian.com (or through internal-careers-rivian.icims.com if you are a current employee). This job is not expected to be closed any sooner than 1/23/26.

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.