Senior Sustaining Reliability 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. 

Role Summary

Reliability is at the core of Electric Adventure Vehicles. We are looking for engineers who have experience in driving reliability improvements for products in the field throughout their lifecycle by working closely with design, validation and manufacturing teams on solving technical problems along the way to make the most robust products. If some of the first things that come to your mind when looking at a complex design is “what are the ways this thing can fail and how can I make it better?” then, we are looking for you!

Responsibilities

As a Sustaining Reliability Engineer, you will play a key role in maintaining the reliability of Rivian's HV Battery, Drive Unit, Low Voltage Electrical, and High Voltage Electrical systems from start of production through the product life cycle.

• Define and oversee ongoing reliability testing requirements for components, subsystems, and assemblies by leveraging established quality and reliability targets.
• Analyze Design and Production FMEAs to derive comprehensive ongoing reliability testing plans for serial production, ensuring sustained product reliability throughout the lifecycle.
• Collaborate with the reliability team to engineer accelerated test requirements that guarantee product quality and reliability across the entire production lifecycle.
• Develop and specify reliability validation plans for critical components and subsystems utilizing a robust physics-of-failure methodology.
• Determine optimal sample sizes and test durations for reliability validation programs using statistical analysis and reliability modeling.
• Lead root cause failure analysis (RCFA) for testing-related failures, driving cross-functional resolution and implementing corrective actions.
• Manage partnerships with internal and external testing facilities to execute and oversee complex ongoing reliability testing programs.
• Conduct ongoing risk assessments throughout the reliability program lifecycle and communicate findings clearly to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Field Reliability and Failure Analysis teams to integrate critical lessons learned into future product designs and development cycles.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in an engineering discipline or equivalent; one or more years of industry experience in a reliability engineering role is preferred (level commensurate with experience).
• Strong technical background with a passion for reliability engineering.
• Proficiency in Ongoing Reliability Testing, Highly Accelerated Stress Screening (HASS), and applying governing equations to various failure mechanisms.
• Experience utilizing DFMEAs and PFMEAs to ensure continuous product reliability.
• Solid understanding of the physics of failure, particularly for mechanical and structural components, including fracture mechanics and materials science.
• Demonstrated expertise in root cause analysis techniques and test program development.
• Working knowledge of a coding language (Python preferred) and statistical reliability software (e.g., JMP or the ReliaSoft suite).
• A desire to contribute to a respectful, fun, inclusive, and inspiring team culture.

Pay Disclosure

The salary range for this role is $146,900 - $183,600 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 meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com. 

You can apply for this role through careers.rivian.com (or through internal-careers-rivian.icims.com if you are a current employee). 

Equal Opportunity

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 [email protected].

Candidate Data Privacy and Technology

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.  

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process: To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Rivian uses iCIMS Talent Cloud Artificial Intelligence (TCAI) and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role.

AI does not make hiring decisions: Qualified candidate applications are reviewed by a member of our team, and all decisions throughout the process are made by humans. We use AI to support efficiency and consistency, not to replace human judgment. We are committed to a fair, thoughtful, and equitable experience for every candidate.

Participation in AI profile matching is entirely voluntary. If you prefer that your profile not be used in this process, you can opt out at any time. Opting out means your profile will be excluded from automated matching and will not be surfaced for additional roles through this system. Your current application remains active and will not be affected in any way.

Interview Integrity & AI Policy 

Our interview process is designed to evaluate your personal technical foundation, real-time problem-solving logic, and structured capabilities. Therefore, the use of assistive generative AI tools to formulate or deliver your solutions during live interview sessions is not permitted. We care most about how you think — how you make sense of unclear requirements, weigh trade-offs, and explain why you chose one approach over another. We value your unique human perspective, your authenticity, and the journey it takes to reach a solution.

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