Role Summary

The Staff Studio Engineer partners with Design, Surfacing, Engineering, Manufacturing, suppliers, and other cross-functional teams to turn ambitious vehicle themes and Adventure Products concepts into feasible, high-quality, production-ready designs. This part of the role is primarily for Interior components.

This role is primarily focused on Studio Engineering and includes some Design & Release ownership for assigned Adventure Products components and assemblies. As the technical owner for assigned parts, you will be accountable for requirements, technical decisions, integration, release quality, and production readiness from concept through launch across multiple vehicle lines.

Responsibilities

Studio Engineering & Theme Development

• Partner with Design and Surfacing to assess theme feasibility, develop packaging solutions, and protect design intent while meeting engineering and manufacturing requirements.
• Create and present CAD concepts, section studies, 3D models, 2D drawings, and related design data using CATIA V6/3DEXPERIENCE.
• Lead technical discussions and resolve interface issues involving hard points, clearances, vehicle targets, and system-level requirements.
• Guide Design, Surfacing, and Product Development teams toward feasible solutions while communicating engineering inputs, program changes, and technical risks.
• Support benchmarking, clay and craftsmanship activities, master-section development, rapid prototypes, and design reviews as needed.

Adventure Products Design & Release

• Own the technical development and release of assigned Adventure Products components and assemblies across the program lifecycle: concept, design maturation, sourcing, prototype builds, validation, production release, launch, and post-launch support, as applicable.
• Own component requirements, key attributes, interfaces, and their cascade from vehicle and system targets; drive technical decisions, integration, release quality, and production readiness.
• Own the engineering data and release process in ENOVIA/PLM, including CATIA data, 2D drawings, GD&T, EBOM/BOM data, effectivity, engineering changes, release approvals, and supporting documentation.
• Develop and maintain requirements, DFMEAs, DVPs/DVPRs, and validation plans; review test results, support component and system validation, and drive issues and residual risk to closure using first-principles problem solving and root-cause analysis.
• Lead or support prototype, first-article, and production-article reviews and ensure validation evidence supports release decisions.
• Apply design-for-manufacturing principles across materials and processes such as injection molding, compression molding, over-molding, sheet metal, machining, castings, die castings, and fabric parts.
• Develop RFQ and technical specification packages; collaborate with suppliers and Manufacturing to review proposals, develop tooling and production-feasible designs, and manage supplier deliverables to program timing.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Supplier Quality, Design Quality, and Operations on DFM, tooling, quality, PPAP, production readiness, and resolution of plant or launch issues.
• Coordinate with cross-functional partners to balance design intent, quality, durability, cost, mass, timing, compliance, and customer experience.

Team Leadership

• Communicate decisions, risks, and recommendations clearly to technical teams and leadership; facilitate alignment when priorities or requirements conflict.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to Studio Engineering and Design & Release standards, methods, and best practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical, Automotive, Product Design Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Senior or lead Design & Release experience in automotive product development, ideally across concept, component, packaging, Studio Engineering, or style-sensitive products.
• Experience owning complex parts or sub-assemblies through multiple program phases, influencing cross-functional decisions, and mentoring less-experienced engineers.
• Strong CATIA V6/3DEXPERIENCE capability, including 3D modeling, surfacing, section studies, assemblies, and 2D drawings.
• Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, design validation, DFMEA, DVPs, and engineering change and release processes.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, tooling, materials, and supplier development for style-sensitive products.
• Working knowledge of applicable safety, legal, regulatory, homologation, and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to work across Design, Surfacing, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, suppliers, and program teams.
• Strong communication, presentation, organization, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• A creative, collaborative, and technically rigorous approach, with strong attention to aesthetics, perceived quality, feasibility, and the customer experience.

Additional Information

• This role is based in Irvine, California.
• The position may require occasional travel to support suppliers, testing, builds, and production activities.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $137,800 - $172,200 for 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.