Senior CAE Engineer - Exterior Trims & Mechanisms

Rivian; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 122,000 - 152,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Health, dental, vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Job summary

Rivian in Irvine, California seeks a Sr. CAE Engineer (RIV5) to be the structural authority for exterior trims and mechanisms, leading subsystem CAE work and advanced simulations. You will mentor cross-functional teams to deliver lightweight, high-durability exterior systems.

You will correlate virtual models with test results, apply first principles, and guide designs to balance structural integrity with styling, NVH, and manufacturability in fast-paced vehicle programs.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering; Masters/PhD preferred.
• 5+ years Automotive CAE experience; time spent in a relevant Master's/Doctoral program may count toward work experience.
• Proven expertise in non-linear, transient dynamic simulations using LS-DYNA and ABAQUS; pre/post processors like ANSA, HyperWorks, META.

Responsibilities

• Lead subsystem CAE analysis for exterior trims and moving mechanisms; perform advanced linear, non-linear static, explicit dynamic, and transient simulations.
• Predict performance across load cases including bumper impacts, jacking, hoisting, and wind loads.
• Apply non-linear material models to polymers and composites; evaluate joint mechanics and durability.
• Drive cross-functional delivery; lead 3–5 engineers onsite/offshore to deliver simulations within tight timelines.
• Correlate virtual models with physical test results to maximize predictive accuracy.
• Mentor engineers; document and standardize CAE specifications; balance rigidity, styling, NVH, and manufacturability.

Skills

LS-DYNA

ABAQUS

ANSA

HyperWorks

META

Non-linear dynamics

Mechanisms design

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Masters/PhD preferred

Tools

LS-OPT

OptiStruct

Job description

Rivian in Irvine, California seeks a Sr. CAE Engineer (RIV5) to be the structural authority for exterior trims and mechanisms, leading subsystem CAE work and advanced simulations. You will mentor cross-functional teams to deliver lightweight, high-durability exterior systems.

You will correlate virtual models with test results, apply first principles, and guide designs to balance structural integrity with styling, NVH, and manufacturability in fast-paced vehicle programs.