Fabrication & Design Lead

Rivian; Normal (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Health Insurance

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Job summary

Rivian is seeking a Fabrication & Design Lead to bridge engineering concepts with physical execution in Normal, IL. The role combines CAD design, hands-on fabrication, and daily technician leadership to deliver carts, dollies and prototypes for Material Supply.

You will build and test components onsite and guide a small team to meet production schedules and safety/quality standards. The candidate will design, iterate, and document parts using GD&T and design for manufacturability, supervise shop

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional experience in 3D CAD modeling, GD&T application, and generating technical drawing packages.
• 3+ years hands-on experience in a machine shop, prototype lab, or custom fabrication environment with manual/CNC machinery and metal joining/assembly.
• 1-3 years of leadership experience managing a team, shift operations, or as a project/shop lead.
• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Technology, or related field with 3+ years related experience; or an Associate's Degree with 5+ years related experience.

Responsibilities

• CAD Modeling & 2D fabrication drawings using CAD software (Fusion 360, Bamboo Studio or equivalent).
• Design for Manufacturability: carts, dollies, tooling, jigs, fixtures and prototypes optimized for fabrication, machining and assembly.
• Engineering Analysis: basic stress, material and tolerance analyses to validate design before build.
• Design Iteration & ECOs: test prototypes, identify flaws, and implement Engineering Change Orders to improve performance.

Skills

3D CAD modeling

GD&T

Technical drawings

Fabrication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

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

The Fabrication & Design Lead bridges the gap between engineering concept and physical execution. This hybrid role combines CAD or equivalent design expertise, hands-on fabrication capability, and daily technician team leadership. You will be responsible for designing components, carts, and dollies used by Material Supply, directly building and testing prototypes, and guiding a small team of technicians to meet production schedules, maintain shop safety, and uphold quality standards. This role will report onsite to the Manager, Continuous Improvement and will be based out of Normal, IL.

Responsibilities

Design & Engineering (Design Engineer)

• CAD Modeling & Technical Drawings: Create detailed 3D models, assemblies, and 2D fabrication drawings using CAD software (Fusion 360, Bamboo studio or equivalent) adhering to GD&T standards.
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Design custom carts, dollies, tooling, jigs, fixtures, and prototype components optimized for efficient fabrication, machining, and assembly.
• Engineering Analysis: Perform basic stress, material, and tolerance stack-up analyses to validate design integrity prior to build.
• Design Iteration & ECOs: Test prototype builds, identify design flaws, and execute Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) to improve performance and manufacturability.

Fabrication & Prototype Execution (Fabrication Technician)

• Hands-On Fabrication: Operate shop equipment (CNC/manual mills, lathes, laser cutters, waterjets, Plasma tables and press brakes) to produce high-precision parts for builds.
• Welding & Joining: Perform TIG/MIG welding, soldering, and mechanical assembly of structural components and prototype units.
• Additive Manufacturing: Manage, operate, and maintain 3D printing equipment (FDM, SLA, SLS) for rapid prototyping.
• Inspection & Quality Control: Verify prototype parts against engineering drawings using precision measuring tools (calipers, micrometers, height gauges, CMM).

Team Leadership & Shop Management (Group Leader / Team Lead)

• Team Supervision & Workflow: Lead daily shift stand-ups, assign work orders to technicians, track project deliverables, and remove operational bottlenecks.
• Process Improvement & Lean: Implement 5S methodologies, Kaizen events, and root cause analysis (8D, 5-Whys) to optimize shop floor workflow and reduce downtime.
• Mentorship & Onboarding: Train and mentor junior technicians on safety protocols, equipment operation, and proper fabrication techniques.
• Safety & Compliance: Enforce shop safety rules, maintain PPE compliance, oversee tool maintenance schedules, and conduct periodic safety audits.

Qualifications

• Engineering Skills: 3+ years of professional experience in 3D CAD modeling, GD&T application, and generating technical drawing packages.
• Fabrication Skills: 3+ years of hands-on experience in a machine shop, prototype lab, or custom fabrication environment operating manual/CNC machinery and performing metal joining/assembly.
• Leadership Skills: 1-3 years of experience leading a team, managing shift operations, or serving as a project/shop lead.
• Education: Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Technology, or a related field with 3+ years related experience preferred. Or Associate's Degree or Vocational/Trade Certification in Machining, Welding, Drafting/CAD Technology, or Mechatronics PLUS 5+years related experience.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $89,900 - $112,400 for Illinois 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.

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. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.

This job is not expected to be closed any sooner than Oct 2nd, 2026.

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.

Rivian 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 and Technology

Rivian 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 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 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 affiliates; and (iii) Rivian's service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, 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.

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process: To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Rivian uses iCIMS Talent Cloud Artificial Intelligence (TCAI) and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role.

AI does not make hiring decisions: Qualified candidate applications are reviewed by a member of our team, and all decisions throughout the process are made by humans. We use AI to support efficiency and consistency, not to replace human judgment. We are committed to a fair, thoughtful, and equitable experience for every candidate.

Participation in AI profile matching is entirely voluntary. If you prefer that your profile not be used in this process, you can opt out at any time. Opting out means your profile will be excluded from automated matching and will not be surfaced for additional roles through this system. Your current application remains active and will not be affected in any way.