Senior Engineer, Special Projects

Rivian; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 107,800 - 134,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Paid vacation

Competitive insurance benefits

Job summary

Rivian is seeking a designer for their Special Projects Team in Irvine, CA. This role involves creating innovative prototypes, managing design processes from concept to physical product, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree in engineering, understanding of vehicle systems, and hands-on experience with component builds. Benefits include competitive salary, performance bonuses, and comprehensive insurance packages.

Qualifications

• Desire to be hands-on for component/vehicle builds, diagnostics, and repairs.
• Ability to assess complex problems in unfamiliar systems.
• Basic ability to use hand tools, weld (TIG preferred), and operate manual machining equipment is a plus.
• Experience with electromechanical systems is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design components for vehicles including show cars and marketing vehicles.
• Own subsystems including plans, concepts, detailed design, and execution.
• Manage schedules, BOMs, CAD assemblies, and tasks.
• Support builds from design through release and fabrication.
• Utilize Catia to design structures and generate 2D drawings.
• Interface with production engineers and suppliers to ensure timely delivery.

Skills

Understanding of vehicle systems

Hands-on component/vehicle builds

Problem assessment in unfamiliar systems

Tradeoff decision-making

Knowledge of prototype processes

Familiarity with materials

CAD design skills

Familiarity with studio design

Teamwork and collaboration

Open-mindedness for innovation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent

Tools

CAD software

Job description

Role Summary

This role is with the Special Projects Team based in Irvine, CA. Our department is responsible for component, system and full-vehicle prototypes and marketing/show vehicle builds at Rivian. This includes the ability to take almost anything from a sketch or rough concept and turn it into a physical product as quickly as possible. Our group features engineers, program managers, fabricators, technicians, and others focused on efficient design and high-quality, short-duration builds. We support production development and manufacturing through our prototype development but are not release responsible for production parts. We also support an assortment of non-production related vehicle activities such as Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Van, Grey’s Anatomy TV Show Ambulance, Also Mobile Service Van, and various first responder vehicles.

Our engineers need to understand production intent design and manufacturing processes but also the design requirements and limitations of quick build fabrication and one-off prototype processes. This can often mean simplifying a design so it can be bent, welded and created by hand or from a simple tool or fixture. It also means working very closely with the fabrication part of our team to understand what is possible and adapting the design to something built from off-the-shelf parts and supplies. You will work on parts across every vehicle system and could start with a blank page or a complete production design. In all cases, it will be your responsibility to make sure we deliver amazing prototypes. We focus on building fast, learning lessons, quickly iterating on the design and making updates. Our projects range from several hours where we will have a request in the morning and a physical part to test by the end of the day to mules that take months to complete. You will get to experience a variety of projects, will be expected to showcase our capability to the rest of the company and will work hard to make cool things happen.

A collaborative attitude and ability to work tirelessly on a design only to toss it out and start over as requirements change is key.

This role is in Irvine, CA and will require some travel to our other office locations including Plymouth, MI and Normal, IL.

Responsibilities

• Design components for vehicles including show cars, marketing vehicles and other non-production assets
• Own subsystems to include plans, concepts, detailed design and execution
• Manage schedules, BOM’s, CAD assemblies, and tasks for yourself and others
• Support builds from design through release, fabrication, assembly and in field usage
• Engineer components that pull ahead production design to support early build timelines while demonstrating production concepts
• Utilize Catia to design structures, parts, brackets and other components including generating 2d drawings
• Determine when and where to select off-the-shelf content based on timeline, maturity and vehicle function
• Interface with production engineers, purchasers, and suppliers to deliver products on time to a higher than expected level

Qualifications

• An understanding of vehicle systems
• Desire to be hands on for component/vehicle builds, diagnostics and repairs
• The ability to assess complex problems in unfamiliar systems
• The ability to quickly make tradeoffs and decisions to drive progress
• Knowledge of prototype process –low volume manufacturing and fabrication (milling, turning, welding, etc) –including quality, cost, and timing tradeoffs
• Familiarity with materials including basic metals, composites and composite processes
• The ability to use CAD to design parts and generate drawings at a high level
• Familiarity with studio design and color/material/finish
• Strong team work skills, the ability to collaborate, and a positive attitude
• An open mind to challenge convention and work to create things in ways that haven’t been done before
• A bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent
• Basic ability to use hand tools, weld (TIG preferred), and operate manual machining equipment is a plus
• Experience with electromechanical systems is a plus

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $107,800 - $134,800 for Irvine, California based applicants. 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 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.