Staff Studio Engineer

Rivian; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Rivian is seeking a Staff Studio Engineer to partner with Design, Surfacing, Engineering, and Manufacturing to translate ambitious vehicle themes into feasible, production‑ready interior components. You will own the technical development and release of assigned parts, ensuring design intent, interface integrity, and production readiness through concept to launch across multiple vehicle lines.

Responsibilities include leading technical discussions, driving DFMEA and DVPR activities, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Mechanical, Automotive, or Product Design Engineering.
• Senior or lead Design & Release experience in automotive development.
• Experience owning complex parts or sub‑assemblies across multiple program phases.
• Proficiency with CATIA V6/3DEXPERIENCE for 3D modeling and drawings.
• Knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, DFMEA, DVPs, and release processes.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Design, Surfacing, Engineering, and Manufacturing to turn themes into production designs.
• Own technical development and release of components across the program lifecycle.
• Manage engineering data in ENOVIA/PLM and generate 2D drawings and related documentation.
• Lead design reviews, supplier collaboration, and production readiness activities.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring engineers

Root-cause problem solving

DFMEA / DVPs

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical / Automotive / Product Design Engineering

Tools

CATIA V6/3DEXPERIENCE

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

The Staff Studio Engineer partners with Design, Surfacing, Engineering, Manufacturing, suppliers, and other cross‑functional teams to turn ambitious vehicle themes and Adventure Products concepts into feasible, high‑quality, production‑ready designs. This part of the role is primarily for Interior components.

This role is primarily focused on Studio Engineering and includes some Design & Release ownership for assigned Adventure Products components and assemblies. As the technical owner for assigned parts, you will be accountable for requirements, technical decisions, integration, release quality, and production readiness from concept through launch across multiple vehicle lines.

Responsibilities

Studio Engineering & Theme Development

• Partner with Design and Surfacing to assess theme feasibility, develop packaging solutions, and protect design intent while meeting engineering and manufacturing requirements.
• Create and present CAD concepts, section studies, 3D models, 2D drawings, and related design data using CATIA V6/3DEXPERIENCE.
• Lead technical discussions and resolve interface issues involving hard points, clearances, vehicle targets, and system‑level requirements.
• Guide Design, Surfacing, and Product Development teams toward feasible solutions while communicating engineering inputs, program changes, and technical risks.
• Support benchmarking, clay and craftsmanship activities, master‑section development, rapid prototypes, and design reviews as needed.

Adventure Products Design & Release

• Own the technical development and release of assigned Adventure Products components and assemblies across the program lifecycle: concept, design maturation, sourcing, prototype builds, validation, production release, launch, and post‑launch support, as applicable.
• Own component requirements, key attributes, interfaces, and their cascade from vehicle and system targets; drive technical decisions, integration, release quality, and production readiness.
• Own the engineering data and release process in ENOVIA/PLM, including CATIA data, 2D drawings, GD&T, EBOM/BOM data, effectivity, engineering changes, release approvals, and supporting documentation.
• Develop and maintain requirements, DFMEAs, DVPs/DVPRs, and validation plans; review test results, support component and system validation, and drive issues and residual risk to closure using first‑principles problem solving and root‑cause analysis.
• Lead or support prototype, first‑article, and production‑article reviews and ensure validation evidence supports release decisions.
• Apply design‑for‑manufacturing principles across materials and processes such as injection molding, compression molding, over‑molding, sheet metal, machining, castings, die castings, and fabric parts.
• Develop RFQ and technical specification packages; collaborate with suppliers and Manufacturing to review proposals, develop tooling and production‑feasible designs, and manage supplier deliverables to program timing.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Supplier Quality, Design Quality, and Operations on DFM, tooling, quality, PPAP, production readiness, and resolution of plant or launch issues.
• Coordinate with cross‑functional partners to balance design intent, quality, durability, cost, mass, timing, compliance, and customer experience.

Team Leadership

• Communicate decisions, risks, and recommendations clearly to technical teams and leadership; facilitate alignment when priorities or requirements conflict.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to Studio Engineering and Design & Release standards, methods, and best practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical, Automotive, Product Design Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Senior or lead Design & Release experience in automotive product development, ideally across concept, component, packaging, Studio Engineering, or style‑sensitive products.
• Experience owning complex parts or sub‑assemblies through multiple program phases, influencing cross‑functional decisions, and mentoring less‑experienced engineers.
• Strong CATIA V6/3DEXPERIENCE capability, including 3D modeling, surfacing, section studies, assemblies, and 2D drawings.
• Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, design validation, DFMEA, DVPs, and engineering change and release processes