Role Summary

The Staff Service Engineer, Thermal Management Systems plays a crucial role in overseeing all aspects of design for serviceability across current and future vehicle programs. This role requires a high level of independent judgment and cross-functional collaboration to embed a culture of serviceability within engineering. In this role, you will own and lead thermal management systems serviceability initiatives end-to-end and drive measurable improvements to service part strategy, tools, and processes across the Thermal domain.

The Staff Service Engineer, Thermal Management Systems will report directly to our Manager, Service Engineering. You will be expected to work in a hybrid capacity out of our Irvine, CA office.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of service parts strategies for thermal management systems, including the refrigerant loop, coolant loop, HVAC module, CRFM, and battery thermal management, across all applicable vehicle platforms.
• Represent Service Engineering in cross-functional Thermal architecture reviews to advocate for serviceability requirements early in the design process.
• Drive serviceability enhancements and process improvements across thermal subsystems using engineering and field data to identify and prioritize opportunities. Work with design release engineers to develop service part plans.
• Develop, validate, and maintain service repair procedures for thermal system components.
• Manage, monitor, and triage complex engineering changes to thermal components to assess their service impact and determine necessary actions before final review, including evaluating effects on service parts, special tools, diagnostic processes, and repair procedures.
• Collaborate with Design, Reliability, Service Documentation, Service Parts, and Thermal Controls engineering to analyze and manage engineering changes and their downstream service impact.
• Support root-cause investigations, Field Service Actions, Technical Service Bulletins, and containment efforts related to thermal system field issues.
• Support the definition of special tools and diagnostic requirements for thermal system service and repair.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of experience in service, aftersales, and engineering environments (or equivalent experience); Mechanical, Automotive, or related engineering discipline preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of Thermal Management Systems.
• Proven track record of independently leading design-for-serviceability initiatives and driving decisions with broad organizational impact.
• Experience with CAD/PLM tools (CATIA V5/V6, 3DEXPERIENCE/ENOVIA) for reviewing designs and managing bills of materials.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills; ability to influence stakeholders across Design, Manufacturing, Quality, and Field Service.
• Experience with Jira, Confluence, and related change/issue management tools.
• Ability to stand, sit, or walk for 8-10 hours per day.
• Required to communicate using phone and/or e-mail.
• Ability to view, read, and interpret documents.
• Ability to perform all duties in an office environment that may contain ambient noise and temperature fluctuations.
• Ability to independently lift and carry about 25lbs.
• Frequent use of hands to handle or feel material during quality inspections.
• Ability to perform all duties in a working environment that may contain dust, high noise levels, hot and cold weather

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $137,800 to $172,200 for Irvine, CA based applicants and $125,800 to $157,200 for Plymouth, MI. 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 October 2, 2026.

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