Role SummaryAs a Sr. Staff Manufacturing Engineer for Power Electronics, you will serve as the principal technical authority bridging internal Design Release Engineers (DREs), Manufacturing Engineering (ME), and external supplier/Contract Manufacturer (CM) partners. You will ensure that future suppliers are rigorously vetted and that their manufacturing capabilities, processes, and equipment setups are sufficiently robust, reliable, and scalable before sourcing decisions and design locks are finalized.
In this role, you will evaluate and vet suppliers manufacturing critical power electronics components, including high pressure die-cast housings, high-voltage busbars, LV/HV headers, seals, DC link capacitors, metal brackets, EMI filter cores, and power modules used across traction inverters, DC charging power electronics modules, and energy management control units (EMCUs). Additionally, you will drive DFM/DFx reviews, partner with automation/equipment
integrators on process development, validate equipment capability (Cp/Cpk, GR&R), and support pilot line stand-up through full NPI and production ramp.
This position is based at our Carson, CA facility and reports directly to the Power Electronics Mechanical Engineering Director.
Responsibilities- Lead end-to-end technical vetting, auditing, and approval of potential suppliers, CMs, and equipment integrators. Conduct process capability evaluations, run-at-rate audits, and facility reviews (on candidate line setups or equivalent production lines) to prove supplier capability matches ramp plans prior to sourcing
- Work side by side with mechanical design engineers to optimize power electronics assemblies for producibility, establish vendor-aligned design rules, reduce BOM cost and complexity, and resolve process risks prior to design freeze
- Evaluate and validate manufacturing processes, tooling, and fixtures across core supplier components, including high-pressure die castings, HV/LV headers and busbars, seals, DC link capacitors, metal brackets, EMI filter cores, and power modules
- Lead technical reviews of machine requirements and equipment designs with third-party automation suppliers. Drive formal equipment qualification processes, including system correlation, process capability analysis, and Gage Repeatability & Reproducibility (GR&R)
- Partner with internal manufacturing teams and sourced integrators on pilot line setups, shop layout optimization, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), and line handover for next-generation power electronics production lines (e.g.,900V EMCU and SPIM)
- Lead architecture reviews and design phase gate decisions, ensuring solutions are scalable, manufacturable and aligned with program objectives
- Design and engineer complex subsystems including high-pressure die castings, injection-molded plastics, busbars, sheet metal, HV/LV harnesses, sealing interfaces and PCBA mechanical integration
- Own the full mechanical release cycle in ENOVIA, governing data integrity, design maturity and BOM accuracy across multiple concurrent programs
- Drive weekly technical reviews with suppliers to resolve open design items, enforce DFM alignment, and maintain delivery commitments
- Act as the senior technical escalation point for Supplier Quality on critical path issues
- Support the generation of high-impact engineering documents including Component Technical Specifications (CTS), Statements of Work (SOW), system-level DFMEAs, and assembly manuals
- Implement data-driven methodologies for workmanship, maintenance, process controls, and end-to-end data retention/traceability. Drive yield improvement initiatives and eliminate manufacturing bottlenecks to ensure supplier capacity meets demand
- Lead structured root-cause and corrective action investigations (8D, 5-Whys) for process and prototype failures, leveraging advanced analytical failure techniques (e.g., Optical Inspection, X-Ray, Cross-Sectioning, SEM)
- Function as a technical program bridge across ME, testing, DREs, Supply Chain, and executive leadership to align program schedules, manage risks, and ensure transparent status reporting
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering or a related engineering discipline; Master's degree preferred
- 8+ years of progressive engineering experience in manufacturing engineering, supplier industrialization, or DFM roles, with a focus on high-volume automation, precision assembly, and tooling development
- Proven track record vetting, auditing, and managing external suppliers, contract manufacturers (CMs), and equipment integrators
- Hands-on process engineering experience with precision joining (laser welding, dispensing, heat staking, mechanical fasteners), thermal interface material (TIM) application, high-pressure die casting, and injection molding
- Deep experience in manufacturing process verification, including equipment capability testing, GR&R, run-at-rate audits, and statistical process control (SPC)
- Expert command of GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and a track record developing tolerance stack-up analysis for complex power electronics assemblies
- Familiarity with failure analysis techniques (e.g., X-Ray, CSAM, SEM, EDS, Cross-Sectioning)
- Demonstrated ability to lead structured root-cause analysis (8D, Fishbone, 5-whys) on complex field and manufacturing failures
- Experience working with high-voltage automotive power electronics assemblies (e.g.,traction inverters, electrified powertrains, EMCUs, DC fast charging modules, or battery systems)
- Excellent cross-functional leadership, negotiation, and communication skills to influence external partners and internal engineering teams
- Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally to support supplier audits, CM activities, and equipment commissioning
- Familiarity with 3D CAD software (CATIA V5/V6 preferred)
Pay DisclosureThe salary range for this role is USD 176,200-220,300 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.
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 October 15th, 2026.
Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services. 
