Senior Materials Engineer: Molded Plastics & Color

Rivian; Tustin (CA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian is seeking a Materials Engineer to provide technical guidance for mold-in-color, painted plastics, and related finishes. You will partner with Product Development and CMF to bridge design intent with engineering feasibility from prototyping through validation and production.

This role requires 5–7+ years of materials experience, strong problem-solving, and the ability to work with global vendors. You will author standards, drive sustainability-focused R&D, and align with Rivian Compass

Qualifications

• B.S. in Materials Science, Engineering, or a related field; Master’s preferred.
• 5–7+ years of materials engineering experience, automotive experience preferred.
• Knowledge of decorative materials (plated components, real wood, aluminum) is a plus.
• Strong problem-solving using first principles; ability to work with global vendors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; attention to testing documentation.
• Commercial awareness and travel up to 10% (domestic and international).

Responsibilities

• Drive material selection, prototyping, and production application for mold-in-color and painted plastics.
• Author Rivian Materials Standards and Test Specifications; lead material sign-offs.
• Lead materials R&D on sustainability, durability, stain resistance, and cleanability.
• Perform root cause analysis for material-related production issues with Tier suppliers.
• Provide material modeling data to support digital simulations and CAE.
• Collaborate with Supplier Quality and Purchasing to evaluate suppliers.
• Apply first-principles mindset and uphold Rivian Compass values.

Skills

Materials engineering

First-principles problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Project management

Global vendor collaboration

Education

B.S. in Materials Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Google Workspace

Job description

Rivian is seeking a Materials Engineer to provide technical guidance for mold-in-color, painted plastics, and related finishes. You will partner with Product Development and CMF to bridge design intent with engineering feasibility from prototyping through validation and production.

This role requires 5–7+ years of materials experience, strong problem-solving, and the ability to work with global vendors. You will author standards, drive sustainability-focused R&D, and align with Rivian Compass