Role SummaryThe Rivian Supply Chain team is looking for strategic technical leaders to drive the financial health of our vehicle programs. As a Lead Cost Engineer, you are an advanced individual contributor and subject matter expert serving as the primary authority for complex commodities and systems. You act autonomously to evaluate strategic cost trade-offs, develop high-level business cases, and influence engineering and purchasing strategies at a systemic level. In this role, you lead system-level analysis and partner with cross-functional leadership to drive organizational change through technical expertise. You are responsible for solving complex challenges, mentoring junior engineers, and providing the "big picture" financial insights necessary to guide major business decisions. We are looking for an expert who can articulate the financial health of an entire portfolio to executive leadership while advocating for the team's strategic goals. This position is based on site in Plymouth, MI and reports to the Manager, Cost Engineering Interior, Thermal, Powertrain, & Adventure Products.
Responsibilities- Knowledge Base: Serves as the primary authority for assigned commodities, possessing deep knowledge covering strategic implications of cost drivers, manufacturing processes, and market trends.
- Presentation & Storytelling: Articulates the overall financial health, risks, and strategic opportunities of a portfolio of parts to a wider, non-expert audience.
- Technical Skills: Expert in deconstructing highly complex assemblies and applying first principles to validate data and strategically influence business decisions.
- Organizational Influence & Outreach: Serves as the go-to person for cost information and influences stakeholders by building a compelling narrative and data-driven business case.
- Direction: Acts instinctively to manage and effectively prioritize a complex workload with little manager input while persevering in the face of setbacks.
Qualifications- Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field and a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience.
- Domain Expertise: Evaluates complex cost trade-offs, develops business cases for design changes, and uses financial data to actively influence sourcing and engineering strategies.
- Commodity-Specific Cost Estimation Experience:
- Powertrain - gears, mechanical/electrical components & assembly
Rivian Internal - Restraints - develop new cost models, mechanical/electrical components & assembly
- Interior - assembly models development - seat JIT, instrument panel, console
- Manufacturing processes (castings, forging, broaching, powder metal, stamping, plastic injection molding, rubber molding, surface finishes)
- Technical Skills: Acts as the primary technical mentor, providing expert-level training on all cost engineering tools and autonomously customizing modeling tools.
- Communication: Defines and models how the Cost Engineering team communicates its value.
- Execution: Reaches beyond their defined scope to solve problems and implements systemic changes and improvements internal and external to their function.
- Operational Style: Consistently leads with first principles to identify and implement systemic changes and high-impact outcomes.
- Travel Requirements: Ability and willingness to travel as needed based on business needs, expected to average between 10 - 15 % .
Pay DisclosureThe salary range for this role is $125,800 - $157,200 for Plymouth, Michigan 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 September 17, 2026.
