Staff Studio Engineer
Irvine, CA, USA
USD 137,800-172,200 / year + Equity
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
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.
- Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, tooling, materials, and supplier development for style-sensitive products.
- Working knowledge of applicable safety, legal, regulatory, homologation, and compliance requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to work across Design, Surfacing, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, suppliers, and program teams.
- Strong communication, presentation, organization, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- A creative, collaborative, and technically rigorous approach, with strong attention to aesthetics, perceived quality, feasibility, and the customer experience.
Additional Information
- This role is based in Irvine, California.
- The position may require occasional travel to support suppliers, testing, builds, and production activities.
Pay Disclosure
The salary range for this role is $137,800 - $172,200 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 candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.
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.
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.