Engineering Technician, Prototypes

Rivian VW Group; Irvine, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSUs

Comprehensive benefits

Discretionary bonus

Job summary

Rivian VW Group Technologies is seeking an Electrical Engineering Technician to support the build and installation of wire harnesses, cable assemblies, and rack hardware for test labs across programs. You will ensure documentation is accurate and build-ready for downstream assembly, collaborating with development teams to solve challenges.

In this role you will work closely with engineers and lab techs on safety, software load, and live asset debugging, while maintaining high quality and design

Qualifications

• Technical/vocational certificate in vehicle systems or related field is preferred.
• 2+ years in automotive harness assembly to IPC/WHMA-A-620 Class 2 or equivalent.
• 2+ years of light fabrication and working with sheet metal.
• Kitting against BOM and verifying deviations from drawings.
• Strong electrical troubleshooting capabilities are required.
• Experience collaborating with engineering teams is preferred.
• Familiarity with prototype manufacturing techniques and CAD is a plus.
• Ability to thrive under pressure with clear communication and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Build prototype and small-batch harnesses and cable assemblies from drawings and wire lists.
• Crimp, strip, and solder to IPC standards and ensure high QA targets.
• Install rack infrastructure per layout drawings, including power and cabling.
• Flag drawing-to-build discrepancies and suggest build optimizations.
• Collaborate with engineers and lab techs on safety checks, software load, and troubleshooting.
• Partner with teams to solve challenges and achieve the best end goal.

Skills

Harness assembly

Electrical troubleshooting

Soldering

CAD familiarity

Team collaboration

Documentation accuracy

Education

Technical/Vocational certificate in vehicle systems

Tools

IPC/WHMA-A-620 Class 2

Job description

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 are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Electrical Engineering Technician who thrives in ambiguous and detail oriented situations which demand innovative problem solving techniques. In this role, you will support the build and installation of wire harnesses, cable assemblies, and rack hardware for test labs across multiple programs, ensuring their timely delivery to support program development goals. You will be a strong advocate for ensuring documentation for builds are corrected and clear, paving the way for downstream batch builds. This is a highly centralized role within the organization, you will be a strong advocate and example of collaboration across development teams within and outside of the organization while solving challenges.

Responsibilities

• Build prototype and small-batch harnesses and cable assemblies from drawings and wire lists, with components kitted and verified against the BOM.
• Crimp, strip, and solder to IPC standards and hold yourself accountable to the highest quality assurance targets.
• Install rack infrastructure to layout drawings, from shelves and chassis through power distribution, copper and fiber patching, airflow management, and remote management bring-up.
• Participate in design reviews to flag drawing-to-build discrepancies and provide input on build optimizations
• Work shoulder-to-shoulder with engineers and lab techs on safety checks, software load, system-level functional checks, and hands-on debug and repair of live test assets.
• Collaborate with all relevant Engineers and Technicians to problem solve challenges as a team, with optimism and grit to reach the best end goal.

Qualifications

• Technical/ vocational certificate in vehicle systems or related field preferred
• 2+ years of automotive, aerospace, or industrial harness assembly build experience to IPC/WHMA-A-620 Class 2 or an equivalent experience building and troubleshooting complex electromechanical systems in early development stages.
• 2+ years of light fabrication: drilling, cutting sheet metal, etc.
• Methodical planning and build hygiene : kitting and verifying against a bill of materials, and Tracking deviations from drawings.
• Strong electrical system troubleshooting skillset required
• Experience closely collaborating with engineering teams preferred
• Familiarity with prototype manufacturing techniques and their application is preferred
• Experience with basic mechanical design and CAD preferred
• Ability to thrive under pressure and apply creative and critical thinking to deliver exceptional results
• Good team player with excellent communication

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.

Equal Opportunity

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 [e-mail].

Candidate Data Privacy

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.

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