Role Summary

The Controls Engineer is the production line expert for controls and automation systems at our facility in Normal, IL. This role combines heavy PLC programming with the strategic optimization of AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) systems to ensure the facility's "Method" (logic) and "Machine" (fleet) work in perfect synchronization. The team troubleshoots technical issues during production and designs upgrades for areas including Paint, Body, Battery, and General Assembly. This role reports directly to the Manager, AGV Maintenance and Repair.

Responsibilities

• Participate in various controls equipment buy-offs at vendor sites and at Rivian's factory in Normal, IL for FAT, SAT, and safety.
• Participate in development of controls standards and specifications by feeding back lessons-learned and gaps from each project.
• Architect the handshake between the AGVs and the FLP/SAP systems to automate replenishment triggers.
• Continuously improve production lines and fleet battery cycles by reducing cycle time, reducing downtime, and improving quality.
• Develop and maintain traffic control logic to prevent "deadlocks" and optimize system cycle time in alignment with Line Takt.
• Lead the ISO 3691-4 validation process, ensuring all safety fields, laser scanner zones, and emergency circuits meet performance levels (PLd/e)
• Design the communication protocols (PLC-to-PLC) between AGVs and lineside equipment like GFRs, lifts, and elevators.
• Act as the Level 2 escalation point for AGV Technicians when a system-wide logic error or network dropout occurs.
• Develop technical SOPs for the First Responders and define the "Recovery Method" for manual overrides in the Red Zone.
• Maintain, modify, and version control equipment programs and "Master Config" files for the fleet, ensuring hardware, PLC, HMI, Robot, and SCADA updates are deployed without disruption.
• Add or remove network devices from the equipment as needed, updating network switch configurations as needed.
• Troubleshoot, improve, and add features to PLCs using Ladder Logic and/or Structured Text with an emphasis on code that is organized, structured, documented, maintainable and reusable.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of Controls Engineering experience or equivalent work experience.
• BS/MS Electrical Engineering or equivalent work experience.
• Expertise with common controls hardware components used in high-volume manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience integrating and commissioning high volume manufacturing equipment.
• Solid understanding of Wi-Fi 6, 5G private networks, and PROFINET/EtherNet/IP protocols.
• Experience with high-level managers (e.g., Daifuku, JBT, Dematic, or custom Python-based fleet controllers).
• In-depth knowledge of Safety standards (ANSI/RIA15.06, OSHA) and industrial networking (Wi-Fi 6, 5G private networks).
• Certified knowledge of ISO 3691-4 and ISO 13849 (Safety of Machinery).
• Experience participating in safety design reviews and validating equipment safeties during buy-off.
• In-depth knowledge of Electrical Standards (NFPA79, National Electric Code, UL508A).
• Experience developing electrical schematics using EPLAN, AutoCAD Electrical, or similar.
• Experience writing standard and safety PLC projects from scratch for high-volume manufacturing equipment using Rockwell, Siemens, or Beckhoff PLCs.
• Experience creating HMI projects from scratch for high-volume manufacturing equipment using FactoryTalk View, WinCC, Ignition, Wonderware, TwinCAT HMI, or similar.
• Experience programming and troubleshooting industrial 6-axis robots such as Fanuc, ABB, Kawasaki, etc. is preferred.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $125,800 - $157,200 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). This job is not expected to be closed any sooner than August 20th 2026.

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