Staff Pre-Production Quality 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.

The Staff Pre-production Quality Engineer is a senior technical and leadership role accountable for defining, communicating, and executing the pre-production quality strategy across all launch phases.

In addition to end-to-end quality accountability for readiness across all launch phases, they serve as the primary reference for selected commodities and key validation processes, drive cross-functional alignment, and elevate quality standards through lessons learned, process efficiency, and mentorship.

• Translate program, design vision, engineering quality targets & standards, and leadership expectations, into clear phase-specific deliverables, actionable technical requirements and build instructions for pre-production and production teams. In addition to set priorities for next steps within team and cross-functional teams.

• Facilitate agreement on risks, priorities, and mitigation plans across Design, ME/PE, Production, Process / Corporate Quality, and Program teams.

• Act as the go-to technical contact for assigned commodities, guiding design, validation, and manufacturing decisions from a quality perspective.

• Own and refine at least one major validation process (RQA, Water Test, Quality Gates, etc.), ensuring it is robust, efficient, and aligned to build-in-quality principles.

• Provide in depth design for manufacture (DFM) feedback to the Product Engineering team to ensure that our assembly processes are cost efficient, robust and deliver high quality results.

• Proactively identify design, manufacturability, and feasibility risks; facilitate solutions that balance design intent and production reality.

• Solve technically complex problems using fundamental, data driven methodologies. Aptitude for learning systems quickly.

• Lead complex issue resolution; Direct cross-functional root cause validation and decision-making for high-impact issues, ensuring clear containment, corrective actions, and robust validation.

• Model best practices for RC and coach others on clear problem statements, evidence-based analysis, realistic implementation plans, and strong recurrence prevention

• Define and validate process capability.

• Help drive and ensure activities that span multiple teams are fully closed, including document updates, system updates, and communication of outcomes.

• Institutionalize lessons learned; Capture and embed lessons learned into standards, processes, and templates to drive continuous improvement across future launches.

• Audit and help develop Control Plans

• Audit and help develop inspection work instructions for Quality Gates based on specifications and standards.

• Establish and continuously refine processes for design handoffs, build events, sample reviews, and approvals to improve efficiency and reduce errors, in addition to developing and standardizing internal processes.

• Ensure all technical documentation, build instructions, quality gates, and material lists are accurate, complete, and promptly updated as changes occur.

• Create and deliver concise, insight-driven quality status for any launch phase, focusing on wins, key risks, and support needs tied to launch readiness. (Executive-ready reporting)

• Provide accurate, balanced updates in informal leadership touch points, maintaining discretion, clarity, and solution orientation (Confident informal communication)

• Mentor less-experienced engineers (RIV-5, interns, or group leaders), modeling high standards in technical depth, communication, and ownership.

• Up-level quality culture; Champion a build-in-quality mindset by influencing how teams think about risk, readiness, and the cost of inaction.

• BS/MS/PhD in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Business, or similar field/equivalent experience.

• 6+ years of quality experience in production or engineering environment.

• 4+ years’ experience launching products from prototype into series production

• Production Operations Knowledge - Has a firm understanding of how complex production lines operate including production control, material handling, supply chain, quality, and production team.

• Understanding of how the manufacturing validation process runs in relation to complex new products that stretch across various engineer teams and manufacturing centers/factories (methodology, validation plans, associated KPIs).

• Able to work under pressure while managing competing demands and tight deadlines of multiple simultaneous projects and challenges

• Team player - Ability to work in a fast-paced, highly ambiguous, multi-cultural environment with cross-functional teams.

• Demonstrated success influencing without direct authority, aligning leaders with competing priorities (quality vs cost vs timing vs scope).

• In‑depth understanding of technical documentation (drawings, specs, test plans, control plans, PFMEA outputs).

• In‑depth understanding of data management & transformation, including extracting, cleaning, and presenting data to drive decisions.

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with demonstrated experience using 8D or similar methods.

• Experience with 2D & 3D software (AutoCAD, Solidworks, and Catia)

• Experienced/High proficiency in AIAG Core Tools and significant CQI publications and standards.

• Detail oriented with strong record-keeping and organizational skills

• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally as required. (20%), travel may increase in time

Salary Range/Hourly Rate for Illinois Based Applicants: $125,800 - $157,200 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits Summary: Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment, and Rivian covers most of the premiums.

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

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.

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