Staff Software Engineer - Manufacturing Automation Controls Platform

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 looking for visionary, boundary-breaking software and controls engineers who will be responsible for redefining the standards for manufacturing engineering automation, unlocking the potential of innovative technologies across our assembly lines.

As a Software Engineer on the Manufacturing Automation Controls Platform Development team, your primary focus will be on developing and architecting company-wide standards rather than line deployment. You will leverage a hybrid skill set-combssining deep industrial controls domain knowledge with modern software engineering practices. Beyond building core PLC libraries in traditional IEC 61131-3 languages, you will develop software infrastructure, automatic code generation tools, CI/CD deployment pipelines, and static analyzers for controls code. Additionally, you will engineer scalable Ignition HMI/SCADA templates and design custom software tooling that enables end-user controls engineers to configure and deploy projects easily without needing to open the designer environment.

These are exciting times for the Manufacturing Automation Controls team, and we need your unique talents to architect the next generation of automation tools and ensure Rivian continues to Keep the World Adventurous Forever. This role is located at our Atlanta, GA facilitiy and reports directly to a Sr. Manager, ME Software Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Platform & Standards Engineering: Architect, build, and maintain enterprise controls standards, reusable PLC libraries, and HMI/SCADA platform modules for deployment across manufacturing operations.
• Developer Tooling & Automation: Design and implement software tools to streamline the engineering lifecycle, including automated PLC code generators, static code analysis tools, and unit testing frameworks.
• CI/CD & DevOps: Establish automated continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines for controls codebase testing, versioning, and deployment.
• No-Code / Low-Code Tooling: Develop higher-level user applications and interfaces that allow end-user engineers to configure, parameterize, and implement automation projects without needing direct access to the HMI/SCADA designer environment.
• HMI / SCADA Frameworks: Create modular, high-performance HMI templates and SCADA architectures using Inductive Automation Ignition, with a heavy emphasis on the Perspective platform.
• Database & Data Integration: Architect schema designs and data interfaces linking PLCs and edge platforms with relational databases for configuration, recipe management, and line diagnostic tracking.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with manufacturing line deployment teams, device integration teams, and enterprise IT/MES groups to align standards, validate data propagation, and improve cell bring-up efficiency.

Qualifications

• Experience: 7+ years of software and automation controls engineering experience in high-volume manufacturing, platform engineering, or an equivalent advanced technical field.
• High-Level Programming Languages: Strong proficiency in modern software development using languages such as Python, Go, C#, or C++ for tool building, API creation, or automated generation pipelines.
• PLC Expertise: Advanced proficiency with either Rockwell (Studio 5000/Logix) or Beckhoff (TwinCAT) PLCs, including mastery of traditional IEC 61131-3 languages (Structured Text, Ladder Logic, Function Block Diagram).
• HMI/SCADA Platform Mastery: Demonstrated proficiency in Inductive Automation Ignition, with deep experience architecting applications in the Ignition Perspective module.
• Software Engineering Practice: Solid foundation in source control (Git), software design patterns, build pipelines, and CI/CD tools.
• Database Management: Practical experience designing, querying, and integrating industrial equipment with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, MS SQL Server).
• Education: BS, MS, or equivalent in Automation Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical discipline.
• Industrial Networking & Communications: Working knowledge of industrial communication protocols (EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, OPC UA, MQTT).

Location & Travel Expectation

This position will initially be based out of our Atlanta, GA office, offering a dynamic hub to collaborate and build core platform tools. As our state-of-the-art Rivian Georgia Manufacturing Plant opens, the team will transition on-site to directly support line launches and platform implementations. Candidates should be comfortable relocating to the facility's location upon its opening.

To ensure successful cross-site integration and hands-on validation of new standards during early development, initial travel to supplier facilities and active Rivian build sites may be up to 50%. Once the Georgia facility is operational, travel requirements will decrease significantly to a light, routine baseline.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $140,600-$175,800 for Georgia 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 10/1/2026.

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.