Subject Matter Expert, Crash Structures at Rivian California

Role Summary

The SME – Structural Crash is a senior system‑level engineering role responsible for defining, executing, and validating vehicle strategies to achieve superior crash performance in compliance with FMVSS, UNECE, US NCAP, and Euro NCAP regulations. This role combines technical expertise, strategic vision, and cross‑functional influence to optimize vehicle safety, energy management, and HW domains. The SME leads concept development, designs validation methods, oversees vehicle build‑up, and ensures robust execution of crash performance strategies.

• Lead strategy, concept, and execution for crash performance, influencing vehicle architecture and program decisions.
• Design, evaluate, and implement multiple validation methods, leveraging first principles, physical testing, CAE guidance, and cross‑domain integration to optimize predictive accuracy and program efficiency.
• Develop vehicle‑level integration plans, coordinating structures, and related domains.
• Utilize first principles, test, and CAE guidance to predict system‑level behavior and evaluate design alternatives.
• Oversee component, subsystem, and vehicle‑level testing, ensuring proper build‑up, instrumentation, and correlation with CAE predictions.
• Creation, review and management of safety hard points across all design phases.
• Define, execute, and refine test plans aligned with DVP and regulatory requirements and consumer protocol targets.
• Identify potential performance gaps, provide solutions, and balance trade‑offs across safety, cost, HW domains, and program timelines.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure system‑level optimization.
• Serve as technical authority for crash on all programs.
• Mentor engineering teams on system‑level integration, method development, and crash strategy.
• Monitor global crash standards (FMVSS, UNECE, NCAP, IIHS) and integrate best practices into programs.
• Track and report program‑level metrics, including first‑pass performance, correlation accuracy, and method effectiveness.
• Deep expertise in vehicle crash performance, including load path design, energy management, and system interactions.
• Perform system‑level engineering and integration, connecting multiple vehicle domains for optimized crash performance.
• Strong background in vehicle build‑up, testing, validation, and method design, leveraging CAE, first principles, and physical tests.
• Innovate and develop new methods for validation, integration, and predictive modeling of crash performance.
• Strong problem‑solving and trade‑off analysis skills, balancing safety, performance, cost, and HW domains.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills, able to present complex technical trade‑offs to leadership and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams, drive decisions without direct authority, and manage multiple priorities.
• Proactive, results‑driven, with a strategic mindset to anticipate challenges and ensure successful program outcomes.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field.
• 15+ years of experience in automotive safety, vehicle testing, or system integration.
• Ability to travel to vehicle and component launch locations.
• Strong working knowledge of FMVSS, ECE, NCAP and other automotive safety evaluation.
• Proven project management experience, with expertise in tracking milestones, managing risks, and coordinating teams.
• Strong problem‑solving skills, with the ability to anticipate and address potential roadblocks in safety system development.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, ensuring clear expectations and structured execution of safety initiatives.

Salary Range/Hourly Rate range for California Based Applicants: $171,100–$213,900 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental, and vision insurance packages for full‑time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment, and Rivian covers most of the premiums.

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all…