Staff Durability CAE Engineer, Explicit Dynamics

Rivian; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 154,000 - 192,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Job summary

An innovative electric vehicle manufacturer in California is seeking a Staff Durability CAE Engineer to lead explicit dynamic simulations and ensure the structural integrity of next-generation vehicles. Candidates should have a Bachelor's in Mechanical or Automotive Engineering and over 5 years of relevant experience. This role offers a competitive salary range of $154,000 to $192,500 and comprehensive benefits including medical and dental insurance. Join an adventurous team committed to sustainability and innovation.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience in automotive CAE/Durability.
• Expert-level understanding of explicit simulation requirements.
• Proven ability to correlate simulation models to physical test data.

Responsibilities

• Lead the setup, execution, and analysis of full-vehicle explicit dynamic simulations.
• Model and analyze critical scenarios including underbody ground strikes.
• Drive the correlation of simulation models with physical test data.

Skills

Explicit finite element analysis (FEA)

LS-DYNA

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Automotive Engineering

Tools

ANSA

Hypermesh

Abaqus

OptiStruct

Nastran

Python

MATLAB

Job description

About Rivian

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions‑free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.

As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

Role Summary

Are you a highly skilled Staff Durability CAE Engineer specializing in Explicit Dynamic simulations? Do you thrive on replicating complex, real‑world impact scenarios to ensure the structural integrity of next‑generation vehicles?

Join our team and support the validation of vehicle structure robustness against extreme events. You will leverage full‑vehicle LS‑DYNA models to simulate critical ground strike and extreme strength load cases, directly influencing the design and durability of our chassis and underbody systems.

We are seeking a proactive and meticulous engineer with deep expertise in explicit solver technology, exceptional problem‑solving abilities, and a proven track record of accurate simulation‑to‑test correlation. If you’re ready to tackle the most demanding structural challenges in the automotive world, we invite you to apply.

Responsibilities

• Lead Explicit Dynamics Simulation: Lead the setup, execution, and analysis of complex, full‑vehicle explicit dynamic simulations using LS‑DYNA.
• Simulate Extreme Load Cases: Model and analyze critical scenarios including:
  • Underbody ground strike (step down impact, rock scrape impact, breakover impact, approach/departure impact & sand dune impact).
  • Extreme strength load cases (curb drive‑over, ditch drop, lateral curb strike).
• Implement & Calibrate Material Failure Definition: Implement & manage LS‑DYNA material cards (e.g. *MAT_024, *MAT_GISSMO) with a critical focus on plasticity and failure parameters to accurately replicate ductile failure and erosion in the vehicle structure.
• Ensure Simulation Quality: Critically review explicit simulation results, meticulous checking of energy plots, mass scaling, and solution parameters to ensure numerical stability and accuracy.
• Correlation and Validation: Drive the correlation of simulation models with physical test data, working to accurately replicate real‑world behavior in the virtual environment.
• Support Physical Testing: Collaborate closely with the physical testing team, providing expertise to assist in appropriate test setup, instrumentation, and boundary condition definition.
• Optimize and Improve Efficiency: Proactively work on methods and techniques to optimize LS‑DYNA run times for large, full‑vehicle models without compromising accuracy.
• Structural CAE Support: Provide flexible support for structural durability CAE simulation work using implicit solver technology when required.
• Communicate Technical Insights: Generate clear, coherent, and informative technical reports that distill complex simulation results into actionable design recommendations for stakeholder teams.
• Model Management: Work with pre‑processors like ANSA and Hypermesh for model build‑up, meshing, debugging and model deck preparation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or equivalent, with 5+ years of relevant experience in automotive CAE/Durability.
• Deep expertise in explicit finite element analysis (FEA), with extensive, hands‑on experience using LS‑DYNA for full‑vehicle dynamic simulations.
• Expert‑level understanding of explicit simulation requirements, including checking energy plots (e.g., kinetic, internal, hourglass), time step control, and mass scaling.
• Strong foundational understanding of vehicle suspension systems and overall vehicle dynamics behavior.
• Proven ability to correlate simulation models to physical test data.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, specifically in creating high‑quality technical reports.
• Experience with implicit solver software like Abaqus, OptiStruct, or Nastran for structural durability analysis is a plus.
• Proficiency in pre‑processing tools like ANSA and/or Hypermesh is a plus.
• Familiarity with scripting languages (Python, MATLAB) for post‑processing and automation is a plus.
• Experience with durability or crash‑related load case derivation and standardization is a plus.
• Minimum age of 21
• No driving related suspensions or revocation of Driver License (within a 3-5 year period)
• No drug or alcohol related driving incidents in the last 3 years
• No more than 1 serious moving violation in the last 3 years
• Must have a valid driver's license in the state of residence that you will be driving/operating a vehicle
• Will be subject to continuous Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) monitoring

Pay Disclosure

Salary Range/Hourly Rate range for California Based Applicants: $154,000-$192,500 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits Summary: Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full‑time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment, and Rivian covers most of the premiums.

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.

Rivian 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 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 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) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian 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 affiliates; and (iii) Rivian's service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, 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.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.