Sr. Dynamics and Suspension Controls System Engineer

Rivian VW Group; Irvine, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in RSUs

Health coverage

Retirement savings plan

Time off and family planning programs

Job summary

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies in Irvine, CA seeks an experienced Vehicle Dynamics engineer to lead dynamics feature development across propulsion, chassis controls, torque vectoring, and active driveline systems. You will leverage AI-assisted tools to accelerate analysis, requirements development, and validation workflows.

The role requires a strong systems thinker with hands-on experience in automotive engineering, cross-functional collaboration, and a focus on safety-driven design

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Automotive, or Controls Engineering (Master's preferred).
• 3–5 years of systems engineering experience focusing on vehicle dynamics or chassis controls.
• Experience with electric powertrain systems and validation at multiple test levels (SIL, HIL, etc.).
• Familiarity with DFMEA and ISO 26262 functional safety guidelines for safety-critical automotive systems.
• Demonstrated use of AI coding assistants or AI-powered analysis tools in engineering.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize Vehicle Dynamics features across propulsion, chassis controls, torque vectoring, and active driveline systems.
• Define and document vehicle and subsystem requirements with full traceability.
• Collaborate with OEM stakeholders to define User Stories and performance attributes.
• Support system-level DFMEAs and ISO 26262 compliance; assist in in-vehicle testing and validation.
• Apply AI-assisted tooling to accelerate data analysis, requirements derivation, and calibration documentation.
• Interface with cross-functional teams to ensure manufacturability and quality at vehicle level.

Skills

Vehicle dynamics

AI-assisted engineering tools

Cross-functional collaboration

Systems thinking

Python/MATLAB scripting

Education

Bachelor's or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Automotive, or Controls Engineering

Tools

Vector CAN tools

Jama/Flow

MBSE methodologies & tools

GitHub Copilot / AI coding assistants

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

This role is focused on developing and optimizing Vehicle Dynamics features across vehicle propulsion, chassis controls, torque vectoring, and active driveline systems. As our vehicle platform portfolio expands, this engineer will lead dynamics feature development across increasing drivetrain permutations, leveraging modern AI-assisted engineering tools to accelerate analysis, requirements development, and validation workflows. The ideal candidate is a technically strong systems thinker who embraces AI productivity tools as a force multiplier in a fast-paced development environment.

Responsibilities

• Support and drive development of Vehicle Dynamics features relating to Chassis
• Controls, Torque Vectoring, and Active Driveline, under guidance of Staff and Principal engineers
• Collaborate cross-functionally with OEM stakeholders to define User Stories and Vehicle Dynamics Performance Attributes
• Derive attributes top-down for sub-systems and components (Mechanical, Electrical, and Software) using first principles for performance and safety
• Develop and document requirements at vehicle, system, and component level with full traceability
• Interface with other technical functional domains to ensure proper vehicle-level quality, integration, and manufacturability
• Support attribute verification and vehicle performance evaluation
• Contribute to feature-level DFMEAs using traditional methods and MBSE
• Support System-level Functional Safety work products compliant with ISO 26262 guidelines
• Support in-vehicle testing and validation globally
• Contribute to DVP&R development working alongside senior engineers to formulate, conduct, and capture validation tests at various levels (SIL, HIL, Component, and Vehicle)
• Participate in troubleshooting issues, applying structured root cause analysis methodologies
• Actively utilize AI-assisted tools (e.g., LLM-based coding assistants, AI-enhanced simulation pre/post-processing, automated requirements traceability tools) to improve throughput and quality of engineering deliverables
• Assist in development, commissioning and maintaining physics based vehicle models with focus on semi-active & active suspension systems. (MATLAB or AI based tooling)
• Apply AI tools to accelerate data analysis from proving ground and lab test events, reducing cycle time from test to insight
• Use AI-assisted scripting and code generation (Python/MATLAB) to automate repetitive analysis tasks and generate first-pass calibration documentation

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Automotive, or Controls Engineering (Master's preferred)
• 3–5 years of systems engineering experience with a focus on vehicle dynamics or chassis controls
• Working knowledge of Controls, Electrical, or Mechanical engineering as applied to automotive systems
• Experience with electric powertrain systems and validation at one or more test levels (SIL, HIL, Component, or Vehicle)
• Familiarity with DFMEA processes
• Understanding of ISO 26262 functional safety guidelines as applied to safety-critical automotive systems
• Demonstrated use of AI coding assistants (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude) or AI-powered analysis tools in an engineering context
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience testing at proving grounds
• Familiarity with MBSE methodologies and tools
• Experience with requirement management tools (Jama, Flow or equivalent)
• Experience with Vector CAN tools
• Experience applying LLMs or AI tools to requirements generation, test case synthesis, or FMEA support workflows

Total Rewards

We build the exceptional — and we believe the people doing that work should be rewarded accordingly. In addition to a competitive base salary, full-time positions may be eligible to participate in our annual company performance bonus program.

Payments are discretionary and not guaranteed; actual amounts depend on company results and the terms of the plan in effect, and require active employment at the time of payout. This role is also eligible for equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), subject to board approval and the terms of our equity incentive plans, including applicable vesting requirements.

In addition to our compensation programs, we invest in our people with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, wellbeing, and financial future for full-time employees — including health coverage, retirement savings, time off, and family planning programs. Offerings vary by country. Learn more about our global benefit programs.

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].

Candidate Data Privacy

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies” 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 and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies 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 and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies’ service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, 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.

If you provide a mobile telephone number as part of your application or during the recruitment process, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use that number to contact you via SMS text message for recruitment-related purposes, including scheduling, logistics, and status updates. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of applying for or being considered for employment.

Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English) and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.

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