Senior Regulatory Engineer

Rivian VW Group; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual performance bonus

Equity options

Comprehensive benefits package tailored to local market

Job summary

Rivian VW Group is looking for a Senior Regulatory Engineer to ensure compliance with vehicle regulations. You'll work closely with development teams to navigate regulatory standards for software-defined vehicles.

Your role will involve managing regulatory requirements, developing validation plans, and ensuring that all software components meet necessary compliance. This position requires a strong background in automotive certification, as well as a Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering.
• Minimum 5 years of automotive certification or homologation experience.
• Subject-matter expertise in regulatory domains like Safety or ADAS.
• Familiarity with EU and US certification processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end regulatory view for vehicle requirements.
• Provide regulatory guidance to engineering teams.
• Integrate regulations into design processes actively.
• Develop and maintain validation plans for homologation.

Skills

Regulatory compliance expertise

Collaboration across teams

Experience in automotive certification

Knowledge of safety regulations

Requirements management tools proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant engineering field

Tools

Requirements management software (Jama, Codebeamer, Flow)

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

As a Senior Regulatory Engineer, you will join a team working at the intersection of software engineering and global vehicle regulation - helping ensure that the next generation of software‑ and AI‑defined vehicles meets the regulatory standards of every market we enter. You'll serve as the domain expert guiding development teams through increasingly complex regulatory requirements, with a particular focus on the challenges that come with scaling a unified software architecture across diverse programs and markets.

Responsibilities

• Own the end‑to‑end regulatory view for a dedicated domain: from vehicle‑level requirement intake through validation testing and independent sign‑off, anticipating and addressing the complexities of evolving global regulations.
• Serve as the regulatory subject‑matter expert for assigned domains - providing authoritative guidance to engineering and homologation stakeholders on requirement interpretation, scope, and applicability.
• Collaborate closely with software and systems engineering teams to integrate regulatory requirements proactively into the design process, minimizing compliance risk and schedule impact.
• Author and maintain Homologation Design Validation Plans (DVPs): analyze applicable regulations; identify test obligations; build step‑by‑step test campaigns; and coordinate execution with internal teams and external test facilities.
• Oversee regulation‑to‑code traceability and compliance documentation: ensure requirements are traceable to software components, and work with OEM homologation teams to compile and manage evidence for certification agencies and external labs.
• Manage change impact: assess the regulatory consequences of software design changes, create RxSWIN change evidence, and provide an independent homologation view for software releases in assigned domains.
• Contribute to team‑wide initiatives that improve the scalability and quality of homologation delivery across multiple programs and markets.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in automotive product certification, product safety, or homologation.
• Demonstrated subject‑matter expertise in at least one of the following regulatory domains: Safety, ADAS and Automated Driving, Vehicle Access Systems, Lighting, Body and Closures, Occupant Visibility, Charging, Energy Management, Vehicle Driving Dynamics, Vehicle Modes and State Management, Diagnosis, Data Collection, Audio, Radio / Connectivity / eCall, or Privacy.
• Familiarity with EU type approval processes (WVTA) and/or US self‑certification procedures.
• Proficiency in requirements management tools such as Jama, Codebeamer, or Flow.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across functional teams in a software‑centric automotive environment.
• Proven ability to work independently and drive outcomes in a fast‑paced, cross‑functional environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with systems and/or ECU development.
• Hands‑on experience with software‑defined vehicles or OTA release processes, including regulatory impact assessment under UN‑R 156.
• Hands‑on experience designing and executing regulatory validation test campaigns (DVP/DVP&R): test case authoring, pass/fail criteria definition, and formal sign‑off documentation.
• Familiarity with test automation frameworks and scripting (e.g., Python, CAPL, or similar) applied to vehicle system validation, including the ability to assess automation feasibility for regulatory test cases.

Total Rewards

Full‑time positions include base salary, eligibility for an annual performance bonus, and eligibility for equity.

In addition to base salary, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies offers benefits tailored to the local market. For more information on the benefits available for full‑time employees, check out our Global Benefits Site.

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].