Staff Product Manager - Entertainment

About this role

ABOUT US

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we’re 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, we’ll map a new way forward. Working together, we’ll create a future that’s more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.

ROLE SUMMARY

Entertainment is one of the most-used surfaces in the vehicle. Our customers listen, watch, and stay connected on the road, and the portfolio spans music, radio, audiobooks, video, and casting across our vehicle platforms. We are hiring a Staff Product Manager to take ownership of a significant share of that portfolio and to help expand it into new categories. You will own the roadmap for your area, manage the third-party partnerships behind it, and carry new experiences from concept through release. This role sits within the Infotainment Software organization, partners daily with engineering, design, program management, and business development, and reports to the Staff Product Manager for Infotainment & Connectivity. This is a hybrid role based in Palo Alto, California or Vancouver, British Columbia.

RESPONSIBILITIES

- Portfolio Ownership: Own a defined share of the in-vehicle entertainment portfolio end to end — audio streaming, radio, audiobooks, video, and casting — from requirements through release and in-market performance.

- New Category Development: Define, scope, and launch entertainment and communications experiences that are new to the vehicle, taking each from concept and feasibility through productization.

- Partner Management: Serve as the day-to-day product owner for third-party content and technology partners; run joint roadmap sessions, align on integration architecture, and drive certification plans in partnership with business development and legal.

- Requirements and Roadmap: Author clear product requirements, maintain a rolling multi-quarter roadmap mapped to software release cycles, and represent the portfolio in planning and executive reviews.

- Cross-functional Execution: Partner with application and platform engineering, audio, design, program management, privacy, and joint-venture product teams to sequence dependencies, resolve trade-offs, and hold committed dates.

- Quality and Escalation: Set launch criteria, drive defect triage with engineering, and own quality escalations for the portfolio through resolution.

- Performance Metrics: Define portfolio KPIs and track them against product telemetry, owner surveys, service data, and customer feedback, using the results to reprioritize.

- Technical Validation: Validate features hands-on in development vehicles and on the bench, including reproducing and characterizing reported defects.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications:

- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, or a related field.

- Minimum of 5 years in product management spanning consumer tech, digital media, or automotive industries—or a total of 3–4 years in product management coupled with 3–5 years in engineering, systems architecture, or a closely related technical discipline.

- Demonstrated ownership of a product area built on third-party integrations, including direct influence of external partner roadmaps and joint technical and commercial negotiations.

- Strong business development aptitude and proven executive relationship management skills.

- Track record of launching and operating consumer media, entertainment, or communications products at scale.

- Experience authoring technical product requirements and working directly with software engineering teams through the full development lifecycle.

- Experience defining and instrumenting product KPIs and using quantitative and qualitative customer feedback to prioritize a roadmap.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience shipping software in an embedded or automotive environment, including over-the-air release cycles and hardware dependencies.

- History of launching a product category from 0 to 1 and scaling it from 1 to 1.x.

- Working knowledge of Android application architecture, media playback frameworks, content protection, and third-party application certification processes.

- Familiarity with gaming platforms, controller input, or real-time video communications.

- Experience with camera, microphone, and profile-level privacy, consent, and driver-distraction requirements.

- Hands-on technical fluency with debugging tools, log analysis, and crash reports.

TOTAL REWARDS

We build the exceptional — and we believe the people doing that work should be rewarded accordingly. In addition to a competitive base salary, full-time positions may be is eligible to participate in our annual company performance bonus program.

Payments are discretionary and not guaranteed; actual amounts depend on company results and the terms of the plan in effect, and require active employment at the time of payout. This role is also eligible for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval and the terms of our equity incentive plans, including applicable vesting requirements.

In addition to our compensation programs, we invest in our people with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, wellbeing, and financial future for full-time employees — including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs. Offerings vary by country. Learn more about our global benefit programs https://rvtech.mybenefits.life/.

External candidates can apply for this role through the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers…