Sr. Electrical Systems Sustaining Engineer

About Rivian

Rivianis 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.

This role is critical to the ongoing success of in-market vehicle programs. You will be responsible for design support, validation, and issue resolution for these programs. You will partner closely with manufacturing, validation, service, suppliers, and program teams to investigate field and production issues, develop robust engineering changes, and verify solutions through analysis and test. The ideal candidate brings strong engineering judgment, hands‑on problem-solving, and the ability to move efficiently from issue identification through validated corrective action in support of vehicle quality, reliability, and continuous improvement.

• Support ongoing vehicle programs by investigating electrical system issues identified in manufacturing or field operations
• Develop and implement design changes to support improvements to vehicle quality, reliability, manufacturability, and serviceability
• Create and execute test plans to validate hardware and system-level changes, including bench and vehicle testing as needed
• Support troubleshooting on vehicles and test assets, including hands‑on debugging of electrical systems and interfaces to identify root cause and recommend effective corrective actions
• Work cross‑functionally with validation, manufacturing, service, supply chain, and program management teams to drive issue closure
• Prioritize sustaining activities across multiple ongoing programs while balancing timing, risk, and customer impact
• Drive continuous improvement in test methods, failure analysis, issue tracking, and engineering response processes

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering field
• 5+ years of experience with design and testing of integrated hardware & software systems
• Experience supporting launched or late‑stage products through issue investigation, design changes, validation, and cross‑functional execution
• Excellent electrical engineering fundamentals
• Familiarity with product development and change management processes for complex systems
• Experience developing and executing test plans and using data to evaluate design performance and corrective actions
• Demonstrated root cause analysis and hands‑on troubleshooting skills in vehicle, subsystem, or hardware environments
• Ability to work effectively across design, validation, manufacturing, reliability, service, and supplier teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document issues, recommendations, and test outcomes clearly
• Familiarity with autonomous vehicle sensing technologies

The salary range for this role is $132,100 - $165,100 for Palo Alto, CA-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…