Electrical Systems Validation Lead – Lab Cars & HVB

Rivian; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 167,000 - 209,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Paid sick leave

Life insurance

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Short-term disability

Long-term disability

401(k) Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Job summary

Rivian is seeking a leader for its Electrical Systems Validation Test team to guide system-level testing across lab cars and Hardware Validation Build vehicles. You will set strategy, prioritize work, and ensure rigorous, data-driven execution while mentoring engineers and technicians.

The role requires deep electrical systems expertise, strong cross-functional influence, and a track record of delivering validated results in vehicle programs. A fast-paced, high-impact environment awaits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Software, Systems, or a related field.
• 6+ years of experience with electrical system design, integration, validation, or testing in automotive, aerospace, marine, or related industries, including experience leading technical work or teams.
• Experience mentoring engineers and/or technicians, with a demonstrated ability to drive performance through feedback and coaching.
• Deep understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals and vehicle-level electrical systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead validation programs or projects involving diverse cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience developing validation strategies, test plans, procedures, schedules, and metrics for complex hardware and software systems.
• Strong data analysis and technical problem-solving skills, with a disciplined methodology for identifying root cause and driving issues to closure.
• Hands-on experience with electrical test equipment and data-acquisition tools, including multimeters, power supplies, oscilloscopes, CANalyzer, Wireshark, and other analog and digital dataloggers.
• Ability to read and interpret wiring schematics and interact with CAD and configuration-management tools.
• Familiarity with software version-control systems such as Git.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate expectations, progress, risks, and technical decisions.
• Ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment and maintain accountability for quality, schedule, and team results.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of electrical systems validation test engineers and technicians; clarify expectations, provide ongoing feedback, and support individual growth.
• Build and manage the team’s validation strategy, priorities, staffing plans, schedules, and execution processes in alignment with broader vehicle and sub-functional goals.
• Lead system-level testing on lab cars and Hardware Validation Build vehicles, while enabling partner engineering teams to perform their own testing effectively.
• Translate electrical system requirements and program objectives into comprehensive validation plans, test methods, and measurable completion criteria.
• Guide the development and execution of test procedures to verify electrical system requirements across power distribution, network communication, sensor behavior, diagnostics, and related vehicle functions.
• Review test results to confirm requirements are met or identify off-nominal behavior.
• Drive issue tracking, troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and corrective-action planning in partnership with engineering and program stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain processes for managing hardware and software configuration, readiness, changes, and issue status on labcars and Hardware Validation Build vehicles.
• Plan and implement hardware and software changes with development and vehicle operations teams to protect test execution and schedule.
• Lead projects and validation programs involving diverse stakeholders; communicate progress, risks, dependencies, and decisions clearly to keep work on track.
• Identify opportunities to improve test coverage, data quality, laboratory and vehicle utilization, issue turnaround time, and overall team efficiency.
• Build strong partnerships across the function, resolve conflicts by understanding differing perspectives, and secure early stakeholder alignment for changes in direction or process.
• Recognize recruiting needs, participate in hiring, and build the team capabilities required to support current and future vehicle programs.

Skills

Electrical systems validation

Team leadership

Data analysis

Electrical test equipment

CANalyzer

Wireshark

Dataloggers

Schematic reading

Git

CAD

Configuration management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Software, Systems, Aerospace Engineering, or related field

Tools

Git

CAD

Configuration management

Job description

Rivian is seeking a leader for its Electrical Systems Validation Test team to guide system-level testing across lab cars and Hardware Validation Build vehicles. You will set strategy, prioritize work, and ensure rigorous, data-driven execution while mentoring engineers and technicians.

The role requires deep electrical systems expertise, strong cross-functional influence, and a track record of delivering validated results in vehicle programs. A fast-paced, high-impact environment awaits.