Materials Welding Technician

Role Summary

The Materials Welding Technician will support the Materials Engineering team by increasing validation throughput for welding and joining work, with a primary focus on coupon preparation, cut-and-etch, metallographic sample prep, weld performance validation testing, and weldability DOE execution for steel and light‑metal applications. This role is intended to support engineers and SDEs working on welding specifications, production joints, supplier quality, and durability‑critical validation activities across current and future Rivian programs.

This position will be joining‑focused, with the core scope centered on steels and light metals, while also providing secondary support to adjacent lab activities such as corrosion and reliability testing as required by program priorities.

• Execute welding validation activities for development and production‑related programs, including coupon builds, welding trials, welding schedule evaluations, and structured DOE support for steels and light metals.
• Prepare and evaluate welded samples through sectioning, mounting, polishing, cut‑and‑etch, macro/micro review, and related lab characterization methods to assess weld quality and joint performance.
• Partner with Materials Engineers, Welding Engineers, and Supplier Development Engineers to generate data needed for weld specifications, production joint validation, and supplier issue resolution.
• Maintain accurate records of test setups, welding parameters, sample traceability, weld inspections and characterization, and results to support engineering decisions and formal reporting.
• Help prepare samples and fixtures for mechanical, metallographic, corrosion, and reliability‑related lab work as needed to support broader Materials Engineering priorities.
• Support lab organization, equipment upkeep, consumables management, and safe operating practices for welding and materials characterization activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of test methods, lab workflows, and validation turnaround time.

• Associate's degree in mechanical, materials and welding technology with 5 years of hands‑on experience in welding technology, materials testing, or a related field.
• Hands‑on experience with welding validation or fabrication support in an engineering, manufacturing, supplier, or laboratory environment.
• Experience in preparing and evaluating weld samples, including sectioning, polishing, etching, and dimensional or visual assessment of weld quality.
• Working knowledge of common joining processes used for sheet or structural metallic assemblies, especially resistance spot welding; broader familiarity with GMAW, laser welding, or other joining methods is a plus.
• Ability to execute test plans with good discipline, maintain traceable records, and communicate clear observations to engineers and technicians.
• Comfortable working in a hands‑on lab setting with fixtures, saws, polishers, microscopes, and related test equipment.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and safety.
• Willingness to learn new techniques, processes, and test methods as the team grows.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Welding, or Materials Engineering or 8 years of industry experience.
• Experience supporting weld development for automotive steel and aluminum applications.
• Familiarity with metallography, weld cross‑sections, button size evaluation, peel/chisel checks, or mechanical test sample preparation.
• Advanced metallographic preparation and imaging such as cross‑polarization color etching, dissimilar metals multi‑process etching, electrolytic etching, and submicron surface preparation.
• Experience in a broader range of materials characterization techniques, such as optical microscopy, hardness test, tensile test, etc.
• Exposure to corrosion or durability‑related lab testing.

The hourly pay range for this role is $34.17 - $42.71 for Illinois based applicants. 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…