Lead Engineer Supplier Development - Exteriors & Lighting

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.

Role Summary

The Rivian Supply Chain team is looking for strategic technical leaders to drive the quality and reliability of our vehicle programs. As a Lead Engineer Supplier Development, you are an advanced individual contributor and subject matter expert responsible for the complete supplier quality lifecycle, from initial sourcing to ongoing business management. You act as a leader with minimal manager input, taking direct ownership of the most critical and highest-risk suppliers to ensure a seamless production ramp.

In this role, you lead the resolution of complex manufacturing issues and partner with cross-functional leadership to drive systemic change across the organization. You are responsible for identifying and mitigating high-impact risks, serving as a technical mentor, and providing the expert-level analysis necessary to influence critical sourcing and design decisions. We are looking for an expert who can drive accountability with suppliers at the executive level and advocate for the team's needs in major program reviews.

This position is based onsite in Plymouth, Michigan with a 30-40% domestic and international travel requirement and reports to the Senior Manager of Supplier Development.

Responsibilities

• Supplier Management: Own the complete "Cradle to Grave" supplier quality lifecycle to ensure seamless production ramps. Manage critical CL0 and CL1 suppliers, resolving failures to mitigate risks or delays.
• Problem-Solving and Risk Mitigation: Lead the breaking down of complex problems and datasets to derive meaningful, actionable results. Apply standard, robust problem-solving tools to address systemic issues across the supply base.
• Technical Skills: Lead high-complexity APQP/PPAP projects impacting major program milestones. Optimize supplier quality KPIs to predict and prevent future failures, aligning project efforts with long-term goals.
• Organizational Influence & Outreach: Act as a key advisor to program leadership, presenting and defending strategic recommendations in high-stakes forums. Drive systemic cross-functional change using first principles to persuade other functions to adopt new processes.
• Direction: Operate as a leader with minimal manager input, holding accountability for the performance of suppliers and cross-functional teams. Act instinctively to manage and prioritize complex workloads in high-pressure situations.

Qualifications

• Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field and a minimum of 6 years of relevant supplier development experience.
• Domain Expertise: Full understanding of the procurement end-to-end lifecycle and experience managing high-risk supplier portfolios.
• Commodity-Specific Experience: Experience in Automotive Lighting and Exterior components, A-Class Surface Parts with gloss and color requirements, and a strong understanding of manufacturing processes such as Injection & Blow Molding and Sheet Metal Forming are highly preferred.
• Technical Skills: Primary owner of the business case and execution for significant process improvement initiatives.
• Communication: Interpreter of information who can facilitate productive conversations and gain buy-in for a clear vision.
• Execution: Expert analysis and recommendations directly influence critical sourcing decisions and capital investments.
• Operational Style: Operates as a leader with minimal manager input, holding accountability for the performance of suppliers/cross-functional teams; navigates high-pressure situations by reaching beyond defined scope to solve problems.
• Travel Requirements: Regular domestic and international travel is a core part of this role, expected to average between 30-40% annually.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $114,100 - $142,600 for Plymouth, Michigan 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…