Vehicle Test Driver

Rivian; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

Rivian in Palo Alto is seeking skilled Vehicle Operators to support testing of prototype vehicles, including autonomous systems, with focus on data collection and engineering feedback. You will operate, drive, troubleshoot, and document product development insights for our teams.

Ideal candidates have professional automotive driving or autonomous testing experience, can travel up to 50%, and are comfortable working 6–8 hours per day with overtime as needed.

Qualifications

• Professional automotive driving or autonomous vehicle testing experience.
• Ability to travel up to 50%.
• Ability to operate autonomous vehicles safely for 6–8 hours daily.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Willingness to work overtime and lift up to 50 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate test vehicles, including autonomous systems, in a wide range of testing conditions for up to 8 hours/day.
• Perform vehicle prep work, including basic vehicle inspections, diagnostics, and setting up autonomous testing scenarios or test trips.
• Conduct tests and provide detailed feedback on performance, safety, and issues.
• Complete clear, concise, and detailed post-drive reports and online tickets, working with and escalating to engineers as necessary.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software issues and aid engineers in debugging through system diagnostics and safety protocols.
• Perform and verify OTA software updates for vehicle systems.
• Collect and share data from vehicle and logging systems for engineering analysis.

Skills

Automotive driving

Autonomous vehicle testing

Data collection

Google Docs/Sheets proficiency

Tools

Smartphone

Laptop

Google Docs/Sheets/Maps

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.

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

Our Vehicle Testing team is expanding, and we are looking for skilled Vehicle Operators with a focus on vehicle testing, data collection, and integration of development hardware and software. In this role, you will be responsible for operating, driving, troubleshooting, and evaluating our prototype test vehicles, including those equipped with autonomous systems, and documenting product development feedback for our engineering teams. This involves testing vehicles on public roads and private facilities, executing safety protocols, and performing specialized test procedures. You'll also work with hardware and software engineering teams as needed to help troubleshoot and debug software and hardware systems.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate test vehicles, including autonomous systems, in a wide range of testing


• conditions for up to 8 hours/day


• Perform vehicle prep work, including basic vehicle inspections, diagnostics, and setting up


• autonomous testing scenarios or test trips.


• Conduct tests and provide detailed feedback on performance, safety, and issues.


• Complete clear, concise, and detailed post-drive reports and online tickets, working with and escalating to engineers as necessary.


• Troubleshoot hardware and software issues and aid engineers in debugging through system diagnostics and safety protocols.


• Perform and verify OTA software updates for vehicle systems.


• Collect and share data from vehicle and logging systems for engineering analysis.


• Additional work and tasks as needed by the team.

Qualifications

• Ability to travel up to 50%


• Prior professional automotive driving or autonomous vehicle testing experience.


• Ability to drive safely in all conditions, including operating autonomous vehicles, alone or with a partner for 6-8 hours a day.


• Self-motivated, organized, and capable of good judgment in a fast-paced, high-stress environment.


• Attention to detail, excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to describe events quickly and concisely.


• Proficiency using a smartphone, laptop, and Google tools (Docs, Sheets, Maps).


• Must be flexible to work overtime as needed.


• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.


• Minimum age of 21.


• No driving related suspensions or revocation of Driver License (within a 3-5 year period).

Pay Disclosure

The Hourly pay range for this role is $28.25-$31.39/hour for Arizona 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 Hourly pay range for this role is $35.32-$39.24/hour for Palo Alto, CA 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).

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.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.