Electrical Engineering Failure Analysis Engineer

Rivian; Tustin (CA); On-site; USD 77,800 - 97,300; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Paid sick leave

Comprehensive insurance benefits

Job summary

Rivian is looking for an Electrical FA Engineer to join our Irvine team. In this role, you will conduct failure analysis investigations for our Electric Adventure Vehicles. You will work closely with teams in electrical failure analysis, employing advanced testing and analysis tools. The ideal candidate has a BS/MS in Electrical Engineering and at least 5 years of relevant automotive experience. The salary range for this position is $77,800 - $97,300 for California based applicants, along with benefits including a performance bonus and stock options.

Qualifications

• 5+ years relevant industrial experience, preferably in automotive.
• Experience performing failure analysis investigations required.
• Hands-on experience with metrology equipment for failure analysis.

Responsibilities

• Be an integral part of the EE failure analysis team in the Irvine FA lab.
• Perform deep dive and rapid response triage failure analysis investigations.
• Prepare failure analysis reports with exceptional visualizations.

Skills

Failure analysis investigations

Metrology equipment

Electrical characterization

Systematic root-cause analysis

Education

BS/MS in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

2D X-ray

CT scanning

Job description

About Rivian

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.

Role Summary

Reliability is at the core of Electric Adventure Vehicles. This position is in Irvine, CA, at the centre of Rivian’s Engineering and R&D hub. As an Electrical FA Engineer on the Irvine Failure Analysis team, you will play a key role in generating insight through conducting failure analysis investigations using industry‑leading low voltage test equipment for proof, diagnostic, breakdown, and preventive maintenance testing for all Rivian products from the vehicle to component level.

The Electrical FA Engineer will perform both deep dive and rapid response triage level failure analysis investigations, specializing in the low voltage electrical, silicon level die and modular electronic systems within the vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Be an integral part of the EE failure analysis team in the Irvine FA lab. Work closely with the electrical FA engineers on the team both in Irvine, CA and in the production facility Normal, IL.
• Perform both deep dive and rapid response triage failure analysis investigations, specializing in the entire vehicle’s modular electronics.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience with standard electrical test equipment, including digital multimeters (DMMs), bench power supplies, oscilloscopes, LCR meters, insulation resistance (IR) meters, and HiPot testers for basic bring‑up and fault isolation.
• Proficiency using curve tracers / source‑measure units (SMUs) and time‑domain reflectometry (TDR) for characterization and localization of opens, shorts, and impedance discontinuities.
• Experience with non‑destructive fault isolation on PCBAs and harnesses via probing, continuity and resistance checks, and in‑circuit functional verification.
• Ability to apply thermal and infrared imaging (including lock‑in thermography where applicable) to identify hotspots, leakage paths, and overstressed components.
• Use of 2D X‑ray and 3D CT imaging to inspect solder joints, voids, misalignment, bond wires, and internal assembly defects before destructive analysis.
• Experience with scanning acoustic microscopy (C‑SAM) for detection of delamination, voiding, and internal package defects.
• Skilled in visual inspection and optical microscopy (low and high magnification) to document damage, wear, contamination, and manufacturing anomalies.
• Hands‑on use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy‑dispersive X‑ray spectroscopy (EDS/EDX) for detailed fractography, surface analysis, and elemental composition.
• Familiarity with spectroscopic methods such as Fourier‑transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for organic and polymeric material identification in electronic assemblies.
• Experience performing destructive analysis, including mechanical cross‑sectioning, mounting, polishing, and etching to reveal internal structures, interfaces, and failure sites.
• Hands‑on background with advanced destructive methods such as focused ion beam (FIB) cross‑sectioning, acid decapsulation, die inspection, and die probing for semiconductor and IC‑level failures.
• Experience with dye‑and‑pry / dye penetrant techniques to reveal open solder joints, cracks, and hidden interfacial defects.
• Familiarity with basic mechanical and materials testing (e.g., pull/shear of wire bonds, solder joint strength, connector insertion/extraction) as part of root‑cause validation.
• Collaborate with existing engineering teams (e.g. power conversion, power train, battery cell, materials development, etc.) to help define the needs for electronics and battery specific failure analysis, and identify where they may need help in development of manufacturing processes, or validation of predictive models, etc. Maintain a constant dialogue on the existing and growing capabilities of the FA team.
• Perform failure analysis activities for incidents originating from reliability testing for new product development and from fielded systems. Assure that root cause is identified at the most detailed level.
• Prepare failure analysis reports with exceptional visualizations and direct the communication and presentation of findings to project teams and at executive reviews.
• Work with reliability engineering and testing to recreate failure modes that are intermittent or hard to replicate. Utilize environmental testing equipment, HALT and other methods to be able to precipitate failures as a precursor to in depth failure analysis. Use results to field and the best path in terms of addressing the finding with the cross functional teams.
• When applicable, travel to support field failure analyses and other work‑related activities. Estimated travel is less than 10% annually.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering and 5/2+ years relevant industrial experience, preferably in the automotive industry.
• Strong academic background and/or experience in the testing and analysis of EE components. Experience performing failure analysis investigations is required.
• Hands‑on experience with the application of, and hands‑on use of, metrology equipment such as oscilloscopes, optical microscopy, parametric and signal analyzers, etc. for use in detailed failure analysis.
• Hands‑on experience with other materials characterization equipment such as optical microscopes, scanning electron microscopes (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), cross sectioning equipment, decapsulating chemicals, CT‑scanning, 2D X‑ray, etc. is desirable.
• Experience of preparing formal reports summarizing analysis data and results.
• A desire to create a respectful, fun, inclusive and inspiring team and company culture is a must.
• Hands‑on semiconductor device failure analysis across power and low‑voltage ICs (e.g., MOSFETs, IGBTs, gate drivers, MCUs, ASICs, sensors).
• Experience with semiconductor fault isolation techniques such as LIT, OBIRCH, TIVA/LIVA, emission microscopy, and laser‑based localization, with the ability to select methods appropriate to the failure mode.
• Experience with die‑level and package‑level CAD/layout tools and data (e.g., GDS, ODB++, bonding and leadframe drawings) to correlate physical/FA observations with design intent and identify suspect nets or structures.
• Proficiency with electrical characterization and debug techniques: parametric testing, curve tracing, TLP/HBM/IEC ESD testing, latch‑up, and thermal characterization.
• Experience with physical analysis methods: cross‑sectioning, polishing (die‑level), decapsulation (wet/plasma), optical microscopy, SEM/EDX; familiarity with FIB, TEM.
• Demonstrated ability to perform systematic root‑cause analysis linking device‑level failure mechanisms (e.g., EOS/ESD, TDDB, HCI, electromigration, corrosion) to circuit and system behavior.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $77,800 - $97,300 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.

Benefits

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.

Equal Opportunity

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.