Staff Mechanical Engineer, Electric Machine Design

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

In this position, you will be working with the Electric Machine Mechanical Design team on the next generation of electric motor components for Rivian’s Electric Adventure Vehicles. You will support design, release, testing, and assembly of motor subcomponents and motor assemblies by completingpackaging studies, concept development, prototype builds, releasing production parts along with associated assembly documentation for systems that are currently in-production as well as for future products currently in-development.

Responsibilities

• Design sub-systems and components for electric motors and supporting mechanical structures with hands-on experiments & testing
• Utilize CATIA V6 for detailed 3D part generation/revision and 2D drawing layout, ensuring design completeness and accuracy utilizing GD&T
• Conduct stack-up analyses for parts and mating interfaces to inform components’ GD&T and manufacturing requirements
• Author motor component technical specifications, design validation plans (DVPs), test plans, and statements of work (SOWs) for internal and external use
• Manage suppliers with DFMA studies, recurring meetings, and open issue lists to ensure cost efficiency, quality, manufacturability, and reliability
• Troubleshoot, lead root cause analysis studies, and determine appropriate containment actions for quality and manufacturing issues with travel to vendors and Rivian plant(s)
• Cross-functional collaboration with various teams across Rivian to support R&D
• Design of tooling for testing and assembly, along with other development activities
• Ensure timely completion of project design deliverables, including designs, drawings, analyses, and other documentation as required.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience working in a fast-paced environment on the mechanical design of complex components
• Formal education in mechanical engineering or a similar discipline; B.S. minimum
• Proficiency with major 3D CAD software package; CATIA V6 experience preferred
• Professional experience with applying GD&T (ASME Y14.5), conducting stack-up analyses (linear & radial), and determining realistic tolerancing limits based on material and manufacturing methods
• Ability to perform structural hand-calculations and FEA studies
• Past work leading root cause analysis efforts and determining effective containment actions
• Knowledge of rapid prototyping, high-volume manufacturing processes, materials selection, and supply chains
• Hands-on experience with lab tools and measurement equipment
• Knowledge in DFMEA, DVP&R, and PFMEA
• Strong engineering fundamentals in the areas of materials, mechanics, dynamics, design for manufacturability, tolerancing, and high-precision metrology
• High-energy, open-minded attitude, willing to quickly iterate on designs and expand skillset as needed
• A wide degree of creativity and latitude with minimal supervision is expected

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is USD 137,800-182,520 for Southern 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.

You can apply for this role through careers.rivian.com (or through internal-careers-rivian.icims.com if you are a current employee). This job is not expected to be closed any sooner than February 6, 2026.

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.