Role Summary

This is a technical individual contributor role that designs, builds, and operates the operations-side modeling and simulation systems for Rivian's remarketing business: inventory allocation, reconditioning capacity, disposition timing, logistics, and operating expense. The role develops multi-variable simulation and optimization models in Python and Databricks within Git-versioned repositories with code review, automated testing, and CI/CD, and translates operational levers into dollar-denominated outcomes.

The Sr. Data Engineer, Ops Decision Systems role combines applied data science, analytics engineering, and operations ownership: the role both engineers the simulation systems and is accountable for the quality of the operational decisions they inform. Success is measured by the technical robustness of the systems built and the integrity of the plans they produce.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate production simulation and optimization systems. Develop Python-based simulation models in Databricks as a member of a highly technical team designing interconnected models. Work in Git-versioned repositories with merge-request review, automated testing, and CI/CD pipelines (GitLab), and apply AI-assisted and agentic development workflows as a standard part of the engineering stack.
• Statistical and optimization model development. Design, validate, and maintain the models that drive operational decisions: reconditioning capacity and throughput models, operating-expense models, inventory allocation optimization, and disposition-timing models. Apply statistical, machine learning, and optimization methods, with backtesting and production performance monitoring.
• Operations data products and pipelines. Build and maintain the data models and pipelines that describe operational performance, covering inventory state, auction outcomes, reconditioning throughput and cost, logistics, and allocation, with data contracts, tests, and documentation that allow downstream decision systems and planning tools to consume them reliably.
• AI-augmented engineering. Apply AI-assisted and agentic development workflows as a first-class part of the engineering stack. Evaluate and integrate AI tooling into production engineering workflows and set the patterns the team follows.
• Network and capacity scenario engineering. Build and run multi-variable scenario models that optimize the physical infrastructure footprint, vehicle movement strategies, reconditioning capacity plans, and operational workflows across Remarketing operations. Vary levers systematically and narrow many candidate plans to defensible recommendations.
• Financial efficiency optimization. Model and trend resource-efficiency outcomes across all areas of operating expense, including reconditioning, storage capacity and utilization, and vehicle movements, and translate operational decisions into projected P&L outcomes over multi-year horizons.
• Supply deployment with business partners. Model the prioritization of units for reconditioning, the routing of vehicles toward demand, and the strategic deployment of inventory to maximize profit and stability. Work with customer-focused colleagues to integrate demand signals, and operationalize recommendations with Remarketing operations leadership, internal service and delivery partners, and external third-party partners.

Qualifications

• Proficiency with Python, SQL, and Databricks (or equivalent warehouse/lakehouse platform); experience with dbt or equivalent transformation frameworks.
• Experience with Git-based engineering workflows, code review, and CI/CD pipelines (GitLab or equivalent).
• Demonstrated experience owning production data infrastructure end-to-end, including data modeling, pipeline orchestration, testing, and deployment.
• Demonstrated ability to design and validate applied simulation and optimization models, including capacity modeling, operational optimization, or multi-variable simulation over multi-year horizons.
• Experience reasoning about supply/demand constraints, depreciation mechanics, holding costs, and operating expense, and translating operational decisions into dollar-denominated outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to translate ambiguous operational questions into production data products and durable models.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a quantitative or technical field (Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Industrial Engineering, or similar).
• Experience applying machine learning or deep learning methods to capacity, logistics, or operational forecasting problems.
• Experience integrating external APIs and third-party data sources into production data systems.
• Experience with AI-assisted development workflows and agentic coding tools.
• Experience in automotive, marketplace, e-commerce, supply chain, or adjacent operations domains.
• Familiarity with BI and analytics tools such as Hex, Looker, or equivalent.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $132,100 to $165,100 for Palo Alto, CA 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 Plan 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 July 31, 2026.