Sr. QMS Engineer

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

Rivian is seeking a highly experienced Sr. Quality Engineer to play a critical role in the development, maintenance, and improvement of our Quality Management System (QMS). This individual will be instrumental in ensuring our operations adhere to the highest standards of quality and compliance. The Sr. QMS Engineer will be responsible for updating and authoring quality standards, coaching our internal auditing team, and driving continuous improvement initiatives across the organization. This role requires a proactive and detail-oriented professional with a strong understanding of QMS principles and a passion for fostering a culture of quality excellence. You will collaborate with various departments to implement robust quality processes, ensure regulatory compliance, and support the overall strategic quality objectives of the company.

Responsibilities

• Quality Management System (QMS) Support and Enhancement
• Maintain and improve the existing QMS documentation, ensuring compliance with relevant industry standards (e.g., ISO 9001, IATF 16949, or other applicable standards).
• Support the development and implementation of new QMS processes and procedures to enhance operational efficiency and product quality.
• Act as a subject matter expert for QMS-related inquiries and provide guidance to various departments on QMS requirements.
• Coordinate and support external audits (customer, regulatory, IATF 16949 certification) and drive timely and effective closure of any identified non-conformances.

• Standards Development and Management
• Lead the creation, review, and revision of internal quality standards, procedures, work instructions, and specifications.
• Ensure all controlled documentation is current, accurate, and effectively implemented throughout the organization.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts across departments to develop comprehensive and practical standards that reflect best practices.
• Manage the document control system for quality-related documentation.

• Auditing Team Coaching and Development
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and training to the internal audit team to enhance their auditing skills and understanding of QMS requirements.
• Support the planning and execution of the internal audit program, ensuring its effectiveness in identifying areas for improvement.
• Review internal audit reports, guide auditors in developing effective corrective action requests, and verify the closure of audit findings.
• Promote a culture of constructive auditing focused on process improvement and risk mitigation.

• Continuous Improvement Initiatives
• Identify, analyze, and lead continuous improvement projects related to quality processes, product quality, and QMS effectiveness.
• Utilize quality tools and methodologies to investigate quality issues, identify root causes, and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to quality, analyze trends, and report on progress to management.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and quality awareness throughout the organization.

Qualifications

Required Skills & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial), Quality Management, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in a quality engineering role with significant experience in Quality Management Systems.
• In-depth knowledge and practical application of IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 standards.
• Proven experience in writing, revising, and implementing quality standards, procedures, and work instructions.
• Strong experience with internal and external auditing processes.
• Proficiency in root cause analysis, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and drive data-driven decisions.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to train and coach others effectively.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or IATF 16949 Lead Auditor or 2nd Party Auditor certification.
• Experience in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing or advanced automotive technologies.
• Proficiency with QMS software and document control systems.
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive change.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $98,500 - $123,100 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). There is no fixed deadline for this application; applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until the role is filled or the opening is no longer needed.

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 [email protected].

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.