Lead Audit Technician

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. 

Rivian is seeking a Lead Audit Technician to support and strengthen the effectiveness of the Quality Management System through execution and leadership of the internal audit program. This role will serve as the lead auditor for two manufacturing sites and will provide day-to-day direction to a team of four audit technicians. The Lead Audit Technician will be responsible for planning audits, assigning work, coaching auditors, reviewing audit results, and ensuring timely follow-up of findings and corrective actions.

This role requires a strong working knowledge of IATF 16949, internal auditing methods, manufacturing processes, and risk-based thinking. The ideal candidate is a highly organized and hands-on audit professional who can drive consistency in audit execution, identify gaps objectively, and help the organization improve process discipline, compliance, and operational performance.

• Internal Audit Program Leadership
• Lead assigned internal audits across the QMS, manufacturing, warehousing, service, and support functions as applicable.
• Develop audit plans, schedules, checklists, and sampling approaches aligned to process risk, performance, and IATF 16949 requirements.
• Coordinate audit coverage and daily priorities for a team of four audit technicians.
• Ensure audits are executed consistently, professionally, and in accordance with internal procedures.
• Escalate significant compliance or systemic risks to QMS leadership in a timely manner.

• Audit Execution and Reporting
• Perform process, product, layered, and system audits as required.
• Lead opening and closing meetings with auditees and functional leaders.
• Document objective evidence, nonconformities, observations, and opportunities for improvement in clear and accurate audit reports.
• Review audit reports prepared by audit technicians for technical quality, completeness, and consistency.
• Support preparation for external audits, certification audits, customer audits, and follow-up activities tied to audit outcomes.

• Team Leadership and Auditor Development
• Provide work direction, coaching, and training to audit technicians to improve auditing skills, consistency, and confidence.
• Mentor team members on audit planning, interviewing techniques, evidence evaluation,and report writing.
• Drive standardization of audit tools, templates, and reporting practices.
• Support onboarding of new auditors and help build bench strength within the internal audit team.

• Corrective Action and QMS Improvement
• Partner with process owners to ensure audit findings are clearly understood and appropriately addressed.
• Track corrective actions through closure and verify implementation effectiveness when required.
• Identify recurring issues, systemic themes, and high-risk gaps across audit results.
• Provide audit trend data, status updates, and insights to QMS leadership to support management review and continuous improvement.
• Recommend improvements to audit processes, audit frequency, and risk prioritization based on audit results and business needs.

Required Skills & Experience

• High school diploma or GED required; associate degree, technical training, or equivalent work experience is acceptable.
• 5+ years of experience in quality, manufacturing, supplier quality, compliance, or internal auditing within an industrial or automotive environment.
• 3+ years of hands-on auditing experience, including leading audits or coordinating audit activities.
• Strong working knowledge of IATF 16949 and core QMS principles.
• Experience identifying nonconformities, documenting audit evidence, and verifying corrective actions.
• Ability to interpret procedures, standards, control plans, process flows, and related quality documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to challenge respectfully and communicate findings clearly.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple audits, priorities, and follow-up actions.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and Jira.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Internal auditor, lead auditor, or certified quality auditor training.
• Experience in automotive or electric vehicle manufacturing.
• Experience leading small teams, coordinating field work, or coaching less experienced auditors.
• Familiarity with problem-solving methodologies such as 5 Why, fishbone, and corrective action verification.
• Experience supporting IATF 16949 certification or customer audits.

The salary range for this role is $29.-$34.00 plus $2 Team Leader premium per hour for Illinois 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.

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). There is no fixed deadline for this application; applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until the role is filled or the opening is no longer needed.

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.

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.

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