Project Management Contractor Jobs in Athens, GA

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 Project Management and Facilities Production Design team acts as the strategic integrator and execution engine for Rivian’s global portfolio of production facilities. Heavily anchored in advanced project management processes, we are a diverse, cross-functional group of Project Managers, Architects, Engineers, and Building Specialists who drive projects from preconstruction through design, procurement, execution, and closeout. We are dedicated to rigorous financial stewardship, comprehensive risk mitigation, and strict project controls to ensure that schedule, budget, and operational metrics are consistently met. By effectively stewarding Rivian’s CAPEX investments, our team challenges the status quo to deliver innovative, cost-efficient solutions and build world-class facilities that enable Rivian to scale profitably without compromising product quality or executional safety.

We are seeking a dynamic, detail-oriented leader to actively guide projects from preconstruction through design, engineering, procurement, execution, and closeout. The Senior Lead Project & Design Manager will serve as the primary point-of-contact for external design partners (Architects and Engineers of Record) while simultaneously ensuring schedule, budget, and operational metrics compliance. You will steward Rivian’s CAPEX investments—overseeing an estimated annual portfolio execution of $100-$500 million—to bolster BOM profitability without compromising product quality or executional safety.

• Design & Programming Leadership: Act as the main liaison between Rivian and external design partners to ensure alignment on project requirements and deliverables. Serve as the programming lead for internal cross-functional teams (Facilities, Logistics, ET, Security, Manufacturing Engineering) to translate end-user needs into effective space programs and blocking diagrams.
• Engineering Oversight: Ensure all engineering disciplines (structural, civil, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and life safety) are thoroughly coordinated, right-sized for business needs, and function harmoniously during commissioning. Partner closely with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure building systems properly support each shop's equipment and future flexibility.
• Financial & Legal Stewardship: Understand and manage P&L statements, COGS, BOM costs, and AIA billing forms. Take responsibility for financial decisions up to $300,000 per the Delegation of Authority (DOA) and prepare justifications for requests above the DOA. Evaluate, modify, and enforce the terms of vendor and lender contracts to protect Rivian’s interests.
• Project Controls & Risk Management: Collaborate with the Risk Management team by identifying, managing and mitigating risks while also realizing opportunities from concept through commissioning. Utilize expert knowledge of P6 scheduling, Earned Value Management Systems, and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) platforms like ACC, Navisworks, and Point cloud modeling. Accurately forecast budgets and avoid scope gaps or schedule slips.
• Construction & Quality Execution: Provide continuous design support through the construction phase, leading the resolution of field issues, contractor RFIs, and submittals. Conduct periodic site observations to ensure final builds align with design intent. Partner with Commissioning agents and Quality Agents to de-risk projects and ensure a clean transition to the Facilities Maintenance and Utilities teams.
• Exceptional Communication: Maintain clear, transparent communication to avoid change orders. Skillfully navigate escalations, de-escalations, and risk avoidance with stakeholders ranging from Senior Executive Operations and external government officials, to hourly employees on the production line.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor of Architecture or Engineering (or related discipline) with 10-15 years of applicable experience in design management, engineering, architecture, and construction.
• Strong knowledge of all engineering disciplines and their direct interface with manufacturing equipment.
• Expertise in advanced project management processes, construction documentation, and financial controls.
• Demonstrated soft skills and adaptability required to work effectively in a fluid start-up environment.
• Experience working in VDC, CAD environments, and managing major cross-functional workflows.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Master's degree in a built environment field, engineering, construction management, or finance.
• Certified Construction Manager (CCM), Licensed Professional Architect or Engineer (or similarly recognized certification).
• Experience leading the successful delivery of large scale capital delivery projects.
• Experience applying sustainability principles and automating workflows through AI, and/or script programming
• Previous experience in execution and construction of automotive paint shops.

THIS IS WHERE YOU’LL WORK

• Department: Project Management, Facilities Production
• Locations: Atlanta, GA or Social Circle, GA. 

#LI-Hybrid

The salary range for this role is USD $161,000 - $213,260 for Georgia 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 September 30, 2026.

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.  

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process: To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Rivian uses iCIMS Talent Cloud Artificial Intelligence (TCAI) and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role.

Participation in AI profile matching is entirely voluntary. If you prefer that your profile not be used in this process, you can opt out at any time. Opting out means your profile will be excluded from automated matching and will not be surfaced for additional roles through this system. Your current application remains active and will not be affected in any way.

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

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor of Architecture or Engineering (or related discipline) with 10-15 years of applicable experience in design management, engineering, architecture, and construction.
• Strong knowledge of all engineering disciplines and their direct interface with manufacturing equipment.
• Expertise in advanced project management processes, construction documentation, and financial controls.
• Demonstrated soft skills and adaptability required to work effectively in a fluid start-up environment.
• Experience working in VDC, CAD environments, and managing major cross-functional workflows.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Master's degree in a built environment field, engineering, construction management, or finance.
• Certified Construction Manager (CCM), Licensed Professional Architect or Engineer (or similarly recognized certification).
• Experience leading the successful delivery of large scale capital delivery projects.
• Experience applying sustainability principles and automating workflows through AI, and/or script programming
• Previous experience in execution and construction of automotive paint shops.

THIS IS WHERE YOU’LL WORK

• Department: Project Management, Facilities Production
• Locations: Atlanta, GA or Social Circle, GA. 

#LI-Hybrid