Staff Mechanical Engineer – Handles & Closures Lead

Rivian; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 138,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian seeks a Staff Body Closures Handle and Latch Design & Release Engineer in California to own end-to-end design, development, and release of vehicle handle and latch mechanisms. You will manage supplier relationships, drive new technologies, and ensure DFMEA, PFMEA, and Control Plans compliance, balancing cost and weight while mentoring junior engineers.

The role requires hands-on CAD with Catia V6/Enovia PLM, strong first-principles physics knowledge, and collaboration across Body

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline (Master’s degree preferred).
• 7+ years (Preferred) of automotive engineering experience with a heavy focus on latching systems, Handles, and closures mechanisms.
• Deep understanding of 1st-principle physics-loads, kinematics, forces, and trade-offs between packaging, function, and manufacturing.
• Proven track record of managing Tier-1 supplier teams to deliver high-volume mechanism products on schedule.
• Hands-on CAD design experience for mechanisms, closures, or structural components (Catia V6 / Enovia PLM preferred).
• Proficiency in tolerance stackup analysis and component tolerancing across varied materials and manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated capability in leveraging CAE data to drive design decisions and optimization.

Responsibilities

• Take full end-to-end ownership for design, development, release, and lifecycle management of vehicle handle and latching mechanisms.
• Drive the architecture and implementation of new handle and latch technologies that elevate the overall customer experience.
• Establish and maintain core engineering standards, technical specifications, design guidelines, and quality documentation (DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans).
• Develop noise and environmental factor management strategies, addressing water intrusion, freezing conditions, and latch sound quality.
• Serve as the technical approver for closure subsystem designs at key vehicle program milestones.
• Decompose vehicle-level functional requirements into sub-system and component-level specifications.
• Lead cross-functional integration with Body Engineering, Studio Design, Quality, and Customer Experience teams.
• Manage component delivery in Catia V6 and Enovia PLM, balancing strict cost, weight, packaging, and timing constraints.
• Direct supplier engagement, simulation analysis (CAE), prototype builds, tolerance stackups, and validation testing.
• Lead root-cause problem solving for complex field and manufacturing issues, embedding campaign prevention into future standards.
• Mentor and develop junior engineering team members.

Skills

Mechanical engineering knowledge

1st-principles physics

CAD design

Catia V6 / Enovia PLM

CAEs data interpretation

Supplier management

Cross-functional leadership

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Catia V6

Enovia PLM

CAEs

Job description

Rivian seeks a Staff Body Closures Handle and Latch Design & Release Engineer in California to own end-to-end design, development, and release of vehicle handle and latch mechanisms. You will manage supplier relationships, drive new technologies, and ensure DFMEA, PFMEA, and Control Plans compliance, balancing cost and weight while mentoring junior engineers.

The role requires hands-on CAD with Catia V6/Enovia PLM, strong first-principles physics knowledge, and collaboration across Body