Sr. Staff Electrical FA Engineer

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.

Reliability is at the core of Electric Adventure Vehicles. This position is in Irvine, CA, at the centre of Rivian's Engineering and R&D hub. As a Sr. Staff Electrical FA Engineer on the Irvine Failure Analysis team, you will play a key role in generating insight through conducting failure analysis investigations using industry-leading high voltage test equipment for proof, diagnostic, breakdown, and preventive maintenance testing for all Rivian products from the vehicle to component level.

The Senior Staff Electrical FA Engineer will perform both deep dive and rapid response triage level failure analysis investigations, specializing in the high voltage electrical and energy storage systems within the vehicles.

• Be an integral part of the EE failure analysis team in the Irvine FA lab. Work closely with the electrical FA engineers on the team both in Irvine, CA and in the production facility Normal, IL.

• Perform both deep dive and rapid response triage failure analysis investigations, specializing in the entire vehicle's power electronics, HVDB, DC/DC charging, Inverters and energy storage systems.

• Have a thorough understanding of electrical testing methods and their limitations, and a working knowledge in the procurement of the equipment used for HVEE failure analysis such as HiPot Testers, Emulators, DC Power Analyzers, HV Power Supples, High Current Bond Testers, High Voltage Differential Probes, HV Breakout Box, MOhm Meters and electrochemical impedance measurement (EIS) systems.

• Collaborate with existing engineering teams (e.g. power conversion, power train, battery cell, materials development, etc.) to help define the needs for power electronics and battery specific failure analysis, and identify where they may need help in development of manufacturing processes, or validation of predictive models, etc. Maintain a constant dialogue on the existing and growing capabilities of the FA team.

• Perform failure analysis activities for incidents originating from reliability testing for new product development and from fielded systems. Assure that root cause is identified at the most detailed level.

• Prepare failure analysis reports with exceptional visualizations and direct the communication and presentation of findings to project teams and at executive reviews.

• Work with reliability engineering and testing to recreate failure modes that are intermittent or hard to replicate. Utilize environmental testing equipment, HALT and other methods to be able to precipitate failures as a precursor to in depth failure analysis. Use results to field and the best path in terms of addressing the finding with the cross functional teams.

• MSc/PhD in Electrical Engineering and 10/5+ years relevant industrial experience, preferably in the automotive industry.

• Strong academic background and/or experience in the testing and analysis of EE components, power electronics, HVDB's, DC/DC charging, inverters, and energy storage sub-systems and batteries

• Experience performing failure analysis investigations is required.

• Hands on experience with the application of, and hands on use of, metrology equipment such as oscilloscopes, optical microscopy, parametric and signal analyzers, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, a working knowledge of the common equipment used for HVEE failure analysis such as HiPot Testers, Emulators, DC Power Analyzers, HV Power Supplies, High Current Bond Testers, High Voltage Differential Probes, HV Breakout Box, MOhm Meters and electrochemical impedance measurement (EIS) for use in detailed battery cell characterization and failure analysis.

• Familiarity with various rechargeable lithium-ion battery chemistries and their fundamental failure mechanism theories is highly desirable.

• Hands on experience with other materials characterization equipment such as optical microscopes, scanning electron microscopes (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), cross sectioning equipment, decapsulating chemicals, CT-scanning, 2D X-ray, etc. is desirable.

• Experience of preparing formal reports summarizing analysis data and results.

• A desire to create a respectful, fun, inclusive and inspiring team and company culture is a must

Salary Range/Hourly Rate for California Based Applicants: $159,200-$199,000 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits Summary: Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment, and Rivian covers most of the premiums.

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.

Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes ("Candidate Personal Data"). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian's service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.