Staff Process Engineer, Drive Unit (3rd Shift)

Rivian; Normal (IL); On-site; USD 126,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian is seeking a Staff Process Engineer to optimize manufacturing processes for the Drive Unit team. You will bridge process efficiency with quality assurance, driving continuous improvement initiatives and ensuring compliance with industry standards and internal specs.

This role reports to the Sr. Manager of Process Engineering within the Drive Unit Team and emphasizes scaling and optimizing drive unit assembly while maintaining high yields and minimizing waste.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in engineering required.
• 5–7+ years in high-volume manufacturing (automotive preferred).
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.
• Hands-on with production equipment (mechanical, electrical, control systems, automation, robotics).
• Proficient with 2D/3D modeling tools (AutoCAD, CATIA/ENOVIA).
• Experience with DOE, GD&T, PFMEA; torque tooling and error-proofing.
• DMAIC, Lean Six Sigma certifications or training.
• Cp/Cpk analysis using SPC tools (Minitab, JMP).
• SQL knowledge a plus.
• Team oriented with cross-functional collaboration.
• Willing to work 2nd/night shift.
• Plus: EV powertrain experience; DUA/DUT/SPIM/DPIM processes.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate engineering changes and new program launches.
• Review and summarize data to drive process improvements.
• Determine best practice for materials, tooling, equipment, and labor.
• Develop and maintain work instructions, workflows, PFMEAs; ensure consistency.
• Collaborate with design to enable high-volume production while preserving quality.
• Work with manufacturing to commission and optimize drive unit equipment.
• Perform time analysis using MODAPTS; estimate times; manage staffing and costs.
• Support production with process and equipment troubleshooting.
• Develop recovery procedures to increase equipment availability.
• Investigate assembly issues and implement design/equipment solutions.
• Review SPC data to identify trends and reduce scrap.
• Monitor Quality KPI and drive cost reductions with cross-functional teams.

Skills

5–7+ years experience in high-volume m

Creative problem-solving

Good communication skills

Hands-on with production equipment

Team oriented / cross-functional

2nd/night shift availability

Kaizen / Lean / Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor's/Master's degree in engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

CATIA/ENOVIA

DOE

GD&T

PFMEA

Six Sigma DMAIC

Lean Six Sigma

MTM/MODAPTS

Minitab

JMP

SQL

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

Rivian is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Staff Process Engineer to optimize our manufacturing processes and uphold the highest standards of product quality. The ideal candidate will bridge the gap between process efficiency and quality assurance, driving continuous improvement initiatives and ensuring compliance with industry standards and internal specifications. This role is critical to maintaining high yields, reducing waste, and delivering reliable products to our customers.

The Staff Process Engineer position at Rivian will support our Drive Unit production and report to the Sr. Manager of Process Engineering within the Drive Unit Team. This role requires a high level of technical ownership, particularly in the scaling and optimization of drive unit assembly.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate engineering changes and new program launches
• Review, interpret, and summarize statistical data to drive process improvement
• Determine the ‘Best Practice’ process approach of material, tooling, equipment, and labor process
• Develop and maintain high-quality work instructions, standardized work, process flows, and PFMEAs to ensure manufacturing consistency
• Work with design engineering team to develop and establish a design that lends itself to high volume production while ensuring quality during the manufacturing process
• Work with manufacturing engineering team to commission and optimize next generation drive unit/propulsion assembly equipment
• Perform time analysis using a standard motion time system (MODAPTS), estimate production times, manage staffing requirements, manage labor costs, and drive line balancing
• Support production teams through process and equipment related troubleshooting and continuous improvement
• Develop recovery/troubleshooting best practices and procedures for production team to increase equipment availability
• Investigate assembly issues and implement solutions by reviewing product design, established processes, and equipment/tooling effectiveness
• Review, interpret, and summarize statistical data (SPC) to identify trends, reduce scrap, and drive measurable process improvements
• Monitor Quality KPI and develop action items to reduce cost with cross functional teams

Qualifications

To be considered for this position, all internal candidates must submit an updated resume highlighting their relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments. Applications submitted without an updated resume will not be considered. Please ensure that your resume accurately reflects your qualifications for this role.

• Bachelor's/Masters degree in engineering discipline
• 5-7+ years engineering experience in a high-volume manufacturing operation, preferably automotive and/or drive unit/propulsion manufacturing
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Must have good communication skills – both verbal and written
• Hands-on experience with supporting production equipment (Mechanical, electrical, control systems, automation, robotics, etc.)
• Experience in using 2D & 3D Modeling tools (AutoCAD, CATIA/ENOVIA)
• Experience and/or Knowledge in DOE, Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerance, Torque Tooling, Error Proofing, and PFMEA
• Experience and/or certification in Six Sigma DMAIC, Lean Assembly Principles, Time Studies using MTM or MODAPTS
• Proficiency in SPC software (Minitab, JMP) for Cp/Cpk analysis
• Knowledge of SQL for data extraction is a strong plus
• Strong team orientation and cross functional attitude
• Kaizen, 5S, Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma etc experience is a plus
• Availability to work 2nd/night shift

Preferred "Plus" Skills

• Direct experience with DUA, DUT and or SPIM/DPIM manufacturing processes
• Experience in an EV-specific powertrain environment

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for 8–12 hours per day
• Required to walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl during equipment troubleshooting
• Ability to lift and carry at least 25 pounds

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $125,800 - $157,200 for Illinois 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. You can apply for this role through careers.rivian.com (or through internal-careers-rivian.icims.com if you are a current employee). This job is not expected to be closed any sooner than November 16th, 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 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.