Head of Business Platforms (Enterprise Applications & AI)

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.

Enterprise IT at RV Tech is redefining how technology enables the business. Our ambition is to build the operating system for the company—connecting people, processes, data, and technology through intelligent, seamless experiences.

The Business Platforms team owns the critical enterprise applications powering Finance, People, Legal, and Procurement. We're building a lean, globally distributed organization that combines deep technical expertise, modern architecture, and AI-driven automation to deliver exceptional business outcomes without unnecessary complexity.
We are seeking an experienced technology leader to own the strategy, architecture, and evolution of our enterprise business platforms across People, Finance, Procurement, and Legal.

This is a senior leadership role requiring someone who can operate as a trusted strategic partner to our executive leadership team, challenge conventional approaches, and translate business priorities into scalable technology solutions.

The ideal candidate combines deep experience in People Technology and enterprise transformation with the executive maturity to lead an established Finance Applications organization. They will provide strategic direction, mentorship, and accountability across the portfolio while building strong partnerships with senior business leaders.

We are looking for someone who has built and scaled technology capabilities in fast-moving environments, understands where enterprise technology is heading, and can drive the transition toward integrated, AI-enabled business operations.

This role reports directly to the Head of Enterprise IT and is accountable for both the long-term vision and successful execution of our business platforms strategy. This role is located in our Palo Alto, Ca office with flex 3 days a week onsite.

• Define the Business Platforms Vision: Independently develop and execute a multi-year technology strategy connecting enterprise applications, data, automation, and AI into a cohesive business technology ecosystem.

• Own Enterprise Business Platforms: Lead the architecture, implementation, operations, and continuous improvement of core applications across Finance, People, Legal, and Procurement, including ERP, HRIS, expense management, and related platforms.

• Drive Architecture and Technology Decisions: Bring strong technical judgment to architecture and implementation decisions, challenging vendors, partners, and business requirements to ensure solutions are scalable, sustainable, and aligned with our long-term strategy.

• Champion Standardization and Simplicity: Establish an out-of-the-box-first philosophy, maximizing native platform capabilities, minimizing unnecessary customization, and reducing technical debt and long-term complexity.

• Reimagine the Employee Experience: Think beyond individual systems of record to create connected, intuitive experiences that simplify how employees interact with enterprise technology and enable meaningful collaboration between people and AI.

• Accelerate AI and Automation: Leverage native platform AI capabilities, intelligent workflows, and cross-platform automation to eliminate repetitive work, reduce administrative overhead, and fundamentally improve how business functions operate.

• Build and Scale with a Lean Team: Establish the capabilities, processes, and operating model needed to deliver at scale. Lead and develop a small global team, leveraging automation and strategic partners rather than relying on significant headcount growth.

• Partner with Business Leadership: Collaborate with Finance, People, Legal, and Procurement leaders to understand business needs, challenge established processes, and translate opportunities into practical technology solutions.

• Deliver Operational Excellence: Own platform reliability, security, compliance, vendor relationships, and technology investments, ensuring measurable improvements in efficiency, employee experience, and business outcomes.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 10+ years in technology, including significant time building or running business platforms with small teams, not only within large organizations.

• Proven experience building or significantly transforming a business technology function, including establishing capabilities, operating models, architecture, and teams in a rapidly evolving or resource-constrained environment.

• Demonstrated ability to independently develop a technology vision and translate it into actionable roadmaps, architectural decisions, and successfully delivered solutions.

• Deep technical and architectural understanding of enterprise platforms, including ERP, HRIS, APIs, integrations, data architecture, and modern application ecosystems.

• Hands-on experience with complex enterprise technology implementations, including the ability to critically challenge solution designs, vendor recommendations, and business requirements.

• Track record of delivering meaningful technology outcomes with lean teams, balancing direct execution, automation, and external partnerships.

• Experience applying AI, automation, and modern technology approaches to improve business processes, productivity, and employee experiences.

• Strong strategic thinking, technical curiosity, and executive communication skills, combined with a pragmatic, hands-on approach to problem-solving.

• Experience navigating complex technology transformations, making difficult trade-offs, overcoming setbacks, and taking ownership of outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building or scaling business technology capabilities in startups, high-growth companies, or entrepreneurial environments.

• Hands-on experience with enterprise platforms such as SAP S/4HANA, Workday, SAP Concur, ZIP, or comparable technologies.

• Experience designing AI-enabled enterprise architectures, agent-based workflows, or unified employee experiences across multiple systems of record.

• Experience in automotive, manufacturing, or complex global organizations.

• Background in corporate carve-outs, technology separations, or establishing independent enterprise technology capabilities.

• A first-principles approach to technology that prioritizes simplicity, standardization, automation, and long-term scalability over unnecessary customization.

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.

External candidates can apply for this role through the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers site (https://rivianvw.tech/#careers). If you are a current employee, please apply through our internal job board.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. 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. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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 [email protected].

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies” 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 and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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 and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies’ service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, 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.

If you provide a mobile telephone number as part of your application or during the recruitment process, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use that number to contact you via SMS text message for recruitment-related purposes, including scheduling, logistics, and status updates. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of applying for or being considered for employment.

Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English) and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.

--

Please note this job posting represents an open, active vacancy. Additionally, we are not currently accepting applications from third party application services.