Staff Quality Engineer

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

Job summary

Rivian is seeking a highly experienced Staff Quality Engineer to lead the quality program for our EV manufacturing team in Illinois. You will serve as a technical authority, drive scalable quality systems, and mentor the quality group with minimal supervision.

You will own end-to-end customer complaint resolution, lead cross-functional investigations, and coordinate with Production, Engineering, and Supplier Quality to resolve urgent issues. Travel up to 20% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
• 8+ years of dedicated quality engineering experience in automotive or EV manufacturing.
• Deep subject matter expertise in at least one major vehicle system and vehicle-level integration.
• Experience managing customer complaints and containment actions in high-volume production.
• Expert knowledge of ISO 9001/IATF 16949, APQP, and advanced statistical methods.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills (8D or similar); Six Sigma Green Belt is a plus; GD&T proficiency.
• Proven experience as a lead/principal engineer with autonomy and cross-functional influence.
• Willingness to travel at least 20%; may increase.
• Ability to work across shifts if needed; capable of lifting up to 25 pounds.
• Strong communication skills; bilingual in English/Spanish is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Act as a technical authority for entire vehicle systems and ensure holistic integration and quality.
• Design and implement robust quality management processes for a scalable plant-wide quality system.
• Mentor the quality team and drive alignment across Production, Engineering and Supplier Quality.
• Lead complex quality challenges with autonomy and strategic decision-making.
• Own end-to-end customer complaint process for EV manufacturing issues and implement effective corrective actions.
• React quickly to escalations and initiate containment actions on the shop floor.
• Lead investigations (5D/8D, Kaizen), prepare customer-facing reports, ensure timely closure of actions.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to resolve urgent manufacturing and field quality issues.
• Investigate component failures using tools like 5 Why, Fishbone, FTA; conduct line audits.
• Provide real-time data analysis and quality feedback to support EV production goals.
• Update quality documents based on lessons learned; lead a project as single point of contact for status and actions.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Leadership experience

Cross-functional influence

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

ISO 9001/IATF 16949

APQP

6Sigma / GD&T

Job description

About Rivian

Rivian is 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.

About Rivian

Rivian is 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

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Staff Quality Engineer to join our expanding Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing team. This staff-level role requires a deep, cross-functional understanding of the entire vehicle system. You will operate as a technical authority and lead, driving structural improvements, establishing long-term quality processes, and mentoring the quality team with minimal managerial oversight.

Responsibilities

• Act as a technical authority for entire vehicle systems, ensuring holistic integration and quality
• Design and implement robust quality management processes that create a scalable and healthy quality system for the plant
• Coordinate and mentor the broader quality team, providing technical guidance and driving alignment across departments without daily managerial intervention
• Serve as the primary technical lead for complex quality challenges, driving resolution with autonomy and high-level strategic decision-making
• Own the end-to-end customer complaint process specifically for EV manufacturing issues (e.g., interiors, exteriors, LVE, chassis, HV). Identify and solve quality issues within our factory quality gates, ensuring defects are contained effectively and fixed with robust corrective actions
• React quickly to quality escalations, initiating and driving immediate containment actions on the shop floor to protect the customer
• Lead structured investigations (5D/8D, Kaizen methodology), prepare professional customer-facing reports, and ensure the timely implementation and closure of all corrective actions
• Coordinate and lead cross-functional teams, including Production, Engineering, and Supplier Quality, to quickly resolve urgent manufacturing and field quality issues
• Investigate complex component failures using established problem-solving tools (e.g., 5 Why, Fishbone diagrams, Fault Tree Analysis)
• Conduct production line audits to verify the effectiveness of containment actions and prevent defect recurrence
• Provide real-time data analysis and quality feedback to support fast-paced EV production goals
• Update essential quality documents (quality alerts, work instructions, process documents) based on lessons learned from field and manufacturing issues
• Serve as the designated leader for a specific Quality Loop or special project, acting as the single point of contact for the entire factory regarding the project's status, corrective actions, and overall resolution

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, Mechatronics, or a related field)
• 8+ years of dedicated quality engineering experience in automotive or EV manufacturing, with a track record of driving systemic process improvements
• Deep subject matter expertise in at least one major vehicle system (e.g., Propulsion, Thermal, Chassis, or E/E) and comprehensive knowledge of vehicle-level integration
• Proven, hands‑on experience managing customer complaints and driving containment actions in high‑volume production environments
• Expert‑level knowledge of ISO 9001/IATF 16949, APQP, and advanced statistical methods.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills (8D or similar method problem‑solving experience) ~ SIX SIGMA GreenBelt is a Plus. Demonstrated experience with GD&T
• Proven experience acting as a lead or principal engineer with significant autonomy; ability to influence cross‑functional leadership
• Must be able to travel at least 20%, travel may increase in time
• This position is subject to cover 1st / 2nd / 3rd shift if needed
• Must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, bilingual is a plus (English / Spanish)
• Team player - ability to work in a fast‑paced, highly ambiguous, multi‑cultural environment with cross‑functional teams

Pay Disclosure

Salary Range for Illinois Based Applicants: The salary range for this position 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.

Benefits Summary

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.