Sr. Simulation Engineer, Material Flow

About Rivian

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions‑free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.

As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

The Factory Design & Simulation team is at the core of Rivian's mission to redefine the future of automotive manufacturing. By turning industrial strategy into optimized value streams we enable production of market‑leading EVs  part of Digital Manufacturing Engineering & Automation we create standardized tools and processes for throughput and material flow simulations. By understanding high‑level factory goals and collaborating with teams designing individual systems, our team ensures the holistic factory design meets Rivian’s ambitious objectives.

Rivian is actively searching for a driven Simulation Engineer specializing in discrete event simulation to architect material flow systems for future projects. This position will closely collaborate with our Material Flow Team to achieve end‑to‑end design of material flow systems, from the initial concept phase to the final handoff of a detailed plan to the operations team.

This position requires a comprehensive grasp of Material Flow principles, complemented by a strong proficiency in simulation modeling. We seek candidates who solve complex problems using a first‑principles approach and possess an intrinsic drive for design optimization. The successful candidate will thrive in a fast‑paced environment, contributing to an agile, highly motivated team. You should be meticulous, analytical, and collaborative, with the ability to think at a systems level about ambiguous challenges and apply logical reasoning to build models that guide optimal factory design outcomes.

Join us in our mission to Keep the World Adventurous Forever.

This position is located at our Normal, IL or Stanton Springs North, GA, facilities and relocation is mandatory. The role will report directly to a Manager, Manufacturing Engineering.

• Construct comprehensive, end‑to‑end material flow simulation models covering the complete Bill of Materials for upcoming products and factory expansions, with a focus on optimizing key variables like facility footprint, labor efficiency, and overall throughput.
liEngineer and deploy custom modules, objects, and tailored Flex Script, Simtalk solutions to create sophisticated simulations for intricate material flow challenges.
• Execute capacity planning analyses to guarantee precise resource and equipment allocation for the engineered system, including material handling staff, warehouse capacity, and MHE.
• Critically evaluate the assumptions underlying current manufacturing designs and base your design recommendations on a first‑principles methodology.
• Work together with cross‑functional partners in layout design, production control, infrastructure, and manufacturing design to ensure the proper material flow strategies are executed and to assess solutions for complex comparison scenarios.
• Develop and sustain digital twin models to effectively test and validate the designs of factory operations, warehouses, and material flow systems.
• Recommend improvements in dock capacity, route planning, storage capacity, lot quantity and kitting design.
• Co‑de‑develop standards for discrete event simulation models.

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering, or Computer Science.
• 5+ years of experience in industrial or manufacturing engineering, with focus on applying discrete event simulation to enhance material flow, supply chain logistics, or process efficiency.
• Familiarity with creating new features and modules within discrete event simulation platforms using Flex Script, Simtalk, C++, and/or Python.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills and ability to manage several projects at…