Sr. Autonomy Data Collection and Prototyping, Vehicle Build and Up Engineer

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.

As the Data Collection & Prototyping:
Vehicle Build and Bring Up Engineer, you are the bridge between design engineering and the physical fleet. Your mission is to ensure that every vehicle or test rig in our prototyping facility achieves a successful Hardware and Software Bring‑Up as we scale our operations.

You aren’t just building a vehicle; you are building the process that builds the vehicle. You will design the automation, electrical checks, and diagnostic workflows that enable our operations team to deploy state‑of‑the‑art autonomy stacks with high confidence. Crucially, you ensure that every build is executed to a standard where data integrity enables downstream Data Science and ML consumers. You are responsible for the “technical handoff”—translating complex engineering requirements into robust, repeatable processes that empower operators to execute.

• Operational Handoff & Enablement:
  Lead the transition of complex build tasks from engineering‑only execution to operator‑led processes. You are responsible for creating the work procedures, intuitive tooling, and documentation that allow the wider operations team to take on high‑level tasks with zero loss in quality.
• Workflow Optimization:
  Apply Industrial and Process Systems principles to identify bottlenecks in the "Build → Upfit → Flash → Test" cycle, engineering solutions to reduce cycle time while maintaining build integrity.
• Bring‑Up Execution & Success:
  Own the end‑to‑end success of HW/SW bring‑up for the Data Collection fleet. This includes firmware flashing, sensor calibration, and network verification (Ethernet/CAN) to ensure the full autonomy data collection suite is "mission‑ready."
• Data Quality Assurance:
  Validate that every build meets the rigorous data‑logging standards required by downstream consumers. You are responsible for ensuring that sensor mounts, time‑sync protocols, and logging configurations are correct to prevent data corruption or bias.
• Hardware Upfit & Release Support:
  Lead the physical integration and modification of base vehicles into data collection platforms. Oversee the deployment of hardware releases across the prototype fleet, acting as the primary technical lead for "Day 0" deployments.
• End‑of‑Line (EOL) & Quality Validation:
  Develop and implement EOL testing tools specifically for the prototyping environment. This includes authoring custom UDS Routine Control sequences to automate electrical quality checks and service diagnostics.
• Cross‑Functional Empowerment:
  Act as the technical lead for the shop floor. Create the tools and documentation that enable technicians to take on high‑level tasks, ensuring clear communication and consistent execution.

• Education:
  
  B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Scaling & Operational
  
  Experience:
  
  3+ years of relevant experience in a prototyping or manufacturing environment, with a proven track record of scaling new, complex products through their early‑stage lifecycle.
• Industrial Systems & Build Orchestration: A background in Industrial or Systems Engineering with a passion for designing automated build sequences and "Standard Work" (SOPs). Ability to architect the "Logical Flow" of a build—ensuring hardware dependencies, software prerequisites, and validation steps are executed in the correct industrial sequence to optimize workflows and guarantee data integrity. You take pride in creating "Golden Build" processes that enable operations teams to successfully execute complex tasks through clear technical translation.
• Diagnostic Protocols:
  High proficiency with…