Role Summary
We are seeking a highly technical and experienced Senior Manager, Durability CAE to spearhead our structural simulation department. In this pivotal leadership role, you will direct a multidisciplinary engineering team performing high-fidelity CAE across Explicit Dynamics (e.g., high-energy chassis impacts, underbody strikes) and the Implicit Domain (e.g., static strength, fatigue, vibration).
As the technical anchor for virtual structural sign-offs, you will ensure our vehicle architectures achieve world-class durability and safety standards long before the first physical prototype is built. The ideal candidate brings a "master-level" background in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and a proven track record of scaling high-performing teams within an OEM or high-growth EV environment.
Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Strategic Oversight
• Virtual Validation Authority: Lead the structural durability and fatigue sign-offs for all critical systems, including Body-in-White (BIW), chassis, frames, and EV-specific battery structures.
• Advanced Simulation Management: Oversee complex, full-vehicle explicit simulations-including sand dune impacts, rock scrapes, and lateral curb strikes-while ensuring numerical stability through rigorous analysis of energy plots and mass scaling.
• Methodology Innovation: Drive the development of next-generation CAE workflows, focusing on advanced material failure modeling, in-house fatigue S-N curve generation, and the integration of AI/Machine Learning for automation.
• Test-to-Simulation Correlation: Lead correlation efforts using data from proving grounds and lab-based test rigs to ensure virtual models achieve high-fidelity replication of real-world physics.
Team Management & Organizational Growth
• Mentorship & Directing: Lead and grow a large team of CAE engineers, providing deep technical coaching and defining professional development pathways.
• Resource & Budget Strategy: Manage manpower allocation, project timelines, and software budgets to align CAE deliverables with aggressive vehicle program milestones.
• Cross-Functional Synergy: Partner closely with Design, Physical Testing, Materials, and Program teams to ensure structural integrity is prioritized during the earliest architectural phases.
• Quality & Standards: Establish robust simulation and reporting standards to ensure all technical presentations provide clear, actionable design recommendations to executive stakeholders.
Qualifications
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Automotive Engineering (Master's or Ph.D. strongly preferred).
• Experience: 10+ years in automotive CAE, including 3-5 years in a formal leadership or managerial role.
• Solver Mastery: Advanced proficiency in LS-DYNA (Explicit) and Abaqus, Nastran, or OptiStruct (Implicit). Understanding of multi-body dynamics and experience is a plus.
• Fatigue & Joining: Deep expertise in fatigue life prediction software (e.g., nCode DesignLife or FEMFAT) and the durability of metal joining methods.
• Software Stack: Expert-level command of pre/post-processing tools such as ANSA, HyperMesh, HyperView, or Meta/Post.
• Executive Presence: Ability to translate complex technical data into high-level insights that drive rapid, multi-domain design decisions.
Pay Disclosure
The salary range for this role is $196,000 - $245,000 for Southern California 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.
