Staff Durability CAE Engineer, Explicit Dynamics

Rivian Automotive; Tustin (CA); On-site; USD 154,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Paid sick leave

Life insurance

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Job summary

Rivian in Southern California is seeking a Staff Durability CAE Engineer specialized in explicit dynamic simulations to ensure the structural integrity of next-generation vehicles.

You will lead full-vehicle LS-DYNA models, simulate ground strike and strength load cases, and correlate virtual results with physical tests to drive durable vehicle design.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years in automotive CAE/Durability.
• Deep expertise in explicit FEA with LS-DYNA for full-vehicle dynamics.
• Proficiency in energy plots, time step control, and mass scaling.
• Strong knowledge of vehicle suspension and dynamics.
• Ability to correlate simulation with physical test data.
• Experience with implicit solvers is a plus (Abaqus/OptiStruct/Nastran).
• ANSA/Hypermesh experience and scripting (Python, MATLAB) a plus.
• Valid driver’s license and clean MVR as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead full-vehicle explicit dynamics simulations using LS-DYNA.
• Model extreme load cases: underbody ground strike and strength events.
• Implement and calibrate material failure definitions for ductile failure.
• Ensure simulation quality: energy plots and stability checks.
• Correlate models with physical test data and drive design decisions.
• Support physical testing with setup and boundary conditions.
• Optimize LS-DYNA runtimes for large models without sacrificing accuracy.
• Provide CAE support with implicit solvers when needed.
• Prepare technical reports with clear design recommendations.
• Manage models using ANSA and Hypermesh for build/debug.

Skills

5+ years experience

LS-DYNA expertise

Explicit FEA

Energy plots review

Vehicle suspension knowledge

Correlation with test data

Python / MATLAB scripting

Pre-processing scripting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Automotive Engineering background

Tools

LS-DYNA

ANSA

Hypermesh

Abaqus

OptiStruct

Nastran

Job description

About Rivian

Rivianis 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 Hypermeshis 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

The salary range for this role is $154,000-$192,500 for Southern California based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. 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

• paid vacation
• paid sick leave
• life insurance
• medical insurance
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• short-term disability insurance
• long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• 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.
• More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com

This job is not expected to be closed any sooner than February 28, 2026.

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 and Technology

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 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.

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process: To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Rivian uses iCIMS Talent Cloud Artificial Intelligence (TCAI) and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role.

AI does not make hiring decisions: Qualified candidate applications are reviewed by a member of our team, and all decisions throughout the process are made by humans. We use AI to support efficiency and consistency, not to replace human judgment. We are committed to a fair, thoughtful, and equitable experience for every candidate.

Participation in AI profile matching is entirely voluntary. If you prefer that your profile not be used in this process, you can opt out at any time. Opting out means your profile will be excluded from automated matching and will not be surfaced for additional roles through this system. Your current application remains active and will not be affected in any way.

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