Senior Supplier Development Engineer

Role Summary

As a lead Supplier Development Engineer, you'll be a key driver in ensuring the readiness and performance of our supply base. You'll lead the industrialization process from concept to production, ensuring our suppliers are not only capable but also optimized for scalability and quality. This critical role involves extensive collaboration with cross-functional teams and requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Carry out supplier assessment and validation audits.

• Drive supplier Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) to meet quality and timing expectations for Production Part Approval Process (PPAP).

• Work with Engineering (Design and Manufacturing Engineering) teams to define process parameters and criteria to ensure supplier process capability effectively meets product and process requirements.

• Lead the supplier approval process by assessing manufacturing and technology capabilities and Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) risks.

• Support new product launches to ensure that supplier quality meets required standards.

• Facilitate root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions for supplier quality and capacity issues.

• Perform on-site supplier visits for root cause analysis and verification of corrective actions for supplier quality issues.

• Review supplier manufacturing processes and collaborate with suppliers on process improvement and value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE) opportunities.

• Promote the use of Rivian-preferred techniques for continuous improvement such as Lean, Six Sigma, Poka-Yoke (error proofing), Measurement System Analysis (MSA), and Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA).

• Provide concise, complete, and accurate documentation of inspection results within area of responsibility.

• Facilitate the escalation of unresolved supplier quality issues within assigned projects and with suppliers.

• Report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to support the Quality organization in monitoring and reporting on supplier product quality and performance.

• Participate in cross-functional teams in the development of new products or changes to current products to meet customer requirements.

• Manage and coordinate supplier Parts Per Million (PPM), on-time supplier problem solving, cost recovery, and supplier warranty indicators.

• Undertake special projects as required.

• Contribute to continuous improvement activities.

• Write reports and present progress at project meetings and to leadership.

• Achieve goals within budget.

• Conduct benchmarking studies to determine best practices and designs.

Qualifications

Technical expertise automotive, manufacturing, including knowledge of safety and test requirements and appearance approval process

Deep quality experience. Preferable experience/certification in VDA 6.3 audit

Knowledge of IPC 610 for Printed Circuit Boards

Strong knowledge of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part

Approval Process (PPAP), Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA)

Lean Manufacturing knowledge

High Voltage Power Module manufacturing process knowledge

In depth knowledge of IATF16949:2016

Understanding of ISO14001

Metrology, Inspection Methods and Equipment

Understanding and interpretation of engineering drawings

Understanding manufacturing processes

Ability to work in a diverse and dynamic environment

Planning and prioritizing activities

Good communication and interpersonal skills

Listening skills, Negotiation skills, Ability to present data effectively

Problem-solving skills

Understanding of Health and Safety practices

Team working skills ,Analytical skills, Understanding of cost and financial impacts

Company Statements

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.