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:We’re seeking a resourceful and passionate Benefits Specialist to join our People team in Palo Alto. This person will manage the day-to-day operations of our U.S. health, welfare, time off and leave programs, support an innovative engineering workforce, and help evolve our employee benefits experience. The ideal candidate is an out-of-the-box thinker with strong HR systems knowledge, exceptional communication skills, and a genuine passion for delivering thoughtful, people-centered benefits programs.This position requires a regular onsite presence (4 days/week) in our Palo Alto office to support our dynamic and collaborative engineering team. Responsibilities:Benefits Onboarding
Lead benefits orientation during new hire onboarding sessions; present benefit offerings in a clear and engaging manner.
Guide new hires through benefits enrollment and educate employees on their options in Workday.
Employee & Benefits Support
Serve as the first point of contact for employee inquiries related to medical, dental, vision, life, time off, disability, and wellness programs.
Proactively identify trends in employee questions and propose content or process improvements.
Benefits Administration (Workday)
Manage daily benefit events in Workday including new enrollments, life changes, terminations, and dependents updates.
Ensure accurate and timely processing of benefits data across Workday, payroll, and external carrier systems.
Auditing, Billing, and Vendor Support
Perform routine audits to ensure eligibility, payroll deductions, and vendor records align.
Process and reconcile monthly benefits invoices; investigate and resolve discrepancies with vendors.
Leave of Absence & Disability Programs
Manage the end-to-end employee leave experience (FMLA, disability, parental, personal leaves).
Act as the liaison between employees, managers, and third-party administrators to ensure a smooth transition through leave and return-to-work processes.
Projects & Program Development
Support key benefits initiatives such as open enrollment, wellness campaigns, and benefits communications.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop innovative, employee-centric benefits solutions that align with the needs of a fast-paced engineering workforce.
Qualifications:
5+ years of Human Resources in a high-tech or engineering-focused organization with at least 2 years hands-on experience in benefits administration.
Strong working knowledge of Workday Benefits and Payroll.
Advanced proficiency in GSuite - VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, auditing spreadsheets and professional presentation development.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills—ability to simplify complex information and present with clarity.
Demonstrated experience supporting technical or engineering teams and understanding of their unique workplace needs.
Proven ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and maintain a high level of professionalism.
Creative and solution-oriented mindset—you’re someone who challenges the status quo and brings fresh ideas to enhance employee experiences.
Deep interest in and passion for benefits design, wellness, and employee well-being.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working in a startup with rapidly evolving processes.
Familiarity with benefits compliance (ACA, COBRA, ERISA, FMLA).
Experience supporting vendor relationships and open enrollment processes.
Company Statements:Equal OpportunityRivian 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 .Candidate Data PrivacyRivian and VW Group Technologies (“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) recordkeeping; (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.Please see our and for more information.Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.