Staff Lighting Design & Release Engineer

Rivian; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 137,800 - 172,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual performance bonus

Equity awards

Comprehensive insurance benefits

401(k) Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Job summary

Rivian in California is seeking a technical lead for their lighting team. In this role, you'll design innovative lighting solutions for electric vehicles, collaborating across teams to meet design targets and manage Tiers 1 suppliers. A Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering and 7+ years of relevant experience are required. The salary range for this position is $137,800 to $172,200, and it includes opportunities for performance bonuses and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in Exterior/interior Lamp development at a Tier 1 or OEM.
• Capable of managing the full part lifecycle.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop exterior and interior lighting solutions for Rivian vehicles.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve design goals.
• Manage Tier 1 supplier relationships and technical design reviews.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering expertise

CATIA V5/V6 proficiency

7+ years in Lamp development

Strong communication skills

Understanding of FMVSS regulations

Education

Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Masters degree (preferred)

Tools

Catia V6

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

As a member of the Rivian Lighting team, you will act as the technical lead and primary authority for the development and sign‑off of innovative lighting solutions from concept through mass production. You will drive the delivery of high‑performing and sustainable solutions by defining rigorous part requirements and bridging the gap between Studio, Engineering, and Suppliers. In this role, you will play a key part in shaping innovation while fostering a culture of trust and continuous improvement within the company.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop exterior and interior lighting solutions for Rivian vehicles, translating aesthetic styling visions into feasible, production‑ready designs from concept through production, ensuring performance, timing, and commercial requirements are achieved.
• Collaborate and communicate technical concepts and requirements effectively with Studio Designers, Suppliers, Manufacturing, and other cross‑functional teams to achieve design themes, attribute targets, and resolve complex engineering issues.
• Leverage expertise in plastics, injection molding, optical design, GD&T principles, tolerance stack‑up analysis, and electronics to solve complex technical problems and evaluate design trade‑offs using first‑principles reasoning and root‑cause analysis, ensuring all parts and assemblies are optimized for high‑volume manufacturing.
• Lead the development and creations of DFMEAs ensuring that dependencies are effectively cascaded to relevant cross‑functional partners.
• Create product validation plans, coordinate validation activities and sign off results.
• Manage Tier 1 supplier relationships including RFQ documentation, technical design reviews, and the integration of supplier feedback.
• Manage engineering change management, maintain accurate Bill of Materials (BOM) using Enovia, and generate and manage 3D and 2D data with Catia V6.
• Align engineering deliverables with commercial program requirements including appearance, cost, weight, durability, legal requirements, and program timing objectives.
• Exhibit “Rivian Compass” values in everything you do.

Qualifications

• Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Or related discipline, Masters degree preferred)
• 7+ years (preferred) of Exterior/interior Lamp development at a Tier 1 or OEM
• Capable of managing the full part lifecycle, including design, engineering validation, and release to production systems.
• Proficient in CATIA V5/V6, utilizing key modules like Part Design and Geometric Surface Design to generate 3D geometry, sectional data, and communicate technically sound design solutions.
• Strong understanding of engineering first principles and the ability to apply them to identify, analyze, and resolve technical challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to manage information, prioritize tasks, and communicate project status with clarity.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly and concisely communicate with both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Strong working knowledge of FMVSS, ECE, NCAP and other automotive evaluation and regulatory achievement
• Ability to self‑direct while managing ambiguity.
• Curiosity and high learning agility.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $137,800 - $172,200 for 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.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full‑time and part‑time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short‑term disability insurance, and long‑term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian’s 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. 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.

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 [e-mail].