Staff Operations Engineer

Rivian Automotive; Tustin (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 156,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian is seeking a Staff Operations Engineer to lead full‑vehicle validation and environmental testing in Irvine/Torrance labs. You’ll guide cross‑functional teams across Powertrain, Thermal, NVH, and more to bring programs from concept to production launch.

You will own test strategy, systems, and data workflows, driving improvements in automation, reporting, and safety. Strong leadership and lab management are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Mechatronics or Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years for staff level in test engineering for complex electro‑mechanical systems.
• Experience designing and executing complex test campaigns and cross‑system issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication for leadership audiences.
• Hands‑on with testbed control, data systems, and lab hardware.

Responsibilities

• Own end‑to‑end test strategy and lab operations for major domains.
• Translate requirements into concrete test methods and criteria.
• Define standards and playbooks for test requests and data quality.
• Lead capability expansion for test systems and maintain lab uptime.
• Develop automation and data processing to improve repeatability and productivity.
• Lead cross‑functional problem solving and executive‑level status updates.

Skills

Test leadership

Lab operations

Cross-functional influence

Test campaigns

Data analysis

Python MATLAB

PUMA tools

Mentoring

Multisite experience

Education

Bachelor’s or Master in Mechanical/Electrical/Mechatronics

Tools

Dyno controllers

PLCs

DAQ

Automation frameworks

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 Staff Operations Engineer, you will lead full-vehicle validation and environmental testing inside Rivian's advanced Irvine and Torrance lab facilities. The team supports cross-functional engineering disciplines—including Powertrain and Thermal Development, Range, Thermal Attribute, Benchmarking, NVH, Electrical Hardware, Homologation and others — to guide vehicle programs from concept evaluation all the way into production launch.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Test Strategy

• Own the end-to-end test strategy and lab operations for a significant domain (e.g., vehicle range test, vehicle thermal system performance, vehicle NVH performance), ensuring alignment with vehicle and subsystem requirements, program timelines, and safety constraints.
• Translate high-level attributes requirements and DVP targets into concrete test methods, profiles, and acceptance criteria that can be executed repeatedly across multiple test areas and sites.
• Define and maintain standards, templates, and playbooks for test requests, procedures, instrumentation, data quality, and reporting, and drive their adoption across the test organization.
• Identify gaps in current capabilities (equipment hardware, control systems, measurement chains, data workflows) and lead roadmaps to close them through new hardware, equipment upgrades, software implementation or process changes.

Test System Design, Development & Ownership

• Lead/Participate in capability expansion/improvement for test systems (e.g., vehicle chassis dyno, vehicle climatic chamber, shaker + thermal + humidity combinations, custom HIL setups), working with controls, software, facilities, and safety.
• Serve as the technical owner for selected test labs, accountable for uptime, fidelity, and suitability to current and future test needs.
• Develop and review automation and data-processing approaches (test scripts, health checks, dashboards, KPIs) to improve repeatability, coverage, and engineer productivity.

Test Planning, Execution & Data Interpretation

• Lead test planning for complex or first-of-a-kind campaigns, including sequence design, boundary conditions, instrumentation plans, and risk assessments.
• Provide hands‑on technical support for critical tests: bring‑up, debug, fault triage, and correlation against models or vehicle‑level behavior.
• Review and synthesize test results at a system level, providing clear engineering conclusions, trade‑offs, and recommendations to design, attributes, and program teams.
• Champion data quality and traceability: ensure that test configurations, calibrations, and deviations are captured such that results can be trusted and reused for future analysis.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Influence

• Act as the primary technical counterpart for your domain with Design Engineering, Attributes, Systems, DREs, Controls, Reliability, and Manufacturing/Service partners.
• Drive cross‑functional problem solving on high‑impact issues (e.g., real world test correlation gaps, unexpected NVH or thermal behavior), ensuring robust root cause, containment, and validated corrective actions.
• Provide executive‑ready communication on test status, risks, and options: distill complex technical detail into concise, decision‑oriented narratives for managers and senior leadership.

People, Culture & Mentorship

• Set the bar for lab operations: improvement of lab equipment utilization, structured problem definition, evidence‑based decisions, disciplined change management, and continuous improvement.
• Lead by example on safety and quality in the lab, ensuring test methods, rig operations, and work practices meet or exceed Rivian standards.
• Contribute to capability building via training sessions, best‑practice guides, reviews, and informal mentorship that raise the collective skill level of the test organization.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years (5‑10 years for senior engineer) of relevant experience in test engineering for vehicle, powertrain, drivetrain, propulsion, or similar complex electro‑mechanical systems, including significant rig‑based or lab‑based testing.
• Demonstrated track record operating at a Staff level (or equivalent) in:
• Designing and executing complex test campaigns.
• Leading resolution of difficult cross‑system issues.
• Influencing designs and requirements based on test insight.
• Deep understanding of test methods, measurement systems, and data analysis for at least one of:
• Thermal & environmental testing
• Powertrain testing
• NVH / vibration / shaker testing
• Proven ability to lead without authority: align cross‑functional stakeholders, challenge assumptions constructively, and drive decisions in ambiguous situations.
• Strong communication skills, including clear technical writing (procedures, reports) and concise, executive‑appropriate summaries for leadership.

Preferred

• Hands‑on experience with testbed control and data systems (e.g., dyno controllers, PLCs, DAQ, automation frameworks, or similar).
• Experience with PUMA or equivalent tools needed for developing test control/automation systems.
• Familiarity with statistical methods and data analysis tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or similar) for test planning and results interpretation.
• Experience mentoring and developing senior individual contributors and lead technicians.
• Prior experience working across multiple sites or labs, harmonizing methods and standards.

Pay Disclosure

The Hourly Pay Range for this role is $125,000 - $156,200 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 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 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.

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.